A three-month strike at Labatt Breweries in Montreal ended on September 17 after unionized workers accepted a deal reached following marathon negotiations, Canadian press reported.Workers voted 72 % in favour of the seven-year agreement. It was hammered out during 22 hours of marathon talks over last weekend with the help of two conciliators.

The agreement affects 950 delivery drivers and maintenance workers who have been on strike since June 16. The workers have been without a contract since December. They rejected two offers from Labatt on June 25 and Sept. 2. Several items remain to be settled and terms of the agreement weren't immediately available. A company spokesman said Labatt planned to respond to the agreement later Wednesday.

Labatt had offered a $4-per-hour wage increase for permanent employees over seven years, 20 new full-time positions, an improved pension plan and a clause protecting jobs from being subcontracted. That offer would have increased annual income for delivery workers to $67,200 from $58,900, while maintenance employees pay would have risen to $70,900 from $62,600. The workers held out, trying to get more concessions on job security, particularly the contentious issue of subcontracting. The workers were also seeking 5% wage increases in each of the next three years.

19 September, 2003