METRO extends wage premium to employees

April 20, 2020, Montreal, Que. – METRO Inc. has announced that the payment of an additional $2 an hour to employees of its food stores and distribution centres is extended until May 30, 2020.

The measure applies to approximately 50,000 workers.

“The particular circumstances that led us to make this decision have not changed and we are therefore maintaining this temporary measure,” said Eric La Flèche, president and chief executive officer.

“Our teams continue to do a remarkable job, and thanks to their efforts, we are able to meet the needs of our customers.”

The company had announced the wage increase in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario, with annual sales of more than $16 billion. The company operates or services a network of some 950 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as some 650 drugstores primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners, providing employment to almost 90,000 people.