The Weston Plant in Longueuil is Saved!

Some 150 workers of the Weston plant in Longueuil have ratified the tentative agreement with its employer….

LAVAL, QC, Nov. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - The Weston bakery facility in Longueuil will be remaining open. This was the decision reached by the plant's 150 or so workers at a union meeting held November 6. They are represented by Local Union 1791 of the Teamsters union.

Last spring, company management had announced that the facility would shut its doors on December 31, 2010. Subsequent to that announcement, workers decided to transfer their union affiliation and join the Teamsters.

"We were counting on the revival of the plant," explained Sébastien Jetté, President of the plant's local union. "We had to find another viable option to make this possible, and the Teamsters quickly appeared to be the union capable of helping to save the bakery."

Salary increases totaling 11% have been negotiated for the duration of the agreement, along with a signing bonus for workers who choose to remain with Weston. For their part, those who opt to leave the bakery will all be eligible for severance pay.

In brief, the total workforce at the plant will be reduced from 150 to 75. The roll production unit is slated to remain closed until further notice, and the plant will henceforth produce sliced bread exclusively. However, the second production line may be operational next spring

"This may perhaps not be the best scenario, but the plant has been saved," emphasizes Bernard Girard, President of local 1791 of the Teamsters union. "Workers may be called back in 2011 to restart the second production line."

The company had indicated it wanted to reduce its payroll and was asking the union for greater flexibility with respect to worker mobility and work schedules. "We had to make certain compromises to make things work," added Bernard Girard. "But the negotiating committee certainly deserves to be congratulated for their remarkable work in this matter, as do the members who chose us to represent them."

A reclassification committee has already been formed for workers who wish to leave the company. The committee will be charged with minimizing the impacts of the personnel reduction.

The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.

For further information:

Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada
Mobile: [phone]
Office: 450-682-5521 x236
Email: [email protected]