The day before, some 3,200 members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) from about 30 garment shops here--as well as outlying cities of Ste-Thérèse, Ste-Hyacinthe, and St. Césaire--had voted to reject for the second time a contract offer by the Men's Clothing Manufacturers Association (MCMA). The vote was close, with 1,473 voting against the offer and 1,386 voting for it.

In their first proposal the company had demanded a wage freeze in the first year of a 3-year contract, and only 20 cents an hour in each of the next two years. After this was rejected by the union membership, the MCMA offered a 10-cent raise in the first year, 15 cents in the second, and 20 cents the third.

"I was willing to go along with the first offer because of the economy," said Marta, a sewing machine operator who has worked at Jack Victor for over four years. "But when they came back with just five cents more, they touched my dignity. That woke me up. They treat us like we're ignorant. It's not just about money. It's about respect."

Workers this reporter met on the picket line in front of Golden Brand, the biggest shop in the bargaining unit with a workforce of 1,000, reported that as soon as copies of the second offer began to be distributed, a chorus of boos, shouts and whistles rang out, which lasted all day. Some workers threw nickels at their bosses.

In past contract fights, workers have been able to obtain a 25-cents-an-hour wage increase in each year of the 3-year contract. Many older workers who have been through previous struggles feel that this is a conquest that the union should not give up, especially since bosses have been able to boost production significantly in the last three years.

Another clause opposed by union members would allow the bosses to technically fire workers who extend their vacations without authorization and to rehire them as new workers.

Many workers view this clause as a trap, since many immigrant workers need to take extended vacation time to travel more cheaply to their country of origin during peak summer plant shutdowns.

In most shops, such authorizations are extended to only a select few workers. "We can't let the company fire workers or take away anyone's seniority. They will just use this clause to get rid of whomever they choose," said Rosa Andrade, another sewing machine operator.

The MCMA initially demanded that no minimum wage be written into the contract. However, the revised contract included minimum wage standards set in 1992 by Quebec government in the form of decrees regulating wages for 19,000 workers in the garment industry. These decrees had expired during negotiations but were recently extended with a wage freeze until June 2004. Most new hires are employed in general work, sewing, or pressing.

The decrees set minimum wages in these job categories of Can$7.00 to $8.40 (Can$1.00 = US63 cents.) The contract sets the lowest wage category at $7.25.

According to government figures, 84 percent of production jobs in this industry are held by women, the majority of whom are immigrants.

At the last contract negotiations in 1998, the MCMA collapsed under the pressure of growing competition in the industry and the determination of UNITE members. The bosses had to withdraw several concession demands, including lower wages for new hires.

Sylvie Charbin is a sewing machine operator and a member of UNITE on strike at Jack Victor. Nathan Cecckin, a presser at the same shop, contributed to this article.  
 
 
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