UFCW
News
ReleaseReleased by the United Food and Commercial Workers on Canada News Wire 29 January 1999
UFCW strike at Quality Meat Packers and Toronto Abattoirs over
TORONTO - Jan.29 / CNW/ More than 800 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 743 who work at Quality Meat Packers and Toronto Abattoirs have voted 68% in favour of ending their 8-week strike.
Bryan Neath, chief spokesperson for the union, says it was a tough choice for the workers. "They had an understanding of the problems in the pork industry," he says, "but realistically it's difficult for anyone to accept major wage roll-backs." Neath says workers will receive a lump-sum payment ranging between $1,000 and $20,000. This agreement provides workers with $3.5 million more than the original offer they turned down prior to the start of the strike in December.
"The UFCW Local 743 negotiating committee, after careful consideration and given the very real possibility of plant closure, believed then, and now, that it was time to accept this offer," says Neath. He says workers can now move forward into their futures.
Under this new agreement the union and company have also agreed to a standard return-to-work protocol. Production lines at both the Toronto and Brampton plants should be up and running within a week.
-30-
For more information, please contact Cheryl Mumford or Mike Freeman at the UFCW National Office / phone 416.675.1104 / fax 416.675.6919
back to Press Releases Index
ID:1541