Crown Royal supplies ‘not affected’ by strike

Diageo has expressed “disappointment” over a strike at its Crown Royal distillery in Canada, but said it does not expect the action will affect supplies.

Supplies of Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal will not be affected by strike action, says Diageo

Around 50 workers at the Gimli-based distillery commenced a strike over the weekend after negotiations with Crown Royal Canadian whisky brand-owner Diageo stalled.

On Friday, members of the UFCW Local 832 union voted to go on strike over what they claimed were “unfair” contracts relating to wage increases, vacation time and health and welfare benefits.

However, Diageo said insisted its offer of a 4.5 % wage increase over the course of a three-year collective agreement, together with pension, benefit and vacation improvements, was “fair”.

“Diageo is committed to the negotiations process and we hope that the union will decide to return to the bargaining table soon,” a spokesperson from the company said.

“We have robust business continuity plans in place, and we do not expect the work stoppage to affect our ability to supply Crown Royal Canadian whisky to the market.”

Earlier this year, whisky expert Jim Murray named Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye as the World Whisky of the Year in the thirteenth edition of his Whisky Bible.

“Our members go to work everyday with the mindset that they are making the world’s greatest whisky,” Jeff Traeger, president of UFCW Local 832, told Global News.

“The membership believes that if the company put the same effort into this round of bargaining we wouldn’t be on strike.”