(Toronto) Workers at 27 Toronto-area Metro grocery stores have a new collective agreement after a month-long strike.
Workers represented by Unifor voted to ratify a new tentative agreement just two days after Metro won an interim injunction restricting secondary picket lines that were blocking fresh produce deliveries to its stores.
More than 3,700 workers had been on strike since July 29 after rejecting an initial tentative agreement recommended by their bargaining committee.
Unifor spokesperson Paul Whyte said in a statement that under the new agreement, all workers will receive an immediate wage increase of $1.50 per hour.
Full-time workers and part-time principal workers will also receive a $2 per hour wage increase within a few months.
Throughout the strike, workers have demanded the return of the “hero’s bounty” they received during the pandemic, along with better working conditions and more full-time jobs.
“This is a landmark collective agreement that sets a new mark for grocery store workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“This was made possible through the perseverance and unwavering solidarity of our members, as well as the incredible support of the community. »
