Vol. 73/No. 42      November 2, 2009

In 2005 the workers agreed to a 20 percent cut in wages and benefits in face of Olymel’s threats to close the plant. Union representatives said that this time the bosses are demanding another 16 percent to 17 percent in concessions, including a four-year wage freeze, increased work flexibility, and the right to subcontract work.

On the first day of the strike, antiriot cops were dispatched in force to get managers out of the plant in face of some 200 pickets who were in a fighting spirit. The cops returned the evening of October 13 to get out eight trailer trucks filled with meat orders that could not leave due to the picketing.

Pierre Bibeau worked 12 years at the nearby St-Simon plant. That plant was closed in 2007. “When I came to the St-Hyacinthe plant, I lost $378 per week in wages and benefits,” he told the Militant October 12 on the picket line.

On the picket lines, many strikers were especially incensed by the fact that Olymel made $96 million in profits in 2008 (Can$1 = US$0.96) and already more than $100 million this year, according to union representative Jean-Guy Plante.

Workers say they expect the strike to be long. Olymel announced it has moved some of the production to other plants. Because of several buyouts made by Olymel over the years, “we are in several unions,” said Mario Paradis, a boner with 19 years in the plant. Some of the Olymel plants in Quebec are organized by the UFCW, others by the National Trade Union Federation. “But there is one single big boss,” added Paradis. “We must help each other.”

Michel Prairie is the Communist League candidate for mayor of Montreal in the November 1 elections.
 
 
Related articles:
On the Picket Line
Workers in Puerto Rico strike over mass layoffs
Washington teachers, students fight firings
Nursing home workers demand contract  
 
 
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