mackaycartoons

Graeme MacKay's Editorial Cartoon Archive

  • Archives
  • DOWNLOADS
  • Kings & Queens
  • MacKaycartoons Inc.
  • Prime Ministers
  • Special Features
  • The Boutique
  • Who?
  • Young Doug Ford
  • Presidents

Wednesday August 2, 2023

August 2, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 2, 2023

Cry baby in the shopping cart

July 18, 2023

Inflation has been a significant concern for the Canadian economy, impacting all aspects of daily life, with grocery prices being hit the hardest. In recent months, the cost of living has surged by almost six percent, while grocery prices have soared nearly double that pace, leaving consumers feeling the pinch. As prices rise, the profits of big grocery chains have reached record highs, further exacerbating the disparity between their financial success and the plight of their low-wage workers.

Front-line grocery store workers at Metro, represented by Unifor Local 414, have taken a bold stance by going on strike, demanding fair treatment and wages that align with the company’s impressive profits. Over 3,000 workers across 27 Metro locations in the Greater Toronto Area are united in their fight for better pay and improved working conditions. Workers, like Tammy Laporte, a dedicated produce and fruit clerk with 25 years of service, want their contributions to be acknowledged through fair compensation.

Analysis: High stakes in Metro strike  

June 20, 2023

The issue of low wages is prevalent among grocery store employees, forcing many to live in debt and struggle to make ends meet. Workers like Austin Coyle, a meat manager, are among the highest paid but still find it challenging to afford basic living expenses in the high-priced city of Toronto. The situation is so dire that some employees are forced to turn to food banks because they cannot afford to buy groceries from the very stores they work in.

The grievances of the workers are not without cause. During the pandemic, grocery chains, including Metro, earned praise for their “hero pay” bonuses for front-line workers. However, these bonuses were swiftly cut once the companies saw an opportunity to boost their profits. This move, which came amidst record earnings for the grocery barons, further highlights their prioritization of financial gains over the well-being of their employees.

March 8, 2023

Despite recent negotiations, which saw a tentative deal between Metro and the union, Unifor, the proposed wage increases fall short of meeting the workers’ immediate needs. The workers’ demands for a $2-per-hour wage increase in the first year were not met, leading to the rejection of the deal. While the grocery chains claim that they are offering wages above inflation rates, it fails to address the workers’ struggles in affording basic expenses amidst soaring CEO compensations.

While big grocery chains assert that they are not profiting from inflation, experts argue that the current economic climate provides them with cover to raise retail prices. As prices increase, the profits of these companies surge, despite their claims of maintaining slim profit margins. Such practices further widen the gap between the grocery barons’ financial success and the difficulties faced by their employees.

December 8, 2016

The actions of big grocery barons during the inflation crisis have brought their priorities into question. Their record profits and reluctance to address the immediate needs of their low-wage workers highlight a significant disparity in wealth distribution. The brave stand taken by front-line grocery store workers at Metro illustrates the urgent need for fair wages and improved working conditions. As consumers, it is essential to support these workers in their fight for fairness and advocate for greater accountability from the grocery industry to ensure that profits are not amassed at the expense of hardworking employees. (AI) | Also printed in the Toronto Star.

Reposted to The Louisville Political Review: The Grocery Oligopoly: Are You In Good Hands?

 

Posted in: Canada Tagged: 2023-13, big grocery, Canada, Economy, grocery, inflation, monopoly, profit, shopping, supermarket
← Tuesday August 1, 2023
Thursday August 3, 2023 →

Please note…

This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

  • The Hamilton Spectator
  • The Toronto Star
  • The Globe & Mail
  • The National Post
  • Graeme on T̶w̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶(̶X̶)̶
  • Graeme on F̶a̶c̶e̶b̶o̶o̶k̶
  • Graeme on T̶h̶r̶e̶a̶d̶s̶
  • Graeme on Instagram
  • Graeme on Substack
  • Graeme on Bluesky
  • Graeme on Pinterest
  • Graeme on YouTube
New and updated for 2025
  • HOME
  • MacKaycartoons Inc.
  • The Boutique
  • The Hamilton Spectator
  • The Association of Canadian Cartoonists
  • The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • You Might be From Hamilton if…
  • Young Doug Ford
  • MacKay’s Most Viral Cartoon
  • Intellectual Property Thief Donkeys
  • Wes Tyrell
  • Martin Rowson
  • Guy Bado’s Blog
  • National Newswatch
...Check it out and please subscribe!

Your one-stop-MacKay-shop…

T-shirts, hoodies, clocks, duvet covers, mugs, stickers, notebooks, smart phone cases and scarfs

2023 Coronation Design

Brand New Designs!

Follow Graeme's board My Own Cartoon Favourites on Pinterest.

MacKay’s Virtual Gallery

Archives

Copyright © 2016 mackaycartoons.net

Powered by Wordpess and Alpha.

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial
 

Loading Comments...