Loblaws Great Food and Superstore union workers preparing for a strike

TORONTO – Unionized workers at Loblaws Great Food and Superstore appear to be headed for the picket lines after rejecting a tentative deal with the company.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union said in a statement late Sunday it would be reaching out to the grocery store chain about returning to the bargaining table, but said in the meantime it’s ramping up preparations for a strike.

Members of UFCW Local 1000A, representing workers from Ottawa to the Greater Toronto Area, rejected a tentative agreement reached at meetings held between the union and Loblaws from June 14 to June 20.

The union said as part of the strike preparations, strike captains have been called for training later in the week.