MAPLE LEAF WORKERS FIGHT BACK THROUGH ADS
By Adnews Staff
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union launched a newspaper campaign earlier this month urging consumers to boycott Maple Leaf products and establishments until the company settles contract disputes with workers at four of its pork processing plants. Workers at the Burlington, Ont. and Edmonton plants have been on strike since mid-November. Workers from the North Battleford, Saskatchewan and Hamilton, Ont. plants have been locked out since Aug. 31 and Oct. 4 respectively. The workers claim that Maple Leaf is demanding wage and benefit cuts of between $6 and $9 an hour to be more competitive with U.S. plants. The headline of the ad reads, "We're not bringing home the bacon." The ad then explains UFCW's position in negotiations with Maple Leaf and asks consumers not to purchase Maple Leaf products until Canadian workers are paid "what's fair and equitable in Canada." The ad was created in-house by the union.