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Dominion workers in this province have ratified a new collective agreement, ending a nearly three-month strike.
The new four-year contract is backdated to October 2019 and affects more than 1,400 workers from 11 Dominion supermarkets across the island part of the province.
Unifor, which represents the workers, did not provide further details on the contract in a press release announcing its ratification on Friday night, but said its work is not finished.
“While improvements have been made, we know there is still more work to be done at Dominion and the other grocery giants in this country to address wages and precarious work and Unifor will persevere in this effort,” said the national president. by Unifor Jerry Dias.
The strike drew attention to a “Canadian retail business model that fails workers,” Dias said.
Dominion is owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd. After the company made its final offer a week ago via a government-appointed mediator, union representatives traveled to the island to hold the ratification vote, which ended Friday in Grand Falls-Windsor.
Workers had been on strike since August 22, after refusing Loblaw’s offer of a $ 1 hour wage increase over three years. The union said more than 80% of workers are classified as part-time, with limited benefits, no sick days, no holidays and minimum wages.
On Thursday, Loblaw posted a nearly 7% increase in third-quarter profits, with president Sarah Davis saying the company “continued with its winning streak in 2020”.
“Our members have taken a stand to improve working conditions in the retail sector in Canada and we will continue the challenge to raise the bar for workers,” said Unifor Local 597 president Carolyn Wrice.
The union filed a civil lawsuit in the Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court against the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for what it says was an excess of authority when police dismantled workers’ picket lines at Weston Foods bakery in Mount Pearl at the end of the month. last. RNC chief Joe Boland denied the allegations and said its members acted appropriately after workers decided to block vehicles attempting to leave the bakery’s parking lot.
Weston – who is affiliated with Loblaw – went to court to seek an injunction against the striking workers, but was denied. The court had previously issued injunctions prohibiting workers from illegally staking the Loblaw distribution center in Mount Pearl and barricading entrances or interfering with employees or contractors entering or exiting Dominion stores.
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