– RESOLUTION: On Stopping Attacks on Workers by Crown Metal Packaging

WHEREAS over 120 workers, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9176 in Toronto, Canada, have been on strike since September 6, 2013, against Crown Metal Packaging Canada LP (Crown), a subsidiary of the giant multinational Crown Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aluminum and steel cans with 149 plants worldwide;

WHEREAS Crown Holdings is headquartered in Philadelphia and has a significant union presence nationwide: including sister locals of affiliates of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO such as IAM, SMART; IUE-CWA and the Teamsters;

WHEREAS after over fourteen months on strike, the strikers and their families are suffering and there is still no end in sight to the dispute despite the strikers’ willingness to compromise and return to work;

WHEREAS Crown is now proposing that even if the strikers agreed to settle the strike by taking huge concessions, the company would keep the scabs hired during the strike and prevent over 75% of the strikers from returning to work; and

WHEREAS Crown is now facing an unfair labor practice complaint from the USW on the basis that, among other things, it is avoiding reaching a collective agreement by making unjustified demands that are designed for rejection by the USW;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO stands in solidarity with the USW strikers from Toronto by bringing their struggle to the attention of our membership; in particular on the occasions when USW road warriors come to Philadelphia to publicize their labor dispute;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO supports the USW’s demand of action by the Crown Holdings Board of Directors and is CEO and Executive Officers to end the dispute and reach a fair deal allowing all of the strikers to return to work.

Approved unanimously, December 10 2014

Source: http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=f8f7427a-a01b-40cd-9d5c-4dc035061f91