By email, the company argues that it had decided to lock out the 250 UNIFOR-affiliated employees who had voted for a strike mandate, out of concern for safety.
A strike initiated by the UNIFOR union forced the Company to implement a lockout at the La Tuque plant in order to ensure safe conditions for all plant employees. Production was halted while the two parties met in the presence of a provincial mediator.
She adds that the 120 other employees who are affiliated with the local union UNIK (local 34) and not affected by the labor dispute had to be laid off until the factory resumed operations
.
Their last shift ended last night around 7:30 p.m. since they cannot maintain their production without their colleague who is currently locked out.
A bad period
According to Dany Bérubé, president of the UNIK union, local 34, despite the difficult situation, it is solidarity that prevails between the two unions.
If we don’t have steam, we can’t do [fonctionner] paper machines and if you don’t have pulp, you can’t make cardboard either. One is interrelated to the other. We closed the machines, we rinsed everywhere, so that it wouldn’t freeze because the cold, the factory, it doesn’t go well together when it’s stopped. Since last night, it’s over for us. If this continues the conflict, we will all go on unemployment.
The layoff of these hundreds of workers raises fears of the worst for the economy of the City of La Tuque.
The Director General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haut-Saint-Maurice, Béatrice Roy-Prince, is concerned about the ongoing labor dispute, especially as the holiday season is approaching, a crucial time of year for traders.
Honestly, we are concerned about the impacts that a prolonged lockout could have on our economy. We have several SMEs, companies that are subcontracted to the plant, that have contracts at the WestRock plant. But, we also think a lot of our merchants, restaurateurs who would see their activities reduced by a good number of employees with a reduced salary. This is what concerns us at present.
According to the Unifor union, which represents the 250 locked-out employees, the conciliator involved in the negotiations could make a recommendation shortly.
There may be some development over the weekend, but nothing is confirmed as of yet.
With information from Charles-Antoine Boulanger
