MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 24, 2015) - At meetings held between June 9 and June 16 across the province, the more than 14,000 members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 175 & 633 working full-time and part-time at Loblaw-owned locations in Ontario had the opportunity to vote on a negotiated renewal of their collective agreements.
Members at 50 stores, including 5 Loblaws Great Food Stores in Nepean and Gloucester and 45 stores operating as Zehrs, Loblaws, Great Food, and RCSS throughout central and central north Ontario, ratified their new 6-year agreement. The new contract for the Ottawa-area members is effective retroactive to May 1, 2015, and the new contract for the other 45 stores will take effect July 2, 2015. In addition, members at Fortinos' Sausage Warehouse, 22 Fortinos stores, and 3 Real Canadian Superstores (RCSS) also ratified their agreement at meetings held June 22 and 23.
The Union members covered by a separate agreement at 9 Zehrs Great Food and RCSS in Essex, Kent, and Lambton counties voted down the memorandum of settlement. The rejection puts the approximately 1,600 members in that bargaining unit in a legal strike position as of July 2, 2015 at 12:01 a.m.
"Our members gave us a strong strike mandate at meetings held back in May," explained Shawn Haggerty, President of UFCW Local 175. "The results of this vote means the Union will be ramping up our strike preparations to support these members."
UFCW Locals 175 & 633 have been participating in Solidarity Bargaining with UFCW Local 1000A since negotiations began with Loblaw Companies earlier this year.
The Union will not be communicating with media any further at this time.
UFCW Locals 175 & 633 represent 74,000 workers in Ontario across 20 sectors of the economy including 18,000 at Loblaw-owned locations. Visit www.ufcw175.com.
Contact Information:
www.ufcw175.com