Crown Royal Workers Strike In Manitoba

By Richard Thomas

Diageo’s Gimli, Manitoba plant, primary supplier for Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, was at least partially closed after 53 production workers voted unanimously to go on strike this past weekend. These workers are members of UFCW Local 832.

According to Radio Canada International, the workers are demanding health and welfare benefits, wage increases and more vacation time from Crown Royal, which is owned by international drinks giant Diageo. They’re picketing the plant in shifts of 25 people at a time.

A Diageo spokesman indicated the company offered the workers a 4.5% raise over three years, plus unspecified pension, vacation and benefit improvements.

Crown Royal received considerable attention when it’s Northern Harvest Rye was controversially named the world’s top whisky of 2015 by Whisky Bible author Jim Murray.