Metro and union reach deal, strike ends

Members of Unifor Local 414 have ratified a new four-and-a-half-year collective agreement with Metro Ontario.

Full-time employees at the company’s distribution centres in Toronto voted in 73.1 percent in favour of the new agreement, which applies to over 900 employees.

“We are pleased to have reached what we believe is a fair and reasonable outcome,” said Carmen Fortino, executive vice-president, Ontario division head and national supply chain with Metro Ontario Inc.

“Our distribution centre employees enjoy competitive working conditions, and the new contract maintains those standards.”

Union members went on strike on April 4 after rejecting a tentative agreement that union leaders had recommended for ratification.

That agreement included an increase of six percent on average to hourly wages in the first year of the agreement and a total of 14 percent wage increase over four years, as well as pension and benefits improvements.

Details of the new agreement have not been revealed.