Accucaps contract talks stall

Workers were locked out at Strathroy’s Accucaps Industries plant as the company and union sat at the negotiating table, a local union official said Thursday.

Jim Reid, president of Unifor Local 27, said talks broke off when more than 140 workers were escorted from the plant Wednesday.

“It’s a sham, this was a surface negotiation, there was never any real intention to negotiate,” said Reid, who represents workers at the plant that makes gelatin capsules for drugs and vitamins.

The company has tabled no wage or benefit increase for about 90 per cent of the workers, saying only those with “multi-skills” will get a wage hike, he added.

“This is about union busting, they think the membership is going to rebel against us,” Reed said.

Accucaps also has a capsule-making plant in Windsor, he said, where its contract with more than 180 workers expires in April. The firm invested $5 million in a Windsor research and development centre last year.

On Friday, members of Unifor locals 200 and 444 are expected to provide leaflets at the Windsor plant about the Strathroy lockout.

“All I can say is Accucaps is a valued employer and the employees there are integral to the community,” said Strathroy Mayor Joanne Vanderheyden.

“I hope there is a quick resolution.”