Four days of talks between UFCW Canada and Loblaw Companies Ltd. wound up on September 11 with some progress on key issues but no settlement in the prolonged negotiations that have been underway since April.

UFCW Canada Locals 1977, 1000A, and 175 & 633 say there are major issues that need to be resolved if a strike is to be avoided. The union's bargaining committee set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 8, if no agreement is reached and ratified by the membership at Loblaws, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstores and Great Food stores, all subsidiaries of Weston-controlled Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest retailer.

Further meetings between the union and the company have been scheduled for the week beginning Monday, September 27 through to Saturday, October 2.


Vol. X No. 36 • September 13, 2010