Potential Strike at Russel Metals Inc.'s AJ Forsyth Operations in B.C.

BURNABY, BC, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - United Steelworkers (USW) members at five AJ Forsyth operations in British Columbia have voted 99.8 per cent in favour of strike action, if necessary, to back their bargaining committee's contract demands. AJ Forsyth is a division of Russel Metals Inc.

USW staff representative Steve Dewell says workers at the company's Delta, Kelowna, Prince George, Campbell River and Nanaimo operations are poised to strike, to get the company to remove its demands for contract concessions.

"We have been bargaining with AJ Forsyth for over 18 months and still face the same obstacles to reaching collective agreement," says Dewell.

"At a time when Russel Metals' share prices have recovered and there has been a considerable recovery in value-added metal fabrication industries across Canada, it is a mystery to us why this employer is stuck on demanding concessions from its workforce."

A collective agreement covering union members in all five operations expired in February 2009.

"We believe a deal is within reach once concessions are removed and a few outstanding issues are resolved," says Dewell.

For further information:

Steve Dewell, 604-513-1850 or 604-996-7883