TORONTO, May 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a vote held on April 27, UFCW Canada Local 1006A members working at Maple Leaf Foods voted 98% in favour of taking strike action to get a fair contract.
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. announced in November 2018 that it will be closing its Toronto facility by 2021. In light of the company’s decision to close, workers' main priority is to achieve fair severance and closure language.
The approximately 680 workers who process poultry at the facility have struggled to get a fair deal since it expired September 23, 2018.
"The ‘deep regrets’ expressed by CEO Michael McCain are sorely missing at the negotiating table,” said Don Taylor, lead negotiator for Local 1006A. "Maple Leaf has failed to demonstrate a meaningful commitment to do more than the bare minimum as workers' jobs disappear. We’re calling on the company to do the right thing by our members who have worked so hard to ensure Maple Leaf's success."
Many members at the plant are long-service employees. The plant closure means the loss of good-paying unionized jobs in Toronto.
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. recently reported $50.1 million in 2019 Q1 profit, with sales up 11 percent from a year ago.
UFCW Local 1006A represents over 35,000 workers in Ontario in all sectors of the economy, including the manufacturing, hotel, retail, restaurant, and meat processing industries.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Don Taylor
Regional Director
UFCW Canada Local 1006A
416-709-7935
communications@ufcw1006.ca