10/14/2016
St. John’s – Ongoing negotiations of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) are concerning to the 65 FFAW-Unifor members employed at the Molson brewery in St. John’s. These workers are facing an uncertain future unless the province sends a clear message that they will protect local jobs during the negotiations.
“Our federal Members of Parliament and the provincial government should be fighting to maintain good jobs at both the Labatt and Molson breweries in St. John’s,” said Greg Pretty, FFAW-Unifor Industrial Director. “With bargaining unit salaries at Molson being in the range of $4.5 million, losing these jobs would be a horrific blow to an already wounded St. John’s economy.”
The AIT was originally negotiated between the provinces and the federal government in 1994. It is currently being renegotiated. The original agreement excluded selected products of particular interest to the federal and provincial government. Of importance to the NL economy is the continued exemption for beer and beer products.
“The provincial government must publicly clarify their position on this issue going into the negotiations,” continued Pretty. “Will they defend good, NL brewing jobs or will they leave workers in the lurch?”
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Jessica McCormick, FFAW-Unifor Communications Officer
709-576-7276
jmccormick@ffaw.net