Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/9/2018 (730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Workers at Manitoba’s Superstores, Extra Foods and No Frills, all stores owned by Loblaw, voted 99 per cent Monday in favour of giving a strike mandate to their United Food and Commercial Workers bargaining committee.

The collective agreement expires on Thursday for the 3,500 workers at the Loblaw-owned stores in Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, Winkler, Dauphin, Swan River and The Pas.

In a press release from UFCW Local 832, the union said it will be back at the bargaining table with Loblaw "around the clock if necessary" until the contract expiration date.

A strike deadline has not yet been set.

"This 99 per cent result sends a strong message to Loblaw that the membership is serious about a fair offer," union president Jeff Traeger said in a statement.

The union website lists key issues on the bargaining table as wages, premiums, benefits and pensions.

Kevin Groh, vice-president of corporate affairs and communication for Loblaw Companies Limited, said: "We are committed to fairness for our employees, but we have to find a balance between their needs and the nature of our business in a very competitive environment.

"We remain hopeful we can reach a fair collective agreement that meets everyone’s needs before our deadline."

A similar scenario with a strike mandate vote played out in 2013 when negotiations were taking place for the current five-year contract that is about to expire.

The 3,000 workers at that time had voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action on Sept. 9, 2013.

A strike was averted as the five-year contract was approved on Oct. 21, 2013, with 91.4 per cent in favour.

The 2013-2018 deal gave members a 13 per cent wage increase over the term of the contract, more full-time jobs, more guaranteed hours and saved more than 400 jobs at Extra Foods.