October 24, 2005

Tyson's Canadian plant loses C$7 million from labour unrest

US meat processing giant Tyson Foods is estimated to have lost C$7 million from labour strikes halting production at its Alberta plant-one of the largest in Canada.

About half of the company's 2,400 employees have been on strike since mid-Oct. One of the strikers' tactics was to delay workers who were trying to cross the picket line. The pickets were adhering to a court order, obtained by Tyson on Oct 22, which only allows the strikers to delay, but not stop, vehicles from entering the plant property.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said that the company might appeal to the Alberta Labor Relations Board to address the new situation.