The union for workers at Tyson’s Lakeside plant in Brooks, Alta., one of Canada’s largest packing plants, has issued a strike notice after a year of trying to negotiate a first contract.
Picket lines were to be set up on Oct. 12 at 6 a.m., said Doug O’Halloran, president of United Food and Commercial Workers union local 401.
Workers had voted to accept a government-recommended Disputes Inquiry Board contract, but it was rejected by the company, which presented its own offer.
“We looked at their offer and it just gutted the DIB offer, plus it took away an extra break. It’s quite regressive,” said O’Halloran.
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Tyson officials have applied to Alberta’s Labour Relations Board to bypass the union and hold a vote on the company’s latest offer.
“We’re extremely disappointed the union has refused to allow our team members to vote on our most recent offer, which includes wage increases beyond those recommended by a government mediator,” Lakeside manager Chris Borgren said in a News release.
Nancy McDermid, with the Labour Relations Board, said before it can organize a vote on the company proposal it must hear the union’s objection during a meeting Oct. 11.
“The board will decide whether we’re going to go ahead with the vote or not,” said McDermid, who expected a vote on the company offer could be held Oct. 14-16 in Brooks.
Two years ago, six such votes were requested of the provincial labour board: two voted in favour, three were rejected and one was withdrawn before the vote was held. Last year, 11 proposal votes were initiated: two were in favour of the contract, five rejected the contract, three were withdrawn before the vote and the labour board refused one application.
“I guess it’s safe to assume that employers that make these kinds of applications think that they’re going to get a different result if the employees are allowed to vote on the offer,” she said.
If workers vote in favour, then it becomes the collective agreement between the union and the company. The company proposal is for a 51 month contract, compared to a 37 month one proposed by the mediator.
O’Halloran is worried there is too much confusion among the workers on what agreement they will be voting on. Workers overwhelmingly agreed to accept the DIB recommended contract at the end of September.
The company offer includes a higher hourly wage than the mediator’s recommendations, but does not agree with his suggestions on vacation pay, holiday, overtime pay, medical benefits and boot allowance, said the packer’s News release.
O’Halloran said the company contract eliminated 10 items from the mediator’s recommendations, including allowing a union shop.
“Now workers have two 15 minute breaks. In the offer they agreed to two 15 minute breaks but in the second break workers are only paid for the first five minutes,” said O’Halloran.
Lakeside said if there is a strike it intends to operate with workers willing to cross the picket line.
O’Halloran said about 65 percent of the 2,400 workers need to be on strike to limit Lakeside’s ability to operate.
Rob Meijer, manager of public relations with Cargill Foods, said its High River plant is already operating at full capacity and would not be able to absorb excess slaughter from its rival Lakeside plant.
“It’s going to be very difficult for us to take on any additional opportunity,” said Meijer.
