CEP Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada

A rented truck driven by the Mercury Graphics’ plant manager struck six picketers who were protesting peacefully yesterday. One member was taken to hospital with a fracture to her leg. The incident was captured on video.

The members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers, Local 721G working at Mercury Graphics in Saskatoon began legal strike action on Monday, September 8th after they rejected huge rollbacks in benefits.

“This type of behavior is deplorable. It is one thing to demand concessions at the bargaining table, but quite another thing to run down our members when they are taking legal strike action,” said Rhoda Cossar, National Representative

The union took video of the incident which the police now have as part of their investigation. The driver of the truck is not only the plant manager, but a member of the Company’s bargaining committee. The incident happened about 2 p.m. Tuesday. Since the strike began the picketers have received support by many trucking companies who have refused to cross the picket line. The Company has resorted to rentals to move material in and out of the plant.

The Collective Agreement expired in February 2008. After several days of negotiations, the Employer presented its final offer which reduced the employees’ pension plan, rolled back the overtime rate and offloaded the costs of benefits to the employees. The offer was soundly rejected by the membership and picket lines went up on Monday morning.

“Not only do they want the employees to take a rollback on their pensions and benefits, but they want to roll over their employees with trucks,” said Cossar.

Mercury Graphics is a specialty printer which prints tickets for major sports teams, entertainment and fine arts organizations. They also print transportation tickets for major airlines in the United States.

CEP is a broadly-based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9,000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which include the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, pulp and paper plants, the television industry and several Crown Corporations including SaskTel, SaskPower and SaskEnergy.