Nestlé workers in Canada are approaching their third week of strike action at a plant in Toronto, citing issues with pension pay. The dispute has led to 461 employees walking out at the Sterling Road factory since May 5, according to local trade union Unifor. The primary concerns revolve around pensions and the length of time it takes for workers to reach the top rate of pay.
Negotiations with Nestlé have not yielded any progress, with the union stating that talks are scheduled for the following week. The Ontario Regional Council has donated C$5,000 to support the striking workers. In response, Nestlé has offered “a fair and equitable agreement, that was supported by Unifor.”
On the matter, Nestlé mentioned, “The union recommended the agreement to their membership, but unfortunately, they did not accept the offer and opted to strike. We remain open to discussions and look forward to reaching a resolution.”
President Eamonn Clarke of Unifor’s Toronto branch, Local 252, emphasized the importance of fair offers that consider workers’ future well-being. The Sterling Road plant produces popular chocolate brands like KitKat, Coffee Crisp, Aero, and Smarties.
Despite the strikes, Nestlé assured that there would be no impact on the availability of its chocolate products. Interestingly, this is not the first time the Toronto site has faced strikes, as a similar dispute over pension pay occurred in 2001.
Moving forward, communication between Nestlé and Unifor will be crucial in resolving the ongoing labor issues.