The 250 union members of the Agropur plant in Montreal reached an agreement with their employer on Sunday after a week of strike, limiting the damage as the holiday season dawns.
• Read also: Agropur strike at the Saint-Laurent factory: consumers hit their noses on empty milk fridges
• Read also: Agropur: 250 employees on strike at the Saint-Laurent plant
“By choosing to protest and stop their work, our members managed to make themselves heard, and to seek, in one week, what could have taken months, even years to obtain,” reacted Jean -François Pelletier, Secretary-Treasurer of Local Section 1999.
The offer was accepted on Sunday around noon by employees of the dairy processor.
The collective agreement, which expired in September, includes a salary increase of at least 21.5% over six years, depending on the different professions.
“We believe we have reached an agreement that is fair and equitable for the employees, and which also allows the cooperative to remain competitive in the market,” argues Guillaume Bérubé, director of public relations and strategic communications at Agropur.
A gradual return to work is planned for Monday at the factory located in the Saint-Laurent district.
The Agropur union launched a strike after refusing an offer presented by the management party last weekend.
Considerable effect
The walkout led to a stock shortage of certain brands, such as Natrel, meaning that some fridges had become empty in recent days.
Photo Mathieu Boulay
Agropur had to trigger a “contingency plan”, for example bringing in milk produced in a factory in Ontario.
“We had to prioritize certain formats, certain products” that were more popular, concedes Guillaume Bérubé.
“It demonstrates the essential role that our members play in the supply chain, and they deserve compensation that reflects this role,” explained Jérôme Gendron, union representative for Local Section 1999.
Relief
The Food Retailers Association (ADA) welcomed this new outcome in the negotiations on Sunday.
“We are pleased that an agreement was reached quickly. This avoids long-term repercussions, particularly for consumers and retailers in the run-up to the holidays, which is the busiest period for our members,” we indicate in a statement sent to the Journal.
For the moment, it is difficult to establish how long the effects of the strike will be felt.
“We will restart production as quickly as possible,” insists Guillaume Bérubé, of Agropur. I can only tell you that we will do everything to ensure that our products are delivered as quickly as possible.”
The factory should soon be operating at full capacity, thus limiting the short-term consequences, added Marc-André Gauthier, of the Teamsters Canada union organization.
– With the QMI Agency and TVA Nouvelles
Do you have any information to share with us about this story?
Write to us at or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.
2023-12-18 03:53:20
#Strike #Agropur #agreement #reached #gradual #return #work #planned #tomorrow
