NAPE Calling on Government to Appoint Conciliation Board in Effort to Resolve Labatt Strike

NAPE Calling on Government to Appoint Conciliation Board in Effort to Resolve Labatt Strike

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) is calling on the provincial government to appoint a conciliation board in an effort to end the strike at Labatt in St. John’s which is now in its seventh month.

“We are calling on the government to appoint a conciliation board with the hope that this move will help put an end to the strike at Labatt which has been dragging on for months,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong.

Section 107 of the Labour Relations Act (Appointment of a conciliation board) states: “Where a conciliation officer fails to bring about an agreement between the parties engaged in a collective bargaining or in a case where the minister considers it desirable to do so, the minister may appoint a conciliation board for the purpose of trying to bring about an agreement between the parties.”

“The legislation was clearly designed to deal with labour disputes such as the one at Labatt’s,” stated Furlong. “It also clearly indicates that government has an important role to play in assisting parties who find themselves unable to reach a collective agreement.”

“After numerous failed attempts at the bargaining table with a conciliation officer, it is clear that additional steps must be taken in order to move the bargaining process forward with this employer,” said Furlong. “This strike requires the assistance of a third party and government has the power to make this happen. As such, we are calling on the Minister of Justice, Darin King, to appoint a conciliation board for the Labatt strike.”

Workers with Labatt Brewing Company (Labatt) in St. John’s, who are members of NAPE, have been on strike since April 10 of this year.

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For further information please contact:

Keith Dunne, NAPE Campaigns and Communications Coordinator

(phone) 709.570.2501

(cell) 709.631.9737

(e-mail) kdunne@nape.nf.ca