Metro Inc. broke Quebec labour guidelines through the use of scabs throughout a warehouse strike in Montreal, in response to inspectors from the Quebec Ministry of Labour.
The inspectors visited Metro services on April 3, shortly after staff started a basic strike at two distribution centres. They concluded that the corporate introduced in substitute staff to proceed operations, which is restricted beneath the Labour Code.
A scab is somebody employed or assigned to do the roles of workers who’re on strike. Corporations typically use them to maintain enterprise operating throughout labour disputes, however their use is restricted by legislation in Quebec.
The report additionally says Metro went past what’s legally allowed through the use of substitute staff to maneuver non-perishable items throughout the strike.
In an announcement to CityNews, Metro denied hiring substitute staff and violating labour guidelines.
“The measures put in place to proceed to satisfy the wants of consumers all through Quebec in a accountable method that totally complies with the relevant authorized framework.”
The corporate additionally mentioned that the union was making “unreasonable wage calls for” which was slowing down the negotiation course of.
Union leaders from the Confédération des syndicats nationaux criticized the corporate, saying it ought to concentrate on negotiating with staff as a substitute of bypassing labour guidelines.