Hunger strike could be option
Rumours surround picketing Unifor Local 597 members in Gander
Frustration continues to grow on the Unifor Local 597 picket line in Gander.
The Beacon recently received an email citing rumours of a potential hunger strike by union members in order to force the hand of their employer, DJ Composites Inc.
Unifor Local 597 chair Ignatius Oram said he hadn’t heard the gossip, but was evasive when asked if he’d welcome such a move.
“We’re in a situation right now where things need to be done and pressure needs to be put on at all angles,” he said.
Oram also mentioned the union is still waiting on a response to letters sent to the provincial government.
DJ Composites, an Americanbased company, locked out union members in December 2016.
Robin Brentnall, who said some of his union friends were contemplating a hunger strike, originally sent the email.
When contacted for comment, Brentnall would not give names, but maintained that some union members were considering taking the measure.
“I don’t want to say who said it, but they’re up at the picket line,” said Brentnall.
Members of the union have been picketing in shifts since just before Christmas.
Picketers said they hadn’t heard about a potential hunger strike, but acknowledged it could be coming from one of the other crews.
Marlyn Williams, one of the picketers, said she would welcome a hunger strike if that would force the company to listen.
“Anything to get our cause known,” she said. “I don’t even know what to say, I’m that frustrated.”
Another picketer, Sheila Skiffington, said she would also support a hunger strike, but indicated she hopes the government will step in.
Della Glover, a 14-year veteran with the company, voiced her frustration over the strike.
“The company is doing everything to keep us out here, including hiring scab labour to do our job. There’s no justice,” she said.
Lana Payne, Unifor’s Atlantic regional director, updated The Beacon concerning two separate complaints Unifor filed to the federal Department of Labour.
According to Payne, the federal government is actively investigating complaints against DJ Composites.
Unifor filed the complaints on June 7 and June 16.
Concerning rumours of the hunger strike, Payne noted such talk is born of frustration.
“I think that what you’re seeing is how deeply frustrated our members are at the moment. This is day 227 for them,” said Payne.
Payne explained there is a fine line in bargaining, and bargaining in bad faith happens so rarely that there is no law in place to protect workers.
“We need to have a law to protect workers from bad apple employers,” she said. “From every action (DJ Composites) has taken, the indication has been that they want to bust the union. Their actions have spoken loudly. They’ve been found guilty of bad-faith bargaining.”
DJ Composites’ office was locked when The Beacon approached the building. Upon speaking to a staff member, he advised that all questions are to be directed to the company’s headquarters in the United States.
The Beacon attempted to contact the U.S. headquarters, but didn’t receive a response prior to deadline.