Following extensive negotiations and mediation efforts between the union, Advance Employee Association/Grain and General Services Union Local 8 (AEA/GSU), and the employer, Advance Tank Production Ltd./Advance Tank Centres Ltd. (Advance), members of AEA/GSU Local 8 walked off the job on Aug. 8, initiating strike action.

Negotiations began in January 2024. Despite numerous attempts to engage the employer in respectful and productive bargaining, the company consistently failed to honour its commitments. As a result, the members of AEA/GSU Local 8 voted unanimously in favour of strike action, with 100% of the over 75 members authorizing the strike.

AEA/GSU Local 8 members are now on the picket line to voice their frustration and demand basic respect, fair pay, and adequate benefits. These dedicated workers have remained loyal through the company’s bankruptcy and tough times. Now that the company is performing better, they deserve a fair deal.

“We approached negotiations with an open mind, and the company initially agreed to discuss issues and solutions in the months leading up to formal negotiations,” said Doug Murray, President of AEA/GSU Local 8 and a member of the bargaining committee. “However, we were met with mixed messages, contradictory answers, and a lack of genuine intent to reach an agreement. It became clear that the company did not want to negotiate in good faith.”

“We aren’t seeking to regain all that we have lost during the past tough times,” Murray continued. “We simply want a reasonable deal that acknowledges our skills, our commitment to the business, and health benefits that reflect the physical toll of working in an industrial environment.”

A fair settlement can only be reached at the bargaining table. AEA/GSU Local 8 is prepared to return to negotiations at any time. Until then, our members will continue to walk the picket line until the company engages in meaningful dialogue and reaches a fair agreement.