UFCW Canada Local 401 workers at a Tyson Foods plant in Calgary, Alberta, are set to go on strike Wednesday unless the US-based company negotiates a fair collective agreement with its workers. About 2,300 employees unionized with Local 401 last fall because of horrific working conditions and have been negotiating for their first contract since November
Workers at the plant, Lakeside Packers, voted for a strike in June since the company refuses to negotiate a fair agreement. Local 401 President Douglas O’Halloran said the union wants wages and benefits similar to those earned at a Cargill Inc. plant in Alberta, as well as a “respect and dignity” clause to prevent yelling and bullying, and protection for workers who raise concerns about food safety.
The plant’s offer currently includes no wage increase, no improved benefits, and the reduction of one employee break. "If they put something reasonable on the table similar to Cargill, we can go from a strike-ready situation to a vote-ready situation," O’Halloran said.
Posted by UFCW 227 at July 18, 2005 03:28 PM