On October 18, Pepsi-Cola workers voted by 98.5% for an unlimited
general strike. "This result," said union spokesperson Michel
Deziel, "is a sign of the frustration that the workers have
accumulated over the last few years."
Right after the vote, the workers went to set up their
strike pickets in front of the plant to make sure that no
delivery trucks could enter or leave the premises.
One of the main demands of the workers concerns the hourly
wages of about 40 salespeople. In the context of its
restructuring, the company wants to impose a wage reduction
ranging from $7,000 to $14,000 a year. The workers are also
raising demands regarding the precarious status of about 50
workers who are not part of the permanent workforce.
"A lot of these workers have been here since 1990, but their
wage is only 50% of the wage of the permanent workers and they
have no social benefits. We support them", added Mr. Deziel.
TML DAILY, 10/97
Shawgi Tell
Graduate School of Education
University at Buffalo
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
