UFCW Canada sets strike deadline at Ontario Loblaw Companies grocery stores
if no settlement reached by early October

TORONTO, Sept. 11 /CNW/ - Four days of talks between UFCW Canada and Loblaw Companies Ltd. wound up today with some progress on key issues but no settlement in the prolonged negotiations that have been underway since April.

UFCW local unions 1977, 1000A and 175 & 633 say there are major issues that need to be resolved if a strike is to be avoided. The union's bargaining committee set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 8, if no agreement is reached and ratified by the membership at Loblaws, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstores and Great Food stores, all subsidiaries of Weston-controlled Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest retailer.

Further meetings between the union and the company have been scheduled for the week beginning Monday, September 27 through to Saturday, October 2nd.

The Provincial Mediator assisting in the negotiations has asked that the company and the union not communicate any further with the media beyond releases today while negotiations continue. The union will honour this request.