2023-08-07 21:23:07
The union members of the Alma Resolute Forest Products (PFR) plant have found a rather original way to replenish their coffers in this difficult period since they launched a car wash on Monday morning, a month following the start of the labor dispute. which opposes them to their employer.
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André Tremblay had not planned to wash cars to make ends meet when he began his career as an operator at the Alma pulp and paper mill.
“Of course it is difficult, we are used to having our salary every week. I haven’t had a paycheck for a month. I decided to come back to picket to at least have a small amount that the union gives us, ”he explained.
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But that amount of just $315 a week is not enough to pay the bills.
This is why the union decided to borrow an additional amount to improve the sum granted to the workers during the dispute.
However, the loan will have to be repaid by the union members at the end of the dispute, which has now lasted a month.
To replenish the coffers, the union members operate a car wash in the factory parking lot.
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“We are looking for fundraising activities. These are donations on a voluntary basis. Donations from the population, from other companies, will add up and help reduce the final debt,” said Daniel Bilodeau, vice-president for the National Union of Pulp and Paper Workers of Alma (CSN).
With inflation and the approaching school year, the noose is tightening more and more on the wallets of workers.
Some even had to find a second job to make ends meet.
“We all think regarding it, we look, but it’s not easy to find someone who wants to hire us to help out in the meantime, even if we know that there are labor needs everywhere,” admitted Mr. Tremblay.
“There are many workers here who have spouses who are affected by this conflict. The company wants to stretch that as much as possible. The second day of the “lockout”, they still told us that they wanted to impoverish us enough so that we entered on their terms. Is this one of the reasons why they stretch the conflict so much? To ask the question is to answer it,” raised Mr. Bilodeau.
The car wash continues until Friday to support the 240 locked out of PFR who hopes that the conflict will be settled quickly.
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