The prospect of more than 1,200 employees at No Frills walking off the job on Monday was met with varying reactions from several shoppers at a Stittsville location of the discount supermarket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The employees, members of the Unifor union, are seeking better salaries and working conditions at a time when food prices have increased nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two shoppers said they support the workers, but expressed concerns about going elsewhere to buy groceries and pay for food during the holiday season. A third said her main concern is how a strike would affect her ability to buy affordable food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can understand why Unifor workers want to go on strike. They\u2019re obviously suffering,\u201d said Phillip Walsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walsh, a member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said he understands the necessity of a strike in order to directly improve the working conditions of the workers. \u201cIt\u2019s an awful situation. Obviously I support the union,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curtis Wright, a No Frills regular, also said he supports the workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think this is what they have to do,\u201d said Wright. \u201cThe workers should be able to demand and bargain for what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wright said that he hadn\u2019t heard about the possibility of the strike, but said he thinks that if the strike were to happen it will \u201calleviate the stress felt by the workers during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shopper Rosie Genio said that if No Frills workers went on strike, she would feel an added pressure to provide affordable food during the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI price match,\u201d Genio said. \u201cSo I\u2019m just trying to get what I can while I can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further, she said she would have to go somewhere else if the workers went on strike and that many people will have to find somewhere else to buy affordable groceries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food insecurity is on the minds of many as the holiday season approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n