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BRAMPTON, February 5 – Workers at Vast Auto Distribution in Brampton were forced on strike early today after the employer walked away from the bargaining table on Friday and refused to consider raising wages above poverty levels. “This employer continues to want to pay its workers poverty rate wages, in a city where the cost of living is rising rapidly,” said Unifor National Representative Paulo Ribeiro. “Our membership is committed to ensuring that doesn’t happen, for themselves, their spouses and their children.” The 29 members of Local 1285 were forced on strike at 12:01am today. Ribeiro said the workers unionized and negotiated their first collective agreement three years ago to address chronic low wages and benefits, made worse by a high turnover rate. The contract expired January 31 of this year. Ribeiro said the membership is solidly behind the union’s bargaining committee, which is working with the Unifor national office to generate support for the strike and to find a fair resolution. “We are ready and prepared at any time to meet with the employer and find a resolution that is fair for everyone,” Ribeiro said. Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged. -30- For more information, please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Stuart Laidlaw at @email or (cell) 647-385-4054.
