The 42 workers, who manufacture abrasive products for Saint-Gobain, voted overwhelmingly by 97 per cent to take strike action after negotiations failed to produce an agreement addressing their priorities. Workers are seeking to reverse the erosion of real wages during the previous agreement and strengthen pension security.

The dispute has now entered its eighth week. Unifor has raised particular concern over Saint-Gobain’s use of replacement workers during the strike, arguing that their deployment is undermining efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.

Saint-Gobain is a French multinational and one of the world’s largest building-materials manufacturers, employing around 162,000 people across more than 80 countries.

IndustriALL mobilizes solidarity with workers across the company through its Saint-Gobain trade union network, which brings together affiliated unions representing workers at Saint-Gobain operations around the world.

IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie says:

“On behalf of IndustriALL and our affiliated trade unions around the world, we send our full solidarity to the members of Unifor Local 12. Their struggle for fair wages, secure pensions and respect for collective bargaining deserves the support of trade unions internationally.

“We call on Saint-Gobain to engage in meaningful negotiations with Unifor and work urgently towards a fair agreement. Through our Saint-Gobain trade union network, unions around the world will be following this dispute closely. We sincerely hope that a swift solution can be found through genuine collective bargaining.”

Unifor calls for international support

Unifor has called on IndustriALL and its affiliates representing Saint-Gobain workers to express solidarity with Local 12 and raise the dispute with the company through international union networks and existing dialogue channels.

IndustriALL stands behind that call and will continue pressing Saint-Gobain, through its global network of affiliates, to return to the table.