Farmers Dairy won't match Nfld agreement

HALIFAX, April 9 /CNW Telbec/ - Employees at Farmers Cooperative Dairy are headed for conciliation following the company's refusal to negotiate, and the union is planning to conduct a strike vote.

The members of Local 40N of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union applied for conciliation after talks broke down and the company refused to table a monetary offer saying union demands were "unreasonable".

"How can our wage proposal be unreasonable when it's exactly what the unionized workers at the Farmers Central Dairies Newfoundland operation received late last year," says Local President Brian Bennett.

"There are many outstanding issues but their refusal to counter on monetary issues was the last straw."

Bennett says the company has a poor attitude toward its employees. "There have been changes in the senior management team which is certainly affecting the working relationship between the Union and Company. There was a time when we felt there was trust and respect. That's gone now. Layoffs at the plant in Bedford are at an all time high."

CEP Local 40N represents 275 workers including trades, machine operators, shippers, truck drivers and merchandisers.

Workers have been without a collective agreement since October 2009.

For further information: Kim Power, [phone]; Brian Bennett, [phone]