Steelworkers say go with bottles, not cans

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STEELWORKERS DISTRICT 6

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On Saturday, January 24, 2015 members of the United Steelworkers will be holding an information rally at local beer store locations. 

We will be at the Bruce Street, Market Mall and Goulais River stores at 12 noon.

The United Steelworkers are raising awareness of the plight of 120 members, who work for Crown Metal Packaging, a U.S. based corporation, in Toronto. 

These members are now entering their 17th month of a forced strike. 

The company has continually demanded massive, take-it-or-leave concessions, including up to 42 percent wage cuts for future workers. 

Crown has informed their workers that most of them will not be returned to work when a contract is reached; instead they will be permanently replaced by the scabs currently working.

Crown Metal Packaging in Toronto was the most productive and safest plant in its North American manufacturing empire. 

In 2012, Crown almost doubled its profits, which resulted in the CEO receiving a $12 million annual compensation package.

In December 2014 the Steelworkers launched a “Bottles Not Cans” campaign in support of their members. 

Thousands of consumers have joined the growing boycott of beer in cans produced by Crown Metal Packaging for the major breweries. 

These breweries include Molson, Labatt, Coors, Budweiser, Moosehead, Steam Whistle, Creemore and other beers.  

The Bottles Not Cans boycott asks consumers to buy their beer in bottles, not in cans produced by Crown. 

The message is simple – to urge a profitable U.S. corporation to deal fairly with Toronto workers who contributed to that success.

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