Metro Laval workers ratify deal to end months-long strike
The new five-and-a-half-year agreement provides a 22 percent salary increase for about 550 workers.
MONTREAL — Workers at Metro Inc.'s fresh produce distribution centre in Laval, Que., have ratified a new collective agreement, ending a strike that began on March 30.
The United Grocery Workers Union Metro-Richelieu said 77 per cent of workers who voted were in favour of the deal.
The agreement provides a 22 per cent salary increase over five-and-a-half years.
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That includes a six per cent raise retroactive to September 2025 and another four per cent increase when workers return on Sunday.
The union said the deal also includes gains in job protection and occupational health and safety.
The union represents about 550 workers at the fruit and vegetable distribution centre in Laval, the company's head office in Montreal, and drivers at the Mérite 1 warehouse in Rivière-des-Prairies.
"We are pleased with the ratification of this new collective agreement, which establishes a stable and predictable framework for the coming years," said Caroline Larocque, vice-president of logistics and distribution for Quebec at Metro.
"We thank the teams who helped keep our operations running during the dispute, and we are now focusing our efforts on a gradual and safe resumption of operations."
Metro said operations will resume gradually starting Sunday.
The labour dispute negatively impacted the retailer's most recent quarterly results by $90 million.
On the company's third quarter earnings call in August, outgoing president and CEO Eric La Flèche told analysts that Metro had presented a new global offer to the union.
He said it included "competitive wage and working conditions that compare very favorably with the market. In addition to offering quality long-term jobs in Quebec."
Employees represented by the union had reached a tentative agreement last week, with a ratification vote held on Thursday.
Metro's banners include Metro, Food Basics, Jean Coutu and Super C.
With files from The Canadian Press, BNN Bloomberg and CP24