Existing front-line employees at Canadian Loblaws and Metro grocery stores will get a premium of $2 per hour, retroactive to March 8.

The United Food and Commercial Workers which represents the approximate 90,000 Loblaw Companies Ltd. workers announced the result of ongoing discussions in a press release Saturday.

“The premium is well deserved for these current frontline employees,” said UFCW Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty.

The wage increase will be applied to the hourly rates of both full-time and part-time workers.

The increase for Loblaws workers is temporary, and will be in effect until further notice, said Anouk Collet, executive assistant to the national president of UFCW Canada.

“We commend Loblaw for showing leadership on this wage increase and call on other employers to follow this important example,” said UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema.

Shortly after the Loblaw announcement, Metro announced it will also raise wages for grocery store and distribution centre workers. The increase is effective from March 8 until May 2.

UFCW wanted other grocery stores including Sobeys to follow suit.

Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Empire Co. Ltd., which owns the Sobeys and Safeway chains, are installing plexiglass dividers at checkouts and pharmacy counter as additional protective measures against the virus.

Most grocers including Loblaws, Sobeys, NoFrills, Walmart, Metro, Costco and FoodBasics, have reduced store hours so they have time to restock shelves and implement deeper cleaning practices.

Grocers are also limiting the number of customers allowed in stores at a time in an effort to improving social distancing. Many have announced special early shopping hours for seniors and the immunity compromised.

Costco has put a limit on certain in-demand items, such as hand sanitizer and toilet paper, to ensure customers who need the items can get them.

Shoppers Drug Mart extended seniors’ discounts of 20 per cent on all purchases to apply during store-specified hours, in addition to its weekly senior’s day discount.

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Toronto’s Longo’s locations announced a daily community wellbeing hour between 8 to 9 a.m. for seniors and other at-risk members of the community.

Visit local grocery store website for updated grocery store hours and information.

With files from The Canadaian Press

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