‘Strikebreakers’ brought in at Toronto can plant, union claims
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
United Steelworkers alleges Crown Holdings bringing workers in from non-unionized Calgary plant
TORONTO—The union representing striking workers at a Toronto can manufacturer said its “David-versus-Goliath struggle” is far from over, and claims the company is trying to break the strike with replacement workers.
According to the United Steelworkers (USW) union, 130 workers at a Crown Holdings plant have been on strike for more than four weeks, and the company is now bringing in “strikebreakers” from its non-union plant in Calgary, “inflaming” the already tense labour situation.
“Crown Holdings’ use of strikebreakers is an obvious provocation and should be widely condemned,” USW Ontario director Marty Warren said in a strike update release.
The union alleges Crown “provoked a strike” at its Toronto plant after demanding concessions from employees, including two-tier wage rates and pension freezes, in their latest round of negotiations.
Crown’s Toronto plant supplies cans to Labatt, Molson-Coors and Cott, among others.
