Workers represented by Teamsters Local 1999 of the Teamsters Union have ratified the employer’s offer by 61%.
Laval, May 17, 2023—Workers represented by Teamsters Local 1999 at Agropur in Beauce, have just ratified their new collective agreement with Agropur by 61%, effectively ending the strike that began on May 8.
Having been without a contract since January 31, the workers were forced to go on strike as negotiations with the dairy cooperative were not progressing for many months.
François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, emphasized the importance of collective action: “Our members had reached a breaking point. Their voices weren’t being heard and the negotiations were going nowhere. They democratically decided to rally and strike, which shifted the company’s stance. In less than two weeks, they secured an accepted offer. It’s a testament to the power of workers’ solidarity!”
Marc Béliveau, a union representative from Teamsters Local 1999, who oversaw these negotiations, asserted that the workers have reason to be proud of their achievement: “Their primary demand was a wage adjustment. Agropur was significantly underpaying the Beauce workforce compared to other Quebec employees, which had become untenable. Now, this discrepancy has been rectified, allowing everyone to carry out their jobs with the dignity they deserve.”
Teamsters Canada would like to commend the workers at Agropur for their disciplined strike action and for their exemplary defence of their rights.
With over 125,000 members, Teamsters Canada is the country’s largest transportation and supply chain union. The organization represents workers at CP, CN, UPS, Purolator, countless trucking companies, and more. They are affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents over 1.2 million workers in North America.
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Marc-André Gauthier
Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada
Cell : 514-206-0492 | [email protected]
