NAPE calls for legislation to end the use of strikebreakers

“The lack of such legislation has prolonged strikes and caused undue hardship for the working people of this province, including the workers who are currently on strike at Labatt in St. John’s,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong.

St. John's (28 Nov. 2013) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is calling on the provincial government to immediately introduce legislation that will prevent the use of replacement workers and strikebreakers during a legal strike.

NAPE/NUPGE calls on government to introduce legislation to ban strikebrakers

“The lack of such legislation has prolonged strikes and caused undue hardship for the working people of this province, including the workers who are currently on strike at Labatt in St. John’s,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong. 

The provinces of Québec and British Columbia already have legislation which prevents the use of strikebreakers.

“We want the same provisions for workers in this province so that both parties are operating on a level playing field. It does nothing for labour relations to have enduring strikes that would likely be resolved if there wasn’t interference from using strikebreakers,” said Furlong. “Not so long ago a strike with Vale, another multi-billion dollar corporation, went on for over a year due the use of replacement workers. Only when the government intervened was this strike finally resolved.”

Labatt Brewery in St. John's has been using replacement workers since April 2013 to prolong the legal labour dispute

“The use of replacement workers and strike breakers create deep and long lasting divisions in the workplaces and in the communities where the workers live,” said Furlong. “We firmly believe that the introduction of anti- strikebreaker legislation would lead to more harmonious labour relations which will benefit all sides, as well as the province as a whole.”

“It is time for government to get engaged in the process and support the working people of this province. Government needs to send a message to multi-national corporations that their business is welcome in this province but that the people of this province, who provide the labour to these companies, must be treated with respect,” stated Furlong.

Eighth month on the line for NAPE/NUPGE strikers

The strike at Labatt Brewing Company (Labatt) is dragging on into its eighth month due to the use of strikebreakers.

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has been working with allies in the labour community as well as the public to put pressure on the company to return to the bargaining table. Labatt is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, which brings in approximately $9 billion in profit each year. Management came to the table with a list of concessions they wanted the workers to take. The bargaining committee quickly discovered Labatt had new global standards it wanted to force onto the St. John's plant and it was not interested in negotiating.

NAPE/NUPGE members have been receiving amazing solidarity from other brewery workers across the country and around the world. In August, the Canadian Labour Congress issued a labour-wide boycott on Labatt's import products. An email campaign was initiated directed at Labatt management encouraging them to stop using replacement workers and return to the bargaining table.

You can send the strikers encouragement and messages of solidarity by going to the solidarity website on Facebook.

More information:

NUPGE delegates unanimously support striking NAPE members: vow to boycott Labatt imports

CLC endorses consumer boycott of Labatt imports: St. John’s brewery workers on strike since April

Facebook page: support NL Labatt Workers

NUPGE