SAQ Warehouse Workers Hold ‘Surprise’ Strike Tuesday

Union members voted last month to engage in pressure tactics.

Article content

Some 800 unionized warehouse workers employed by the Société des alcools du Québec staged a “surprise” strike on Tuesday.

Article content

The one-day strike, which began at 9:30 a.m., included both warehouse employees and those who deliver merchandise to SAQ branches.

Management said it was working “to minimize the effects” of the strike, however, it added that shipments to SAQ outlets were canceled on Tuesday “and those this week are at risk of being delayed.”

SAQ’s outlets remained open, its employees were members of a different union.

Workers, represented by the Canadian Syndicat de la fonction publique, voted 94 percent last month in favor of pressure tactics, including a strike, in an effort to secure a contract agreement.

The negotiations cover wages, workplace safety, job security, overtime, and group insurance.

When pressure tactics were announced last month, SAQ management said it was confident it could quickly reach a satisfactory agreement with the workers.