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Molson Coors loses in Ontario Superior Court in an effort to weaken strikers’ picket line. Justice Hainey also dismissed the company’s claim of $6,000,000 in damages.
Toronto (3 Feb. 2017) — The striking members of the Canadian Union of Brewery and General Workers (CUBGW/NUPGE) have once again won a case against the corporate lawyers of Molson Coors at the Ontario Superior Court on January 30.
Company’s request for an injunction and damages dismissed
The company, Molson Coors, filed an application of an "interlocutory injunction" to try to prevent striking workers from conducting a peaceful and legal picket.
Justice Hainey of the Ontario Superior Court deemed that the picket-line protocol instituted by the union on Sunday, January 29, 2017, of 5 minutes per vehicle with a total wait time of not more than 20 minutes, was acceptable to the court. He further dismissed the company’s request for damages sought for "irreparable harm." The company was seeking a total of $6,000,000.
Victory for workers’ rights
Larry Brown, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), commends the leadership of CUBGW for their significant victory. “They defended and won against an effort to undermine our constitutional right to demonstrate, picket and inform the public of their labour dispute with Molson Coors.”
This was the second time CUBGW/NUPGE faced the company’s corporate lawyers in a two week period. On January 18, the members were in front of Justice Hainey fighting company efforts to limit picketing.
David vs. Goliath struggle
The fight of CUBGW/NUPGE against the beer-making giant Molson Coors is a true example of a big corporation trying beat down average working people.
The company wants workers to accept deep cuts to wages, pensions and benefits. At the same time, senior executives are making as much as US$6 million. And wealthy shareholders have received a 34 per cent increase over the last 6 years.
“Molson Coors’s behaviour is a textbook example of why income inequality has increased,” said Elisabeth Ballermann, NUPGE’s Secretary-Treasurer. “Everyone concerned about growing income inequality in Canada and the loss of middle-class jobs should be supporting the brewery workers.”