The Metro Grocery Store on London Rd. will not be closing, nor will it be rebranded to a Food Basics in an attempt to become more competitive.

The 100 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers have agreed to a conversion of their collective agreement, to what’s being termed a “lesser agreement.”

UFCW Region 4 Director Sylvia Groom says the 100 workers made the decision to ensure as many people as possible keep their jobs

Both full and part-timers have the option of bumping into any store in the province operating under the current Metro collective agreement if they so choose.

Any member with five or more years of service will also have the option of taking what she calls an enhanced severance package, or receive a “buydown” and continue to work at the Metro store for a lower salary while maintaining their seniority and pension.

That “buydown” would include one and a half weeks pay per year of service and apply to those who have been with Metro for five years or more.