Strike action at Toronto can manufacturing plant continues
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Union representing 130 striking workers demanding management take action to end job action
TORONTO—The union representing 130 striking workers at a Toronto can manufacturing plant says it is stepping up its campaign to end the three-week job action.
According to the United Steelworkers (USW) union, it has sent letters to the chief executive and board of directors of Crown Holdings, Inc. demanding management take action to end the strike.
The letter, jointly signed by Canadian and international leaders from the USW, and leaders from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Unite, the United Kingdom’s largest union, claims Crown “forced employees to make the difficult decision to go on strike” after collective agreement negotiations broke down.
The USW alleges Crown’s demands included the removal of a cost-of-living allowance and only minimal wage increases “after years of pay freezes.”
Crown is also fighting for a two-tier wage schedule, the union claims.
It called the company’s behaviour during negotiations “confrontational and arrogant.”
“The Toronto plant is one of the company’s premier plants, and it’s time to draw a line in the sand to stop Crown’s unwarranted attack on all its workers,” USW Canadian national director Ken Neumann said in a statement.
The employees have been on strike since Sept. 6.
