Strike deadline pushed back to July 11 as Loblaw workers vote on amended offer

TORONTO – A possible strike by 12,000 workers at 60 Loblaw owned stores across Ontario has been pushed back a week.

Two days of provincially mediated talks between Loblaw Companies Ltd. and the United Food and Commercial Workers have produced an amended contract offer.

As a result, UFCW Canada Local 1000A says it has postponed its strike deadline of Sunday, July 5 to give its members time to vote on the new accord.Ratification votes are scheduled from Sunday, July 5 through to Wednesday, July 8.

The union says if the offer is rejected, the strike will commence on Saturday, July 11 at 12:01 a.m. at all 60 Loblaws Great Food and Superstore locations across the province.

In the meantime, strike action by UFCW members that began on July 2 at nine stores, including four Zehrs Great Food and five Real Canadian Superstores, will continue pending results of the ratification vote.All nine stores have remained open for business.

The union has said the key issues in the dispute are wages, work schedules, benefits and limits on third party providers.