Small Business
METRO PROVIDES BUSINESS AND BARGAINING UPDATE ON ONGOING STRIKE BY UNIONIZED EMPLOYEES AT ITS PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION CENTRE IN LAVAL, TRANSPORTATION AND HEAD OFFICE
METRO Inc. (TSX: MRU) today provided an update on the business impact of the ongoing strike by its unionized employees at the produce distribution centre in Laval, transportation and head office, as well as on the status of bargaining.
About this update from Metro Inc.
METRO focused on serving customers through reliable store replenishment while remaining committed to reaching a responsible negotiated agreement MONTRÉAL, June 25, 2026 /CNW/ - METRO Inc. (TSX: MRU) today provided an update on the business impact of the ongoing strike by its unionized employees at the produce distribution centre in Laval, transportation and head office, as well as on the status of bargaining. Business update METRO knows how important reliable access to fresh products is for its customers. Through the hard work of its team, it implemented its contingency plan as soon as the strike began on March 30, 2026, to maintain produce availability in stores and continue meeting customer needs. After a few weeks of ramp-up, the plan stabilized and is enabling consistent and reliable store replenishment. Bargaining update METRO remains committed to reaching a negotiated agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement that recognizes the contribution of its employees while protecting the long-term competitiveness of its operations, the stability of quality jobs and its ability to continue serving customers in a highly competitive market. That's why, after several weeks of negotiations with the union with the assistance of a conciliation officer appointed by the Minister of Labour, METRO presented a global settlement offer to the union on June 11, 2026. The offer included significant increases, particularly in the first 12 months of the collective agreement, in the context of wages and working conditions that are already very competitive for comparable roles in the market. On June 18, 2026, employees rejected the offer following the union's recommendation and the union indicated it would present a counteroffer to METRO. The union presented its counteroffer today. METRO reviewed the counteroffer and concluded that it does not provide a basis for a responsible and sustainable settlement, particularly given the significant gap between the parties on monetary issues. "We are very disappointed that the union came back with an offer that in no way reflects the broader labour market or the competitive reality of our industry, especially after a 13–week strike. Our priorities are clear: serve our customers, support our operations and reach a negotiated agreement that is responsible and viable in the long-term," said Marc Giroux, Chief Operating Officer. We invite the union to work constructively toward a reasonable settlement that will bring an end to this strike and allow operations to resume in a stable and predictable environment for all."