FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release – April 23, 2008

Smurfit employees vote to strike

EDMONTON – At locations in Edmonton and Calgary Smurfit employees have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.  The vote, taken yesterday after the mandatory 14 day cooling off period, showed strike support of 99% in Edmonton and 96% in Calgary.

The employer’s demands include significant changes to the pension plan, a rollback of vacation time and mandatory overtime.  The employer is claiming that the mandatory overtime is actually a pay increase. 

"I’ve never seen anything like it in the 30 years that I have been negotiating collective agreements," said Rick Klimchuk, CEP National Staff Representative.   “The scope of concessions being demanded by an employer in a period of the highest employment levels the province has ever seen is shocking.  What is Smurfit thinking?”

Alberta is experiencing unprecedented employment opportunities due to increased oil and gas development.  Already workers are quitting their jobs with Smurfit and moving on rather than take any concessions.

At this time the union is mulling over its options.  "Our goal is to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair collective agreement," concludes Mr. Klimchuk.  “All the employer has to do is pick up the phone so we can get back to the bargaining table.”   

CEP represents 8,000 members in Alberta. It also represents 150,000 workers across Canada, including 40,000 members in the forest products sector.

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