November 04, 2020

MOUNT PEARL–Unifor has resumed a secondary picket line at the Weston’s bakery in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, as part of escalating action by the province’s 1,400 Dominion store workers, in week 11 of an ongoing strike against Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.).

“Our members will not be intimidated from exercising their right to hold a secondary picket, not by Loblaw Co. and not by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

During a prior secondary picket at Weston’s bakery on October 27, 2020, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) deployed riot and tactical units to threaten peaceful picketers with arrest under the Highway Traffic Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

Today, Unifor will file notice of civil claim against the RNC in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador for breach of Charter Rights, negligence, negligent or willful misrepresentation and intimidation.

“We’ve returned to the location where RNC unjustly shut down our picket line,” said Unifor Local 597 President Carolyn Wrice. “It is Unifor’s position that this is a legal secondary picket in our action to bring Loblaw Co. back to the bargaining table with a legitimate offer to end this strike. ”

Weston’s bakery is owned by George Weston Ltd., which also operates Dominion’s parent company Loblaw Companies Limited.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.