Source: Montreal Gazette
The strike at the Quebec plant gained wide attention when it resulted in one million chickens being euthanized.
Unionized workers on strike at the Exceldor poultry co-operative in the Chaudière-Appalaches region have, “for the moment,” rejected an offer of arbitration from Quebec’s Labour Ministry.
The strike at the plant gained wide attention when it resulted in one million chickens being euthanized over three weeks. Labour Minister Jean Boulet then offered to name an arbitrator to settle the dispute.
However, that offer requires the consent of both parties.
Management on Tuesday night accepted Boulet’s proposition. Joël Cormier, senior vice-president of Exceldor’s poultry division, said the conflict “has gone on long enough; we have to stop this waste.”
But the unionized staff, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers, said Wednesday they were “for the moment” turning down the offer.
The union says it wants to “give every chance” to the conciliation process already under way. “It’s always better to have a negotiated deal than to see an arbitrator impose a collective agreement,” UFCW spokesperson Roxane Larouche said in an interview. She said an arbitrated agreement would not solve the heart of the issues at stake.
Meetings with the conciliator are scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
There are major differences between the two parties over the issues of salary and work conditions. According to the latest discussions, the employer is offering $22 an hour but the union wants $25.
Larouche also said there was a “toxic workplace climate” for several years. “Slaughterhouse work is standing up, shoulder to shoulder, with scents that are not always nice, in a humid environment.”
Workers, she said, have reached “a point of no return” and demand the parties address these problems.
