Chicken farmers are hoping for a speedy resolution to the two-week-old strike at Lilydale Foods in Wynyard, Sask., despite the rejection of the latest contract offer by 81 percent of unionized workers who voted.
“We’re still hoping for a resolution sooner rather than later,” said Nick Langelaar of the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan.
Lilydale is picking up the extra freight costs for producers who have to ship to an Edmonton slaughter plant, but Langelaar said there are challenges in shipping live birds greater distances.
Producers are scrambling to find enough drivers and the Edmonton plant is operating seven days a week to deal with increased volumes, he said.
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“All things considered, it’s going quite well,” he said. “If there was no strike, things would be a lot smoother on both sides.”
More than 400 workers, represented by the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union, are seeking a $1.35 an hour increase over three years to narrow the wage gap between Lilydale workers in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The company has offered 84 cents an hour, said Garry Burkart of RWDSU.
This strike is the first one in RWDSU’s 40-year involvement with Wynyard workers. Their last contract expired in January 2004.
