Workers at Autoport in Eastern Passage on strike
The union representing striking workers at Autoport in Eastern Passage says the employer is using scabs as strike busters.
Autoport workers represented by Unifor Local 100 began strike action at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.
The union says the employer brought in some strike breakers from out of province, violating a legal picket line.
“The planned use of scabs shows Autoport was not serious about reaching a fair agreement. The use of scab labour is proven to lengthen disputes and the company’s actions have only increased the difficulty of obtaining a deal,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president in a statement.
“This highlights the need for the federal government to move quickly to pass antiscab legislation to prevent companies, like Autoport, from trying to bully workers instead of negotiating a fair contract.”
Negotiations between the union and the employer had been ongoing from late September until Monday.
"Our priority has always been to secure a fair deal that reflects the value of our members' work," said Cory Will, President of Unifor Local 100. "While this was not the outcome we hoped for, our resolve remains strong and we are fully prepared to engage in strike action to uphold the rights and fair treatment of our members.”
The Autoport vehicle processing and transshipment hub ships close to 185,000 vehicles annually.
The union said it is open to resuming negotiations and hopes that Autoport will return to the bargaining table.
In its statement, CN Rail, which owns Autoport, said it has “enacted its contingency plan at its Eastern Passage facility to protect the continuity of the supply chain. Activities will continue uninterrupted as long as necessary. Autoport remains committed to achieving a fair and negotiated agreement. Autoport respects the right to safe and peaceful strike action.”