The Financial Post reports in its Friday, Sept. 15, edition that Empire on Thursday posted an increase in first quarter profits, two days after a union representing workers at Canada's second-largest grocer in British Columbia asked members to authorize a strike because management's latest wage offer was "simply insulting." The Post's Jake Edmiston writes that United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW), which represents about 2,500 workers at 40 Safeway locations and Freshco pharmacies in B.C., asked members to vote this week on whether to authorize a strike after eight months of negotiations failed to produce a deal. This week, UFCW said Empire has offered annual wage increases of less than 1 per cent in certain years over the course of a multiyear contract. The union said in a statement: "The wage offer made by Sobeys is simply insulting to our members -- and is forcing our hand. The company does not appear to understand what the staff are up against in their day-to-day (lives)." If UFCW members vote in favour of a strike, it will not automatically trigger a walkout at the stores. Instead, it will authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike if needed. The vote was held on Thursday.