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   Vol.65/No.22            June 4, 2001 
 
 
Unionists strike chocolate plant in Canada
 
BY CAMILO TORRES AND GABRIEL CHARBIN  
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--"Before the strike we underestimated the immigrant women. We knew they were strong, but not this strong," said Margaret Florence, a warehouse worker now on strike against Purdy's Chocolate. "The company has always tried to intimidate and divide workers," added Penny Dean, the union chairperson. "They treat the immigrant workers differently." Some 95 percent of workers on strike are women and a big majority are immigrants, mainly from Southeast Asia.

Members of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) Local 2000, set up picket lines at Purdy's Chocolate April 30, the first strike against the company in its 94 years in existence. The company employs 600 workers and owns 47 stores in British Columbia and Alberta. The 105 strikers work in the production plant and are the only unionized employees at the company.

The main issues in the strike are job security, wages, and benefits. The company is offering an 80 cents raise over the next four years, and the union is demanding a 47-cents-an-hour increase each year. Part-time workers currently start at Can$8.36 an hour, but do not receive benefits. Full-time workers earn between Can$13 an hour in production to Can$23 an hour in maintenance (Can$1 = US 65 cents). Union members are also seeking long-term disability coverage to be added to their benefits.

The CEP signed its first collective bargaining agreement with the company in 1998 following mediation by the Labor Relations Board. The central issue then was for the company to end discrimination against some employees and eliminate a two-tier structure.

Workers are keeping picket lines up around the clock. They are being reinforced by CEP members from Pacific Press, where this city's two major dailies are printed. They volunteer their support before or after work. Many people in cars honk their horns in support and a few stop for information.

Police are enforcing an injunction issued by the courts in favor of Purdy's that prohibits workers from blocking cars coming into the struck plant.

Spirits are high on the picket line, said Dean. "Before the strike, we would say 'hi,' but we didn't know each other very well. Now we talk to each other and get to know each other on the picket line. With everyday that passes, we get stronger and stronger," she said.

A union-organized rally in front of the plant May 4 drew strikers and delegations from 15 unions. The CEP local sent a representative to a May 12 rally in support of transit workers to let others know about the strike. The union is organizing a barbecue in front of the plant May 25. Strikers are considering a leafleting campaign of Purdy's stores.

Gabriel Charbin is a meat packer.  
 
 
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