Workers back at Ontario Coca-Cola plant after approving new deal
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
New deal approved by 83 per cent, officially ending three-week strike that began June 27
TORONTO—Work is back underway at a Coca-Cola bottling facility west of Toronto after employees approved a new three-year deal, putting an end to a three-week strike at the plant.
The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union, which represents approximately 700 workers at the Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada plant in Brampton, Ont., said over the weekend the new deal was approved by 83 per cent, officially ending the strike that began June 27.
A tentative deal was agreed upon July 18.
According to the union, the new deal includes wage hikes in the second and third years of the deal, and a weekend worker program that includes two 12-hour premium shifts over the weekend.
The new program will see around-the-clock production seven days a week at the facility.
The new deal also includes an agreement to end demands to outsource existing work and undisclosed pension plan changes.
“The real fight here was over the defined benefit pension plan, with Coca-Cola pushing us to move to a defined contribution plan,” assistant to the CAW national president Jerry Dias said in a statement.
“Coca-Cola can certainly afford for employees to retire with a stable income. We were ultimately successful in keeping the defined benefit pension plan and improving upon it.”
Production at the plant resumed July 22.
