After a 42-day lockout lasting over the holidays, close to 120 workers at Satin Flooring in North York, Ontario, voted last Friday by a margin of 79% to ratify a new 3-year collective agreement and gradually return to work.
“This was a prolonged labour dispute at a company facing serious financial difficulties. Our members decided it is time to move forward and start healing,” said Fernanda Santos, President of Teamsters Local Union 847, which represents workers at the company. “We achieved the best possible deal, given that the company’s survival is at stake.”
“I would like to thank our members for their outstanding support, and especially recognize our stewards Sidhu, Andrew and AJ for remaining strong throughout everything,” she added.
Satin Flooring was founded in 1922 and changed ownership five years ago. The company filed for creditor protection in 2018.
Workers had been locked out since December 7, 2018. This was the first labour dispute at Satin Flooring since its workers joined the Teamsters over 30 years ago.
Teamsters represent 125,000 members in Canada in all industries. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, represents 1.4 million workers in North America.
