The union representing staff on the soon-to-be-closed Crown Royal bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., says greater than a 3rd of the workforce has already left forward of the Feb. 28 deadline.
Worldwide alcohol-maker Diageo introduced its plan to close down the ability final 12 months and negotiated a closure settlement with members of the native union, giving staff enhanced advantages once they left their jobs.
John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Native 200, mentioned whereas some staff retired, others managed to search out work on the close by Stellantis auto meeting plant in Windsor and varied trades-related jobs related to the union.
“We’re all the way down to about 101 staff,” D’Agnolo advised International Information. “Hopefully, we’ll get to the purpose the place all people’s employed.”
D’Agnolo mentioned the province has been helping the union by connecting staff with schools and funding close by motion centres to coach or reskill staff for different sectors.
Diageo’s determination to close down the bottling plant triggered waves of anger from the Ford authorities, which promised to retaliate in opposition to the corporate by pulling Crown Royal from the LCBO, doubtlessly denying the corporate hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in gross sales.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get the day’s high information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Whereas the premier mentioned he would “100 per cent” observe by means of on the risk on the finish of February, D’Agnolo mentioned the union initially urged the premier to take motion earlier within the battle.
“I signed a closure settlement as a result of we didn’t have a alternative. There was a deadline. Dec. 3 was the deadline,” D’Agnolo mentioned.
Forward of that deadline, nonetheless, the union met with the premier in Toronto and requested Ford to ramp up the stress.
“I mentioned, ‘I believe it’d be somewhat bit extra impactful if we did it proper now. Let’s not wait,’” D’Agnolo mentioned. “By Feb. 28, there’s not an worker within the constructing. It’s a lot simpler once they keep within the constructing.”
As a substitute, Ford opted to escalate a confrontation and promised to take away different Diageo merchandise from the LCBO if the corporate didn’t reverse the choice.
The corporate finally selected to maintain its amenities in Manitoba and Quebec in operation whereas shifting the Ontario bottling jobs stateside.
“(The premier’s) mindset was that they’d change their thoughts, however they’re clearly calling his bluff and saying that we’re going to observe by means of with it,” D’Agnolo mentioned.
The union confused that, regardless of the end result, it helps the Premier’s determination to take away the Crown Royal stock from the provincial liquor company and is asking on the federal government to go even additional.
“I need them to tug out each Diageo product they’ve,” D’Agnolo mentioned.
“It’s all about income. Individuals don’t change their minds within the company world till they lose cash.”
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
