Workers at Nestlé's Toronto plant strike over pensions, pay

Workers at Nestlé Canada’s factory in Toronto went on strike Sunday (May 5) after failing to ratify a new tentative agreement. 

Unifor cited lack of improvements to workers’ pension plans. Also at issue, the union said, is the time it takes for workers to get to the top rate of pay, as well as a two-year cost-of-living-adjustment freeze.

The Sterling Road Factory, which produces Kit Kat, Aero and Coffee Crisp chocolate bars, as well as Smarties, employs 461 Local 252 members. They work as machine operators, bar packers, shippers and receivers, general labourers, and in skilled trades.

“We’re proud of the package that we presented, and the Union recommended to their members. We are disappointed with the membership’s decision,” Nestlé Canada said in a statement. “Nestlé Canada’s priority is to work with the union to achieve a collective agreement that ensures that operations at our Toronto plant remain competitive in an increasingly challenging marketplace. Our goal is to have employees back at work. We don’t anticipate this labour disruption will have any immediate effect on the availability of our product at the retail shelf.”

Unifor said it doesn't have any planned negotiation dates with the company.

"Nestle workers in the past have gone on strike over pension contributions and again, it's at the crux of this dispute," said Unifor National president Lana Payne in a release. "Retirement security is very important to our members, and you throw an affordability crisis on top of that, and it's no wonder our members are determined to fight here."