Hundreds of workers hit picket lines at Edmonton turkey processing plant
by the canadian press
Union spokesperson says Edmonton employees handling heavier birds, averaging $1.28 less an hour
EDMONTON—About 200 workers are on strike at a Lillydale Foods Inc., turkey processing plant in Edmonton.
The strikers set up a picket line Aug. 27 outside the facility after contract talks broke down last week.
John Ventura, a spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers, says the employees want wage parity with their counterparts at other company plants and a guaranteed 36-hour work week.
Ventura says Edmonton employees are handling heavier birds and getting $1.28 an hour less on average.
He also says the company’s offer of 40 cents more per hour in each year of a three-year agreement was turned down by the union members.
The company has said the wage offer is fair and reasonable.
