Lakeside Strike Could Be Over

[farmers_son]

Several news sources have quoted that the two sides in the Lakeside strike have reached an agreement. The union is quoted as saying it will recommend the agreement to its workers.

[kato]

Tentative deal reached in Lakeside Packers strike
CTV.ca News Staff

A tentative deal has been reached in the bitter labour dispute at Lakeside Packers slaughterhouse near Brooks, Alberta, where workers have been on strike for three weeks.

Doug O'Halloran, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union told CTV Newsnet that the recommended settlement will go to the membership for a vote, likely as early as Friday.

"We were approached by a number of concerned people -- from the RCMP to consumers and ranchers -- to reach out to the employer to see if we could find a resolution to the strike," he said.

"We did that last Friday, the company thought about it over the weekend and agreed on Monday to come to the table," he said.

On Tuesday, both sides met for exploratory talks and were able to arrive at a settlement

O'Halloran believes it's likely to be a close vote as the tentative deal does not meet all of the union's requirements.

"But given the fact that it's become pretty clear this government of Alberta was not going to intervene in the strike, we were left with the choice of running ads across Canada asking people not to buy Alberta beef," he said.

"With everything that the ranchers and farmers have gone through over the last three years, we made a decision as a negotiating committee that in good conscience we could not do that.

"There is enough in the deal for us to live to fight another day."

The strike at the southeastern Alberta meat-packer, which started on Oct. 12, has been marred by acts of violence that have sent three pickets to hospital.

Hundreds of Lakeside workers walked off the job Oct. 12 to back demands for a first contract.

However, hundreds of workers who don't support the strike have been showing up for work and finding themselves facing off against colleagues as they cross the picket line.

There have been several arrests linked to the strike.

The latest involve two men, 30-year-old Kames Alue and 30-year-old Abraham Monyabue, who were arrested late last month. They are facing charges of assault and breach of recognizance.

"The incidents which they are charged with are related to the current Lakeside Packers labour dispute, but did not occur on or near company property," the RCMP said in a statement.

Lakeside Packers processes nearly 40 per cent of Canada's beef.

[cowman]

Despite O'Hallorans rhetoric about caring for the farmer/ranchers, thank heavens this garbage is over? The fact is the writing was on the wall...the union was toast?
Now O'Haloran gets a paycheck and a chance to have another go at Tyson down the road?
This will not be a "pleasant" place to work with scabs and picketers working beside one another? Look for some pretty ugly incidents in the next several months?
Hopefully the picketers will realize that they have no options and return to work? Lets face it...these are basically the dregs of society and their options are limited?
Sad but true?