by Julie Devaney and Blair Dowell
The occupation at Molson's in Barrie is now in its fourth week. It is urgent that solidarity be built for this important struggle against corporate greed.
On Thursday December 2, two Molson workers and their union representative from the Canadian AutoWorkers (CAW) took their campaign for solidarity to York University.
Rick Kitchen, the CAW representative, described to an audience of students the conditions that led to the occupation of the Molson's plant November 21.
The company had announced that the plant was slated for closing, with no guarantee of jobs for the workers.
The union was demanding "Jobs, not Severance".
The company's response was to offer early retirement -- to those who qualify -- and the amount would be just 40 per cent of their regular pension.
Kitchen rightly described Molson's proposition as "a sham after our working relationship with Molson."
The workers were asking for full retirement for the senior workers and a transfer to Etobicoke for the junior workers.
But Molson wouldn't consider Barrie workers for full time positions at the Etobicoke plant.
When asked why the Barrie workers wouldn't be considered for full-time at the Etobicoke plant, Molson responded that Barrie had a "different culture" than the Etobicoke plant. So instead of using trained workers, Molson felt it was better to hire and train new workers.
The Barrie workers had run an efficient and profitable plant for their bosses. They had achieved the highest production levels of any Molson plant with the least time on worker's compensation.
Barrie makes the equivalent of 2.7 million cases of beer -- 10 per cent of Canadian production by Molson.
Molson made $170 million in profit last year, and says that it can save $30 million by moving production to Etobicoke.
It was on November 21 that Buzz Hargrove let it be known that if the management of Molson didn't play straight, the CAW would launch a boycott.
Rick Kitchen said, "Molson thought that we were joking."
The planning around the occupation and shutdown itself were laid out quickly but thoroughly, with the members of Molson local 306 moving in before a new shift began production.
They had thirty people move in and chill the existing product to avoid damage and also avoid bad press from Molson. Nevertheless, production ceased in Barrie at this point. The President of Molson local 306 said, "They won't get another bottle of beer until they return to the bargaining table and give us jobs!"
The plant is under 24-hour occupation, with several workers at a time leaving the plant to tour the province in the CAW tour bus to build solidarity and promote the boycott of Molson's beer.
They've been to beer stores, shopping malls, pubs, etc. and a number of places have actually taken Molson products off of their shelves and menu. Students at universities have leafleted their pubs asking that people boycott Molson's. Advertisements on bus shelters and in newspapers across Ontario ask that the people of Ontario support the workers by refusing to buy Molson's products.
The workers are heartened by the massive public support they have experienced.
People everywhere are sick and tired of seeing corporations reel in record profits off the backs of workers. Molson workers are ready to keep fighting.
They are confident that with the backing of the people of Ontario and the victory of occupations such as the re-opening of the Thorold papermill, they can win the battle over Molson's greed.
Pass a resolution in your union local, community organization or student union in solidarity with the workers at Molson's and in support of occupations to save jobs. Send messages of support to Local 306: fax 705-722-0363 or phone 705-733-0141.