Unionized workers at a malting company in Winnipeg that supplies Moosehead Beer were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday morning.
Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 832 at Malteurop Canada Ltd. rejected the company's latest offer and have served notice that workers will walk off the job Thursday at 6 a.m.
The 22 workers produce malt for beer, mostly the Moosehead brand, which is also brewed by unionized employees in Saint John, N.B.
Jeff Traeger, the union's secretary treasurer, says the key issue is pensions and benefits.
"They want the defined benefits plan to be converted to a defined contribution plan. When we asked why, they said they wanted to shift the risk from the company to the members," Traeger said.
"We did ask them if the cost of the pension plan was such that it was having a negative impact on business and they haven't responded or provided us with anything to say they can't afford to continue to sponsor the plan that has been in place for many years."
The company did not respond to an email to provide comment.
Traeger said the company told them it won't operate during a strike. If that's the case, production of Moosehead beer at the plant in New Brunswick would stop unless malt was made at another plant, he surmised.
The union wanted to get back to talks on Wednesday, but Traeger said the company said it wasn't interested.
