[Red Deer] – Members of UFCW 1118 plan to expand their efforts to persuade Fletcher's to scrap its concession demands and return to the bargaining table.

Workers at Fletcher's Red Deer meat packing plant have been on strike since May 4 to fight the employer's demands of up to $6 an hour wage rollbacks, expanded contracting-out and reductions in benefits.

According to Wayne Covey, Local 1118 business agent, the union will be aiming at pressuring the employer to back away from its demands.

"We will be focussing on the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, which owns Fletcher's, to place pressure on them," said Covey. "We have already had over 60 people picket the Regina office in support of our workers."

"If we get nowhere in the next couple weeks, we maybe will launch a boycott," added Covey. He points out that even the threat of a boycott may be enough to get the company to start bargaining again.

Rather than bargain, Fletcher's has been attempting to operate the plant using strikebreakers. Covey states that they are finishing only about 2,000 hogs a day with the strikebreakers. Before the strike, workers were finishing over 6,500 a day.

Fletcher's also attempted to get an injunction severely restricting picketing near the plant, but the judge deemed the request to harsh. Instead the judge placed a much less harsh injunction; one that Covey says will not affect picketing at all.

"This is one of the first injunction requests to come down in the union's favour. We are trying to be orderly so there is no need for an injunction," he said.

While members are feeling a financial pinch, morale on the line is high, Covey said. "We are picking up great support from other workers across the country." He noted that financial assessments have come from UFCW locals in High River, Vancouver and Saskatoon.

"We're making sure no one is hurt financially," Covey said.