/
g) , STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS

PHOTO BY MARIO FORTUNATO.

= Local 306 members took successful strike action to acheive some concrete gains in their second collective agreement.

Northumberland crew wins
IWA Local 306 dairy workers reached a five-year

deal after four week job action in New Brunswick

WORKERS IN MIRAMICHI and
other parts of New Brunswick scored
victory following strike action in June.
One hundred and fifty workers walked
out against the Northumberland Co-op
erative Ltd. dairy and distribution facili-
ty on June 2 in their battle for better
wages and against contracting out.
When the dust cleared in late June, the
strikers ratified a collective agreement
which made significant improvements.

On June 30, the crew ratified a five-
year agreement that expires on
December 31, 2008. By the end of the
agreement the top pay rate (for
mechanics) will be $17.82 per hour for
full-timers. Some part-timers will see
wages go from the $9.00 per hour
range to the $14-15 per hour range by
the final year. By 2005 full-time work-
ers will be paid overtime after 40 hours.
The employer agreed to pay 95 per cent
of the full job rate upon completion of
the probationary period (90 working
days). This will be achieved in the fourth
year. “Our union achieved a lot of con-
crete gains, for what is only the second
collective agreement.” says IWA
Council chairman Norm Rivard, who
acted as chief spokesperson. Other
members of the negotiating committee

Taking on

THE CREW AT NORTHWEST
Hardwoods in Delta, B.C. had enough of
parent company Weyerhaeuser’s pulling
the strings in attempts to wring conces-
sions — so over 90 Local 13567 mem-
bers pulled the pin on July 1. Issues
include the company’s attempt to drive a
three-year deal that would pay a two per
cent lump sum in each of the first two
years and a mere two per cent in the
third. The company cancelled its training
agreement despite the union's effort to
accomommodate bona fide concerns.
Plant chair Aman Sihota says the
company wants to circumvent seniority
and promote whoever they want. He
said the crew is dug in over the issue and
wants a training agreement back, with
seniority as a base for selection.

included local president Mario
Fortunato, chair Greg Matheson,
Eugene Russell, Paul Savage,
Amanda Cooper, Marcel Lavoie, and
Allan Ramsay.

Brother Rivard points out there is
language to stem the company’s
efforts at contracting out delivery ser-
vices. During the term of the contract,
Northumberland has agreed to not
contract out jobs done by delivery
route drivers and tractor/trailer dri-
vers. Ifa route is lost, layoffs will take
place respecting seniority. In recent
years, about 30 jobs, mainly in deliv-
ery, had been contracted out.

Brother Fortunato says the workers
have been upset when they see man-
agers doing their work. “With the new
agreement, we will see an end to that,
except in an emergency when a bar-
gaining unit employee can’t be located
to immediately do the job.”

The strike, which was attended to by
nearly every member, began late in the
day on June 2. Pickets were solid in
Miramichi where the plant is located.

Local 1-306 is also certified to
Northumberland’s main competitor,
Baxter Foods Ltd. located in
Fredericton. Sources say during the

strike, Baxter picked up an extra 13 per
cent market share in the province. At
one point, Northumberland shipped
cartons to Quebec to fill them with non-
union milk.

“They tried to sell New Brunswickers
scab milk and that didn’t go over very
well — either with customers or workers
in the province,” commented
Fortunato. Local members leafled vari-
ous retail outlets where the non-union
product was being sold, including the
Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys.

Brother Fortunato says workers are

seeing a change in the way the employ-
er operates. “Now workers are seeing
more respect from the company. Their
concerns and grievances are being
addressed immediately rather than
being delayed or swept under the rug,”
he says. During the strike, the
Steelworkers threw support behind the
striking Northumberland crew.
Ontario/Atlantic director Wayne Fraser
issued a press release backing the wro-
kers. “Their fight is our fight...employ-
ers have to understand that when they
take on the IWA, they take on the
strength of two organizations commit-
ed to supporting each other,” said
Brother Fraser.

Weyerhaeuser again!

Local union president Sonny Ghag
says that Weyco is trying “American-
style management tactics” in trying to
divide workers. “It won't work - our
members are united.” He adds that the
crew has reacted positively to the merg-

PHOTO BY NORMAN GARCIA

= Right, Local 1-3567 president Sonny Ghag addresses crew at a rally.

er with the USWA, which will give it
additional clout to take on Weyco.
Second vice president and business agent
Earl Graham notes the crew struck the
company for 6 weeks following the 2000
strike on the coast, to back up demands.

PHOTO BY JOHN GOLDTHORP:
= Local 1-1000 crew on the line.

Superior Hardwood veneer
crew vetos employer’s offer
In late July, Local 1-1000 members
at the Superior Hardwood Veneer
picket line near Sault Ste. Marie
turned down an employer's lousy
offer which asked for 17 of 32 work-
ers to be recalled from a strike
which began on March 29. One hun-
dred per cent of the 21 members
who voted on the offer, presented
through a mediator, said no to an
agreement which would have not
respected seniority on recall, paid
no increases in the first year and
offer a mere 15 cents per hour
increase in each of the next four.
The American-owned company has
filed for bankruptcy and the picket
line is being maintained as
Steelworker lawyers help in the
fight for severance pay. “Our people
are solid. They would rather see the
place close than agree to anything
that would discriminate against their
fellow workers,” say John
Goldthorp, the local’s financial sec-

retary. The union’s alleged Superior
was bargaining in bad faith.

FILE PHOTO

= Local unions will be entitled to
unique strike benefits.

Local unions going over to
USWA strike pay system

In future strikes, local union mem-
bers will have access to the USWA's
nearly $150 million Strike and
Defense fund and have the same
rights as long-time Steelworkers.
After a three week waiting period,
$100 is paid for each member in the
bargaining unit. This amount
increases to $115 per member in
week ten. Those who appear for
picket duty get an equal share of the
total money paid out weekly. For
instance if there are 100 people in
the striking barganing unit and 50
appear on the picket line, each
worker gets $200 a week. On top of
that each local will administer their
share of assets returned from the
IWAss strike fund at the time of the
merger. One-half of the remaining
fund is to be split pro rata amongst
the locals. In addition 15 per cent of
per capita paid to the International

will be transmitted to local strike
funds.

8 | THE ALLIED WORKER SEPTEMBER 2004