Strike continues as Metro grocery store workers picket at distribution warehouses

Shoppers might notice that some grocery store shelves seem a little emptier at one of the Metro stores affected by striking workers. Unifor union members are now picketing two of the grocers’ distribution warehouses, slowing down and even stopping meat and produce deliveries.

Grocery store employees were picketing at the Metro distribution centre in Etobicoke with a mission — to demonstrate how serious they are about their fight for fair wages.
“One of the wealthiest countries in the world and we still have people going to work, not making a livable wage. Shame,” said Unifor National President, Lana Payne.

Payne says they are not backing down, especially since workers were given a $2 raise during the pandemic, only to have it taken back after it ended.

More than 3,700 frontline Metro grocery workers have been on strike since July 29. Picketers came from all over the GTA, blocking Metro driveways and trucks.

READ MORE: 3,700 Metro workers walk off the job to strike after rejecting deal

“No trucks in, no trucks out, so there is no produce, nothing going to there stores right now. This is their central part of their supply chain,” said Payne.

Metro grocery store workers at 1515 Rebecca St. in Oakville say they are prepared to be out as long as it takes.

Amy Power and her mother both work at the Oakville location.

“We are half way through our fourth week, and we are prepared to do it as long as it takes,” said Power.

Connie Doyle has been a cake decorator for 18 years. “My paycheck really hasn’t gone up in 18 years. Just cents,” she said.

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Dalhousie professor Dr. Sylvain Charlebois says if this continues, shoppers at other Metro stores like Food Basics, may start to notice.

“We could actually see less inventory or fewer products on shelves as a result because the safety of some of these products may have been compromised along the way,” he said.

In a statement, Metro says, “the union is picketing the Toronto distribution centres that are supplying all of its Metro and Food Basics stores in the province, they are currently preventing all deliveries of fresh products to our stores which is unacceptable. Rather than picketing sites that are not on strike, the union should come back to the bargaining table, which Metro has been requesting since August 12.”

Unifor representatives say they will not accept insulting offers.