Workers at Labatt End Eleven Month Strike – Ratify New Collective Agreement

Workers at Labatt End Eleven Month Strike – Ratify New Collective Agreement

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA – Striking workers at the Labatt plant in St. John’s have voted to accept a new collective agreement, ending an eleven month strike. The workers are members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE).

According to NAPE President Carol Furlong, the Union and the Employer, with assistance of a Conciliation Officer, have dedicated the past two months to trying to find a settlement to the ongoing dispute. “It was a difficult round of bargaining as was evident by the job action taken by the 45 employees,” said Furlong. “Ultimately, both parties were successful in finding resolutions to many complex issues during this round of collective bargaining.”

The new collective agreement will expire March, 2020. The workers will be heading back to work as early as Tuesday of next week.

The Union is now lifting the boycott on Labatt products that has been in effect since June. Furlong said, “We believe the support from the people of our province for the boycott had a significant impact on the outcome and we are very appreciative of that support. We hope that the public will continue that show of support for those workers and return to purchasing Labatt products.”

“This is an incredible story that a small group of 45 workers in St. John’s would receive such international attention and solidarity from workers as far away as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, the United States, and across Canada. We are very grateful for the support that helped our workers through this difficult time,” Furlong stated.

– 30 –

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