Loblaws strike over, employees back to work today

The union that represents some 13,600 workers at 69 Loblaw-owned grocery stores in Ontario says they have averted a strike after members voted to accept a six-year contract that takes effect immediately.

Local 1000A of United Food and Commercial Workers Canada says its 12,000 members ratified an amended contract negotiated with Loblaw after an earlier tentative deal was rejected.

It says members at 60 Loblaws Great Food and Superstore grocery stores and two Joe Fresh clothing stores will receive wage increases and protection of defined benefit pension plans, though further details weren't disclosed.

Loblaw and the union then announced late Thursday that 1,600 workers at nine Zehrs Great Foods and Real Canadian Superstore locations in southwestern Ontario had also ratified a new contract.

Members of Locals 175 and 633 went on strike at the nine locations last week in Windsor, Kingsville, Chatham, Leamingston and Sarnia until Loblaw agreed to more talks.

"The new agreement merges the three existing UFCW Locals 175 & 633 bargaining units that were involved in this set of negotiations into one bargaining unit moving forward," Shawn Haggerty, president of UFCW Local 175 said in a statement on the local's website.

The contract for Locals 175 and 633 will now cover 60 Zehrs Great Food, RCSS, and Loblaws stores across the province.

The union says the workers will return to work immediately.

"In a competitive market, the terms of the contract provide both our colleagues and our company a fair deal and security. Ultimately, it sets the stage for an even stronger relationship," Loblaws said in a statement.