RNC Threaten to Arrest Striking Dominion Employees

Unifor/Twitter

Striking Dominion workers were threatened with arrest by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on Tuesday night.

The employees were conducting what the union describes as a peaceful picket at the Weston's Bakery in Mount Pearl.

“It’s outrageous that the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is intimidating peaceful picketers with police doing the bidding of Loblaw Companies Limited,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The only place this will be resolved is at the bargaining table.”

The workers started the legal picket at the bakery, owned by George Weston Ltd., which also operates Dominion’s parent company Loblaw Companies Limited, on Monday, October 26.

RNC threatened to arrest the workers under the Highway Traffic Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

“The police have no business intervening here. This is a matter between the workers and Loblaw Companies Limited,” said Unifor 597 President Carolyn Wrice. “One can only wonder if this police action was prompted at the behest of the company.”

The workers have been on strike at 11 Dominion stores across Newfoundland since August 22, 2020.