MONTREAL – Nearly 300 grocery stores across Quebec are bracing for a significant shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables during the busy Easter long weekend. The supply chain disruption is the direct result of an ongoing strike at Metro Inc.’s primary produce distribution center located in Laval, which has severely impacted the delivery of fresh goods to Metro and Super C locations throughout the province.
The industrial action, which was officially declared early last week, escalated after union members overwhelmingly rejected a management proposal. The offer included an 11% salary increase spread over a six-year period; however, the union representing approximately 550 warehouse workers and drivers dismissed the terms, seeking a more substantial recovery of purchasing power lost to inflation. The strike also includes head office staff and transportation workers, further complicating the company’s logistics.
The timing of the walkout is particularly difficult for consumers, as the Easter holiday typically sees a high demand for fresh produce. While Metro has stated that it has implemented a contingency plan to maintain a “normal supply” of products, shoppers at many Metro and Super C stores have already reported thinning shelves in the produce aisles. The company remains in a standoff with the Fédération du commerce (CSN), which currently holds an open-ended mandate for the strike.
As of this weekend, there are no clear signs of a resolution. The union has labeled management’s recent offers as “unreasonable” and “light years away” from the workers’ expectations, specifically regarding wages and the use of subcontractors. With the strike showing no signs of ending, the CFIA and retail experts suggest that the shortage could persist well beyond the holiday weekend if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached soon.
