ALF V1

After 66 days on the picket line, members of UFCW 401 at McKesson Canada are going back to work.

On Sept. 1, they voted 83 per cent in favour of a memorandum recommended by the union, that included significant pay raises and improvements in vision and dental care.

The strike by about 200 workers began in the final week of June to back up demands for wage fairness, benefit improvements, as well as issues of dignity and respect. Picket lines were set up at both McKesson warehouse locations, at 10931 - 177 Street and at 18503 - 107 Avenue.

UFCW 401 expressed their thanks to the AFL and others for support during the dispute.

Members of General Teamsters Local 362 boosted picket line spirits at McKesson Canada in Edmonton last week, dropping by with a big rig to show their support for UFCW 401 strikers.

Striking workers have been picketing the McKesson facility in order to attempt to communicate with the drivers and to persuade them to refrain from doing business with McKesson and to urge scabs to reconsider the error of their ways.

UFCW Local 401 - www.gounion.ca - members have been on strike since the final week of June to back up their demands for wage fairness, benefit improvements, as well as issues of dignity and respect. About 200 workers have been without a contract since the beginning of 2009.

McKesson Canada has warehouses across Canada. The Edmonton warehouse workers have by far the lowest wage rates compared with counterparts in Vancouver (Coquitlam), Calgary and Regina.

The workers at McKesson Edmonton invite other union members and supporters to visit them on the picket lines, which are set up at both McKesson warehouse locations. The main warehouse is at 10931 - 177 Street, and the smaller warehouse is at 18503 - 107 Avenue.

General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362 represents more than 6,000 members and oversees more than 100 collective agreements throughout Alberta.