The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that thousands of grocery workers at Metro stores across the Greater Toronto Area will enter into collective bargaining with their employer next week. The Globe's Vanmala Subramaniam writes that the stage is set for a showdown between workers, who say their wages have not budged in years, and grocers who have charted record profits. It is the first major round of negotiations between the approximately 3,700 workers across 27 Metro grocery stores represented by Unifor, and the grocery giant since prior to the pandemic. Unifor also represents an additional 8,000 workers at chains across the country owned by Loblaw and Empire. Those workers are poised to begin their own negotiations in 2024. Unifor will aim to renew about 12 collective agreements with the three grocery giants in the next two years. This week, Metro workers voted 100 per cent in favour of striking, should both sides reach an impasse during negotiations. Unifor president Laura Payne says: "We are in a good bargaining position. There is lots of public support for grocery workers. ... And people are also aware that grocery stores have been generating record profits, and paying their CEOs very well."