Labatt's (Canada) Distribution Center Workers Choose Teamsters Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2009/29/c9192.html

The majority of employees at Labatt Breweries' two new distribution
centers, located in Terrebonne and Saint-Hubert, chose the Teamsters
Union in a union allegiance vote

MONTREAL, May 29 /CNW Telbec/ - In February, Labatt Breweries'
announcement that restructuring was in progress at the company's distribution
centers raised concerns among the approximately 140 affected employees.

According to the information available at the time, the Saint-Jérôme and
Joliette centers would be moved to a new complex in Terrebonne, while the
Sorel, Granby, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Saint-Jean centers would be relocated and
consolidated in Saint-Hubert.

The Teamsters Union, which represents the majority of Labatt workers,
then warned the employer that its decision should not be a pretext for
layoffs.

Following this, the Teamsters Union and the CSN, which also represented
Labatt workers, agreed to file an application with the Quebec Labour Relations
Board (Commission des relations du travail du Québec) to order a union
allegiance vote to decide between the two unions.

The vote took place this week, and the majority of workers chose to join
the Teamsters Union.

"I would like to thank all the shop stewards and workers who participated
in this campaign," said Alain Lacroix, union representative from Teamsters
Local Union 1999. "Our union now represents all the workers from Labatt's
distribution centers in the province."

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is the most powerful union
organization in this business given its representation of more than 60,000
workers in the North American brewing industry.

"There is no doubt that our expertise in representing workers from this
industry played an important role in their decision to place their trust in
us. They made the right decision," concluded Mr. Lacroix.

The Teamsters Union represents 45,000 members in Quebec in all trades.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is
affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.