Beer Can Boycott Expanding Across Ontario

TORONTO, March 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Beer drinkers will be asked this weekend to join an Ontario-wide boycott of beer cans produced by a union-busting American corporation.

The beer can boycott, endorsed by the Ontario Federation of Labour, is expanding this weekend with demonstrations at Beer Store and LCBO outlets across the province on Saturday.

Consumers are being urged to buy their beer in bottles, not cans manufactured by U.S.-based multinational Crown Holdings, one of the world's largest beer can manufacturers. The boycott supports Toronto factory workers forced on strike by Crown in 2013.

WHO:	Members and supporters of United Steelworkers Local 9176 on strike against beer can manufacturer Crown Holdings.
WHAT:	Demonstrations promoting Ontario-wide beer can boycott.
WHERE:	Beer Store and LCBO outlets across Ontario.
WHEN:	Saturday, March 28, 2015, 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.

Crown Holdings forced a strike in September 2013 by demanding huge concessions from its Toronto workers, despite increased profits and recognizing the Toronto factory as its top plant in North America.

After provoking the strike, Crown hired replacement workers to operate the Toronto plant and prolong the dispute, which is now into its 19th month.

"This multinational corporation is using U.S.-style, union-busting tactics to try to eliminate decent, middle-class jobs," said Marty Warren, Ontario Director of the United Steelworkers (USW), which represents the striking employees.

"This is unacceptable in our country and that's why support is growing for these workers and for this beer can boycott," Warren said.

Earlier this month the Ontario government announced the appointment of an Industrial Inquiry Commission into the labour dispute provoked by Crown Holdings. The commission must compel Crown to finally negotiate a fair settlement with its Toronto employees, the USW says.

For more details, videos, photos and radio ads, see www.bottlesnotcans.ca.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Marty Warren, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792; Joe Drexler, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-544-6009, 416-434-7907, [email protected]; Alexandra Eshelman, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-570-9984, [email protected]; Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, [email protected]