The five-month-old strike at Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company in Hartland, N.B. has come to an end after unionized workers voted in favour of a deal.
The two sides reached a collective agreement on May 20 after negotiations resumed and then workers voted 71 per cent in favour of the deal on May 24.
Carl Flanagan, a national representative for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1288P, said the new contract includes improvements to the priority areas for the workers.
“It feels awesome to get the contract signed and get the folks back in where they belong and making the chips, to stop the boycott and now to help the company grow,” he said.
The three-year agreement, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016, includes more money for boot and clothing allowances and a pay increase for workers. Flanagan said the precise wage bump will be different, depending on the job classifications.
The key provision in the deal revolves around job security and seniority. Under this agreement, employees who have been working, for example, on a night shift will have the opportunity to apply for a new job that opens up during the day.
Patrick Colford, the president of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, said he’s been in contact with the company’s unionized workers and they are looking forward to getting back on the job. Employees are expected to return to work on May 31.
Colford said the boycott of Covered Bridge chips that the union had called for is now over.
Despite the lengthy strike, the UFCW’s Flanagan said he is not predicting a strained relationship between the workers who went on strike and those in management or those who remained on the job.
“It’s been one of the most peaceful picket lines that I’ve ever participated in. I got to tell you that I felt really good when we had the membership meeting and the folks that were inside were sitting at the same table as the folks who were outside,” Flanagan said.
“So I don’t think it is going to be a big hurdle for us to cross to get the folks all back and working in the same direction.”
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