Workers at a key Metro Inc. distribution centre in Quebec have overwhelmingly rejected the company\u2019s latest contract offer, extending a nearly three-month labour dispute.<\/p>\n
Members of the union representing 550 Metro employees voted 95 per cent against the proposal at a general meeting held Thursday morning, according to the CSN.<\/p>\n
The workers \u2014 which include warehouse workers, office employees and transport staff at the grocery chain\u2019s fruit and vegetable distribution centre in Laval and the company\u2019s Montreal head office, as well as the drivers at a warehouse in Rivi\u00e8re-des-Prairies \u2014 have been on strike since March 30 after negotiations over a new collective agreement broke down. Their previous contract expired in September 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter twelve weeks of strike action, the workers do not want to accept a cut-rate settlement. Even though we were not legally obligated to do so, we presented the employer\u2019s latest offer and the members strongly rejected it,\u201d Matthieu Lafontaine, president of the union local, said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Laval facility, the grocery chain\u2019s only fruit and vegetable distribution centre in the province, supplies about 300 stores operating under the Metro, Super C and March\u00e9 Richelieu banners.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Union leaders argue Metro can afford to meet workers\u2019 demands after several years of strong financial performance.<\/p>\n
Serge Monette, president of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration du commerce-CSN, said that Metro\u2019s sales have increased significantly since 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money is there, and the employees want their fair share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n