Crack a beer, crack a case of labour rights violations | NOW Magazine

Crack a beer, crack a case of labour rights violations | NOW Magazine



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The next time you open a can of beer, remember that can was probably
made by a “scab.” Crown Holdings is the primary producer of beer cans in
southern Ontario, and their 120 employees have been on strike for eight
months.





The U.S.based international company produces 5 million cans per day at
the plant on Fenmar Drive, primarily for Molson  and Labatt.





Crown wants a two-tier wage system that would permanently pay new hires
$9 an hour or 42 per cent less than existing employees. That was the
starting wage 28 years ago, according to many veteran employees. For
context, 28 years ago a two-four of beer cost about $15.





As a result of Crown’s unmoving stance on the new hire system, United Steelworkers Local 9176 went on strike in September 2013.