EDMONTON – Almost 3,500 Maple Leaf workers in nine red meat and poultry plants across Canada could be on strike within weeks, says the head of the national union representing the workers.
“We’ve encouraged our membership to take their strike vote and strike Michael McCain’s plants,” said Kip Connolly, national spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
A day-long meeting here of UFCW resulted in an agreement by union representatives to go back to members to organize strike votes.
“We’re going to be actively encouraging all the red meat and poultry plants to strike.”
Read Also
Rich life took him from sky to ground
World War II veteran Burns Wood shares some memories of his time on the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers board as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025.
To increase the heat on the owner of the Maple Leaf plants, Michael McCain, Connolly also announced the union would be organizing a boycott of Maple Leaf products.
Push for boycott
“If his bargaining posture doesn’t change, let me be crystal clear on that, we will implementing a national boycott of Maple Leaf products,” Connolly told reporters after the meeting.
Workers at Edmonton and Hamilton have already voted and are in a legal strike position. Workers at the bacon plant in North Battleford have been locked out. By mid-November, seven out of 11 red meat plants and two large poultry plants could be in a legal strike position.
“Many plants will be on the strike in September, more in October and more in November.”
Connolly said the union representatives at the meeting are hoping the strike and boycott threats will force the company back to the bargaining table to deal with outstanding labor issues.
Calls to Maple Leaf officials were not returned, but they have said earlier they treat negotiations with each plant individually based on market conditions.
Maple Leaf said it will accept a mediator’s recommendation of a wage increase over three years of 84 cents an hour. That offer was to be available until Sept. 10. Officials said wages in Canada are higher than for American counterparts and that they need a tight rein on wages and benefits in the competitive meat industry.
Strike and it closes
The company is also looking for another site for a packing plant somewhere in Western Canada to replace its 91-year-old Edmonton plant. Maple Leaf has said if workers accept the mediator’s agreement the plant will remain open for another two or three years. If workers strike, the plant will be closed immediately.
Connolly said while he’s hoping a strike will hurt the company he doesn’t expect it to be a blow to producers because of the excess slaughter capacity.
“If you’re an Alberta producer you can still ship your hogs to other plants.”
