Media advisory - CUPE demonstration in front of Viterra head office in Regina to force the employer to negotiate at the Port of Montreal

OTTAWA, June 7, 2018 /CNW/ - CUPE members in Saskatchewan will demonstrate in front of the head office of Viterra, a grain distributor, in Regina on Friday, June 8, in solidarity with the 51 workers at the company, who were locked out by the Port of Montreal more than 20 weeks ago. A delegation of locked out workers will also go there to demand that Viterra return to the bargaining table to arrive at a fair agreement.

"Viterra workers in Montreal simply want to obtain the same working conditions as other employees of the company in Canada. Unfortunately, Viterra opted to lock out its employees rather than restore equity for workers at the Port of Montreal," declared CUPE National Representative Jean-Pierre Proulx.

Viterra workers at the Port of Montreal are seeking to make up ground with their pension plan, obtain better occupational health and safety provisions and improve clauses affecting work schedules and work-life balance.

"Viterra management opted for a lockout to try to force workers to accept the unacceptable. They should now realize that members of CUPE Local 5317 are as determined as ever to be treated with respect by their employer," said Proulx.

In early April, Viterra workers at the Port of Montreal voted 96% in favour of rejecting the employer's final offer. CUPE is willing to negotiate at any time to arrive at an acceptable agreement.

CUPE has 650,000 members in Canada, including 23,000 members in the transportation sector. They work in ports, airlines, ferry services, rail companies and public and private transport systems, as well as roads and highway maintenance. In Quebec, CUPE has more than 1200 members in the maritime transport sector at ports in Montreal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sorel and Matane, along with longshoremen at Arrimage du Saint-Laurent in Baie-Comeau.

Media representatives are invited to attend the event.

When?	Friday, June 8 Noon
Where?	Viterra Head Office 2625 Victoria Avenue Regina, Saskatchewan

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)

Saskatchewan media: Andrew Loewen, Communications Officer, CUPE Saskatchewan, 306-209-3199, [email protected]; Quebec media: Lisa Djevahirdjian, Communications Officer, CUPE Quebec, 514-831-3815, [email protected]; Jean-Pierre Proulx, CUPE National Representative, 514-244-9577