United Steelworkers at Prysmian in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu - Striking for Respect

BROSSARD, QC - Last night at 8:30 pm, the 200 United Steelworkers members working for Prysmian in St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu called a strike to protest the standstill state of their negotiations and to demand respect. "After twenty negotiation sessions, we still haven't reached anything close to a settlement regarding non monetary issues. These issues are notably recognizing seniority and work schedules. As of yet, not a single monetary issue has been introduced. Despite current economic conditions, our members have decided to go on strike to gain respect," declared Dominic Lemieux, union representative for United Steelworkers (FTQ).

"We find the company's attitude hard to understand, it refuses to deal with the real issues. Our people are completely baffled. Yet, all they want is to see the company go forward and take part in its survival and expansion during these difficult times. Good working relations have always been a key for success for any company. That doesn't seem hard to understand," stated Sylvain Millot, president of local section 8428.

Mr. Millot cited management's desire to introduce 12-hour rotating schedules that would force workers to work every other weekend as an example. "Throughout the years, our members have been able to achieve decent working conditions. We believe that negotiate in good faith and dealing with issues such as investment is more important than looking for ways to cut into people's working conditions."

The union representative is also concerned with the possible loss of Quebec expertise in the production of electric cables. "While we were negotiating, he says, we were given information that Prysmian was having a Hydro-Quebec electric cable production contract filled by its Ontario plant! It's nonsense. Even more so since Nexans shut down its cable manufacturing operations in the Quebec area. We are asking the government and Hydro-Quebec to show more vigilance. We shouldn't weaken Quebec's industrial structure any further."

Dominic Lemieux concluded by inviting the company to sit at the negotiation table and be truly determined to reach a negotiated settlement. "The company is profitable. It is going to need us to continue on this path during this tough economic period. And it certainly isn't by chomping away at our working condition that they are going to be successful."