Workers that make 2015’s best whiskey hit the picket lines
by The Canadian Press
Workers at the Crown Royal whiskey distillery in Gimli, Man., voted 98 per cent to reject plant owner Diageo Canada's latest offer
GIMLI, Man.—More than 50 members of local 832 of the United Food and Commercial Workers who work at the Crown Royal whiskey distillery in Gimli, Man., are expected to be walking the picket line today.
The workers voted 98 per cent on March 4 to reject the final offer from the company, Diageo Canada.
That came after they voted 100 per cent the day before to give the bargaining committee a strike mandate, which became effective at midnight.
Union president Jeff Traeger said wage increases, vacation time and health and welfare benefits were the sticking points in negotiations.
He said the union’s members “go to work every day with the mindset that they are making world’s greatest whisky.”
He said they believe if the company put the same effort into bargaining, they wouldn’t be on strike.
Company officials couldn’t be reached for comment.
