Bargaining has broken down between the union and a Neepawa, Man. poultry plant.
Springhill Farms has operated without an agreement with its 215 unionized employees since last January.
Unionized workers at the poultry slaughter and packing plant voted 92 percent in favor of strike action after they rejected a final offer by the company.
The issues dividing United Food and Commercial Workers Union local 832 members and Springhill Farms centre on pay rates.
Average hourly wages for Springhill employees are $12 to $13. The workers have asked for rates closer to those paid by Maple Leaf Foods meat packing workers in Manitoba, $2 to $3 an hour higher.
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The final offer made by the company included a 2.3 percent cost of living increase in each year of a proposed five-year contract. A guarantee of a 37-hour work week was included in the package.
Previously, hours of work could be reduced by the company if product demand or bird deliveries slowed. The rejection by union workers surprised the union negotiators, who recommended the deal be accepted.
“The members have made it very clear to us that they want wages more in line with others in the industry and they will strike if necessary to make those demands heard by the company,” said Donald Keith, of UFCW in Winnipeg.
A strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Oct. 31 has been set.
Springhill Farms is owned by area Hutterite colonies. Company spokesperson and assistant manager Gary Fuller refused to comment.
