Between 80 and 90 workers at Volailles Marvid, producing kosher chicken, have been on strike since September 13 to demand sufficient hours of work and higher wages. They are earning on average Can$11.44 an hour and are demanding Can$18 (U.S.$1=Can$1.25). This is to compensate for the few hours of work they get and to earn closer to parity with other workers in the poultry industry, according to Désir. Since the company opened a new production line a few months ago, the workweek has been reduced to an average of 20 hours, which is not even guaranteed, workers on the picket line said.

“Why would I go back in without a good contract when I’m getting more money picketing,” said Glorieuse Dorvil, who has worked for 26 years in the company as a packer and in the cut line. She pointed out that picketers get Can$200 a week from the union’s strike fund. “We don’t know how many hours we’ll work any given week,” she added. “We can’t continue like that.”

Samy Israel has been working for four months there. Even though he is still on probation, he joined the picket line. He stayed at work with a back injury to avoid being fired. His job is to hold the chickens while rabbis cut their throats. “When I get home, it’s like my hands don’t belong to me anymore. Inside there,” he said, pointing to the plant, “human beings have no importance.”

Workers are picketing the company six days a week, since bosses don’t work on Saturdays. Strikers organize a very lively barbecue every Sunday in front of the plant, dancing and singing to the music out of speakers placed on a van.

Militant reporters witnessed an attempt by workers to delay the entry of a van carrying chickens inside the plant on October 24. The stand off lasted nearly 45 minutes.  
 
 
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