& Reuters News Service
The end is near to a bitter labor lockout between Canadian pork processing giant Maple Leaf Foods and the union representing 500 workers at plants in Hamilton, Ont. and North Battleford, Sask.
Negotiating committees for the United Food and Commercial Workers union plan to unanimously recommend workers accept the tentative deals worked out March 18 in Toronto after a marathon 25-hour bargaining session.
After lockouts of more than six months, employees are anxious to get back to work, but won’t likely be willing to roll over on their demands, said one member of North Battleford’s negotiating committee.
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“The workers always wanted to work but have said it won’t be under any old circumstances just to say they have a job,” said Brian Bossaer.
“Seven months is a long time but they’re very adamant that they won’t accept a junk deal.”
Bossaer refused to comment on the nature of the agreement.
Up to 300 wiener-processing members in Hamilton are scheduled to vote on the deal March 25, said a union spokesperson there. The 190 bacon processing members eligible to vote in North Battleford will cast their ballots March 27.
Workers in North Battleford were locked out Aug. 31, 1997, and workers in Hamilton were locked out Oct. 4.
UFCW members in Saskat-
chewan earned $9.88 an hour before the lockout and sought higher wages and enhanced benefits.
Bossaer said whether workers accept the deal or not, the lockout has taken a toll on morale at the plant.
“They’ll go to work for the job, but a lot of employees are never going to buy Maple Leaf again in their lives,” he said.
Hamilton workers sought higher wages, improved benefits and the establishment of a pension plan, the UFCW said.
