Labatt’s strike hurts workers — literally

Use of replacement workers at Labatt leads to injuries and accidents.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

ST JOHN'S,  July 17, 2013 — The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is sounding the alarm on the potential for dangerous workplace situations associated with the use of replacement workers after recent incidents at the Labatt Brewing Company plant in St John’s.

“There are reports of workplace injuries, accidents, and potential violations of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation involving replacement workers at the Labatt plant,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong. “We have a situation at the plant where ill-trained and inexperienced workers are crossing a picket line to operate complex equipment and deal with potentially dangerous chemicals and caustic materials. This is a recipe for disaster.”

“In the past few days alone, we have become aware of a serious injury sustained by a replacement worker while on the assembly line as well as a chemical spill of a caustic substance outside the building,” said Furlong. “These incidents support our call for the government to enact anti-scab legislation.”

Add your voice to the campaign to get these workers back on the job with a fair collective agreement. Over 9,000 supporters have already sent a message to Labatt Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) management to tell them their concessionary bargaining is unacceptable. Adding your message tells the world's largest (and very profitable) brewing corporation that Canada and the world is watching.

Send your message via LabourStart.

More information
NAPE strike/boycott page
NUPGE delegates unanimously support striking NAPE members: vow to boycott Labatt imports

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