Dominion store employees vote on tentative deal
More than 1,300 grocery store workers across Newfoundland are mulling over a contract offer from their employer.
The employees work at 11 Dominion grocery stores on the island.
Voting started Thursday morning in St. John's on a tentative agreement reached with the union negotiating committee.
Unifor local 597 president Carolyn Wrice said the union is recommending acceptance.
Workers in Bay Roberts and Carbonear will vote Friday. Next week, workers in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Stephenville will get a chance to cast their ballot.
Last lockout in 2003
All votes will be counted on Friday, Oct. 28.
The last time there was labour-management trouble between unionized Dominion staff and their employer, Loblaws, was 13 years ago.
The company locked out workers for three weeks starting in mid-November 2003, after workers started rotating picketing.
The dispute ended when their union urged its members to accept the company's offer, saying Loblaws hinted at permanently closing all its Dominion outlets in Newfoundland if the deal wasn't accepted.
Back then, the number of stores in the province was 15 and the number of unionized workers was closer to 1,600.