THUNDER BAY -- Workers at 54 of Ontario's Metro grocery stores are one step closer to walking off the job.
The 6,500 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Locals 175 and 633 voted 97 per cent in favour of job action during a strike mandate vote held across Ontario on Monday.
“Our members have sent a clear message that they expect the employer to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement,” said UFCW Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty in a Tuesday morning news release.
“With this strong mandate, the members have shown that they support their negotiating committee and that they are prepared to take strike action if necessary.”
Union leadership said they have requested a conciliator through the Ministry of Labour and have also sought dates to continue the bargaining process with Metro.
“The union continues to pursue a negotiated fair deal with the employer and we hope this action by the members will motivate the employer to return to the table to achieve that goal,” Haggerty said.
The union membership includes staff at 54 stores across Ontario, including the three Thunder Bay locations.
A Metro spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by Dougall Media on Tuesday.
The previous contract expired last November.
