Some people may have noticed that the baking aisle of the grocery store has looked a little less ‘sweet’ as of late.
This is largely due to the fact that factory workers for Lantic Inc. (Rogers Sugar) walked off the jobsite eight weeks ago in Vancouver, and have been holding out against their employer who wants them to work through the weekend.
“We have told the company on several occasions that our membership would not accept a proposal that included continuous shifts as part of the agreement,” said a representative of the workers union, the Public and Private Workers of Canada Local 8.
Rogers workers currently operate on a Monday to Friday schedule working eight-hour days with three different shifts — day, night and overnight.
What the company is trying to impose on the workers is the ‘continuous shift,’ which would force workers to be at the factory seven days a week. Rogers also proposed to them working 12-hour shifts so they would only need to schedule two shifts per day — a day and night shift.
This change could potentially even end up with the company cutting some of their staff.
“We value that weekend time to be with our families and do not want to lose that,” said the worker’s union.
“Work-life balance is very important to us and spending more time at work than with your family does not support that.”
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The standstill in negotiations with neither side backing down has led Rogers to apply to the British Columbia Labour Relations Board for mediation to help it reach an agreement with the 138 workers who have been picketing since September 28th.
Because of this strike, businesses such as bakeries and restaurants have been struggling to find what they need to sell the products they make.
Businesses in Victoria like Frickin’ Delights Donuts and Empire Donuts have been looking out for one another, purchasing each other sugar when needed.
“We do not feel we should have to give up the benefits we currently have,” the union said.
“Nobody wants to be on strike, but we remain strong and very united.”
