340,000-member National Union calls for boycott of Labatt imports, launches email-writing campaign

OTTAWA, June 20, 2013 /CNW/ - In support of almost 50 striking Labatt workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, the representatives of hundreds of thousands of provincial government and private sector employees from across the country have voted unanimously to take part in and promote a national boycott of imported Labatt beers - including Stella Artois, Beck's, and Löwenbräu.

The striking brewery workers are members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) and are also members of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

NUPGE, which represents more than 340,000 workers from across the country, held its triennial convention in Ottawa this past weekend.

The more than 300 delegates to the convention voted unanimously to support the boycott, which only targets Labatt's imported products in order to prevent the brewing company's other unionized employees in Canada from experiencing any loss of work. The Labatt imports being targeted for boycott are:

• Stella Artois
• Stella Artois Light
• Beck's
• Brahma
• Hoegaarden
• Leffe
• Staropromen
• Boddingtons
• Bass
• Löwenbräu and
• Ozujsko Pivo.

NUPGE is also launching a national email-writing campaign in support of the striking Labatt workers. To take part in the campaign, NUPGE is inviting its members and the general public to visit: www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1867.

The boycott and email campaign will increase the pressure on the owners of Labatt - the multinational corporation Anheuser-Busch InBev - to offer a fair and respectful contract to the workers who have been on strike since April 10. Last year, AB InBev posted after-tax profits of more than $9 billion.

NUPGE President James Clancy said there was no question of his union's support.

"Our members are outraged by the way this incredibly profitable corporation is treating its employees in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Clancy. "Through our boycott on Labatt's imports and our email-writing campaign, we intend to remind these business leaders that there are consequences for trying to take advantage of hard-working Canadians."

NUPGE is one of Canada's largest labour organizations, with more than 340,000 members from coast to coast, including the more than 25,000 members of NAPE.

SOURCE: NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC AND GENERAL EMPLOYEES

Andy Pedersen, NUPGE National Representative
(cell) 613.710.6743 (e-mail) [email protected]