The 320 or so unionized workers at the Molson plant in Longueuil who were present at a meeting rejected the latest employer offers by 99% and gave themselves a strike mandate at a union meeting held on Sunday morning. .
According to what the Teamsters Canada union reported, Molson imposed a final offer on the unionized workers concerning their wages, but this one “was not pre-negotiated”.
“Members clearly demonstrated their anger at this union meeting. I have not often seen in my career men and women so determined to be respected by their employer”, explained in a press release Éric Picotte, local union president of the Molson plant.
For the president of the Local Section 1999 of the Teamsters, Michel Héroux, the labor shortage which currently prevails in several sectors of activity, in particular in the brewing industry, “should be a clear signal to the employer” .
“Molson doesn’t seem to understand that workers are in short supply and they’re the ones who hold the advantage right now,” he said.
A possible strike will be called at the time deemed appropriate, it was also announced.
The Teamsters ensure that they remain open to possible negotiations, provided that the employer makes a real effort to be open-minded and has the “willingness to address and resolve the problems in the long term”.
