17 Apr Canadian Patty King Workers Organize
The 31 workers at the Patty King International manufacturing plant are proud new members of BCTGM Local 264 (Toronto). The workers at the Concord, Ontario plant produce Jamaican Patties, a Jamaican ethnic food.
The production workers reached out to Canadian International Vice President Ron Piercey and the Local 264 Business Agent Bill Hegedus and Business Agent Michael Smith.
The workers are predominately Sri Lankan and Indian. Communication was made easy by one of the workers who translated their concerns and issues. According to Piercey, low wages and poor treatment were the workerโs primary issues.
Workers voted overwhelmingly on April 17 to join Local 264.ย Negotiations for their first contract began in mid-June.
The Local 264-made Jamaican patties are sold in retail and food service outlets and can be found in every major grocery chain in Canada.
The Concord facility is one of the few Jamaican patty manufacturers in Canada to be recognized as a Federally Inspected facility โ which means that product made at the plant can be sold anywhere in Canada, the U.S. or Internationally.