The management of the Société des alcools says it is already having a significant impact on its supply chain, after a two-day strike by the union that represents warehouse and branch supply employees.
The local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, called an indefinite strike Monday morning at 5 a.m., after having held a single day of strike on November 16.
SAQ management said they were surprised by this walkout, especially since bargaining sessions with CUPE are scheduled for this week.
The walkout does not concern the SAQ stores, where workers are unionized with another organization.
However, management reports “significant impacts on the entire SAQ logistics chain” because of the critical nature of its warehouses.
“The branches remain open and the SAQ.com transactional site remains functional, but delivery times will be extended,” warned the management of the Société des alcools.
Among other things, deliveries to branches are canceled, “which could temporarily reduce the supply of products available in stores.”
Likewise, drive-thru and deliveries to restaurants, bars and licensees are suspended, as well as deliveries to warehouses for grocery stores and convenience stores, the company’s management also said. State.
Also, “picking up orders from local Quebec producers will be postponed,” added the SAQ.
And the negotiation
As for the negotiation of the collective agreement with CUPE, management denies any allegation of the use of replacement workers, as the union had supported on Sunday.
CUPE said it was forced to go on strike when it saw the employer seek the services of other warehouse workers, along with the service of its own employees, who were not on strike at the time.
By calling a strike, the union wanted to prevent this practice, since an employer cannot employ replacement workers – commonly known as scabs – during a strike, under the Labor Code.
“We have been negotiating in good faith with it (the union) for two months already and we respect all the provisions of the Labor Code”, defended the management of the SAQ, when contacted Monday.
CUPE said on Sunday it expected an attractive offer from the employer on Tuesday. The “unlimited” strike launched on Monday morning could therefore be shortened.
“For now, it’s a strike without limits. But we are in talks with the employer and on Tuesday we will negotiate. And I heard the employer tell me that on Tuesday he would arrive with substantial offers. We will see, ”said in an interview Michel Gratton, union advisor to CUPE for this file.