Labatt workers ratify new collective agreement

Deal ends 11 month-long strike

Striking workers at the Labatt plant in St. John’s, Newfoundland, voted to accept a new collective agreement.

The deal between the brewing company and employees represented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) ended an 11 month-long strike.

“It was a difficult round of bargaining as was evident by the job action taken by the 45 employees,” said NAPE president Carol Furlong. “Ultimately, both parties were successful in finding resolutions to many complex issues during this round of collective bargaining.”

Furlong said the union and employer dedicated the past two months to finding a settlement to the ongoing dispute with the assistance of a conciliation officer. The union is now lifting its boycott on Labatt products, in effect since June.

“We believe the support from the people of our province for the boycott had a significant impact on the outcome and we are very appreciative of that support,” Furlong said. “We hope that the public will continue that show of support for those workers and return to purchasing Labatt products.”

The new agreement is set to expire in March 2020 and could see employees returning to work as early as next week.

Latest stories