Metro workers ratify new deal, ending months-long strike

Unionized employees at Metro Inc.’s produce distribution centre in Laval, Que. and transportation and head office have ratified a new collective agreement.

The deal marks the end of the months-long strike that began March 30.

Employees will receive 22% raises over a five-and-a-half-year period, including 6% retroactive to Sept. 19, 2025, and 4% applicable upon their return to work, which will begin Sunday (Sept. 27). Gains were also made in terms of job protection and occupational health and safety, CSN said.

Employees represented by the Metro-Richelieu-CSN United Grocers Workers Union had reached a tentative agreement last week. A ratification vote was held Thursday (Sept. 24).

The union represents 550 workers of Metro’s fruit and vegetable distribution centre in Laval and the company's head office in Montreal, as well as the 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. 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,” said Caroline Larocque, vice-president, logistics and distribution, Quebec, Metro, in a press release. 

The labour dispute negatively impacted the Ontario- and Quebec-based food and pharmacy 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 with “competitive wage and working conditions that compare very favorably with the market. In addition to offering quality long-term jobs in Quebec.”

Metro’s banners include Metro, Food Basics, Jean Coutu and Super C.