Super C Strike: Metro Stores Receive Banana Deliveries Amidst Labour Dispute
Despite the ongoing strike at the Laval distribution centre, a Metro grocery store received a delivery of bananas on Friday. This highlights the contingency plans being implemented to keep shelves stocked during the labour dispute.
On Friday morning, employees at a Metro store in Quebec City were busy restocking shelves with bananas and raspberries. A replacement wholesaler had just delivered the fruit, stepping in to fill the gap left by the striking Laval centre.
“This is the contingency plan in action,” an employee confided, speaking anonymously. “Another independent company has taken over the supply for all Metro stores. They’re working hard to keep up.”
(Céline Fabriès/Le Soleil)
Supply Chain Challenges Remain
While fruit sections were replenished, some vegetables were still missing, including mushrooms and pre-washed salads. “They should arrive today or tomorrow. I don’t have tracking information yet, but I’m expecting them,” an employee stated. Notices indicating product unavailability, which were posted on Thursday, had disappeared by Friday morning.
Marie-Claude Bacon, Vice-President of Public Affairs and Communications at Metro, declined to detail the contingency plan when questioned by Le Soleil on Thursday, but assured the public that the situation would improve in the coming days.
Union Concerns and Investigation
Matthieu Lafontaine, President of the Metro-Richelieu United Food and Commercial Workers Union (CSN), revealed that an investigator from the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity was present at the warehouse, investigating potential strikebreaking activity.
“They can use subcontractors, but under certain conditions,” Lafontaine explained. “For a fruit and vegetable warehouse, the employer can call in workers to remove perishable goods. However, we believe some rules are not being followed. They can move full pallets, but they are not allowed to create mixed pallets with different fruits.”
Strike Details and Demands
The strike began on Monday, involving 550 workers at the Laval distribution centre, the head office, and drivers from the Mérite 1 warehouse in Rivière-des-Prairies. Workers rejected a six-year wage increase offer of 11%, deeming it insufficient, particularly for lower-paid employees – representing only about 1% annually.
The union accuses Metro of capitalizing on rising grocery prices to increase profits while employees struggle financially. Serge Monette, President of the Fédération du commerce–CSN, highlighted the disparity: “In six years, revenue has increased by 28%, profits by 39%, and dividends paid to shareholders by 56%. And wages? Only 11%.”
“We are awaiting news from Metro to return to the negotiating table quickly and end the conflict,” Lafontaine insisted. For more information on the labour dispute, you can visit the CSN website.
Céline Fabriès is a journalist at Le Soleil since 2018, currently focusing on business reporting.
