Activists engage Costco, Farm Boy, Johnvince customers on National Day of Action for striking workers at Covered Bridge Potato Chips

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May 17, 2016 – Hundreds of labour activists and community allies engaged with customers at Costco, Farm Boy, and Johnvince Foods locations across the country on Tuesday as part of the National Day of Action for striking workers at the Covered Bridge Potato Chips plant in Wakefield, New Brunswick.

The action was part of an ongoing national boycott of Covered Bridge Potato Chip products organized by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) – which represents 3.3 million workers across Canada – in support of striking UFCW Canada Local 1288P members at Covered Bridge.

The Covered Bridge employees have been on strike since January 5 in an effort to obtain a living wage and basic workplace rights. The workers voted to join UFCW Canada Local 1288P more than two years ago, but their employer refuses to negotiate with the union.

Throughout the National Day of Action, activists handed out leaflets and spoke to consumers at various Costco, Farm Boy, and Johnvince Foods stores, where Covered Bridge products are sold. Customers were informed about the Covered Bridge workers’ struggle for fairness and respect, and were asked to boycott Covered Bridge products until the company agrees to negotiate a fair first contract for its employees.

With the full support and backing of the CLC, the National Day of Action was one of several initiatives being undertaken by UFCW Canada and the entire Canadian labour movement to achieve fairness for the workers at Covered Bridge Potato Chips.

Other efforts include a petition campaign asking major U.S. retailer Aldi to stop contracting with Covered Bridge until the company returns to the bargaining table. You can lend your support to the campaign by sending a message here.

“We are asking Canadians to boycott Covered Bridge Potato Chip products until the company agrees to do the right thing and get back to the bargaining table,” says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema. “The workers at Covered Bridge contribute to the company’s success on a daily basis, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect,” Meinema adds.