8 January 1998: The Canadian operation Consumers Packaging Inc. is shutting down operations at its Brampton, Ontario, plant after about 500 striking workers walked off the job last month.
Phil Coupey…
8 January 1998: The Canadian operation Consumers Packaging Inc. is shutting down operations at its Brampton, Ontario, plant after about 500 striking workers walked off the job last month. Phil Coupey, vice-president of human resources at Toronto-based Consumers, said the company had begun the “long, expensive, involved process” of cooling down furnaces and draining molten glass from the tanks at the facility, which makes glass containers. Mr. Coupey said the company had not given workers official notice that the plant will be closed permanently. “When you start shutting down the tanks, there is a good indication there is not going to be a plant there.” The plant has 527 unionized and 50 salaried employees. Most unionized employees are members of the United Steelworkers of America Local 260 G, which set up picket lines on Tuesday after rejecting the company“s final offer, Mr. Coupey said. Consumers had been unable to reach agreement with unions on scheduling. The company brought in a five-day workweek with eight-hour shifts during 1997, and the workers wanted to return to a four-day week with 12-hour shifts.