Unifor members employed at 11 Dominion stores throughout Newfoundland have overwhelmingly endorsed a new collective agreement, with 88% voting in favour. This agreement, ratified recently, mirrors a supermarket pattern established by Unifor in Ontario during the summer of 2023 with Metro supermarkets.
The new contract, achieved after rigorous negotiations by Unifor Local 597, provides substantial wage increases—$4.50 per hour for full-time and $3.20 per hour for part-time workers at their respective end rates over the five-year term. According to Unifor National President Lana Payne, these increments represent “the largest wage gains Dominion workers have ever seen,” underscoring a significant advancement for supermarket employees across the sector.
“Our union is blazing a path forward in this sector to make long overdue and well-deserved gains,” Payne stated, lauding the collective effort and solidarity of Unifor’s grocery workers nationwide.
Carolyn Wrice, President of Unifor Local 597, echoed this sentiment, noting the positive impact of the wage increases on the lives of Dominion employees. “We’re proud to make such a solid step forward for the people who prepare, stock, and sell the food we all need,” Wrice commented.
In addition to wage hikes, the agreement introduces signing bonuses, reduces the hours needed for part-time workers to qualify for health benefits, increases paramedical benefit coverage, and improves job and wage security provisions. Moreover, the employer has committed to creating 22 new full-time positions within the first year post-ratification. The contract is set to expire on October 28, 2028.
Representing over 1,600 workers at Dominion stores across Newfoundland, Unifor continues to be a pivotal force in advocating for the rights and welfare of workers in Canada’s vast supermarket industry.
