IG Metall, the German Metal Workers Union, protested against the union busting by Crown in Toronto at a trade show on November 11 in Nuremberg, Germany. Crown was exhibiting its new packaging innovations at the trade show, and four members of IG Metall, holding a USW banner, gave attendees leaflets in German and English addressing Crown's 'innovative' approach to union busting in Canada. Members of Unite, USW's partner in Workers Uniting, engaged in similar action at a prior trade show in London.
Campaign in North America Intensifies
Meanwhile, the campaign against Crown is intensifying. In the last few weeks alone, complaints were filed with the U.S. and Norwegian governments; USW Local 9176 members ramped up efforts in the Philadelphia area, where Crown is headquartered and several Crown board members live, and have appeared on several radio programs; letters were sent to Crown customers about the recent fire at the Toronto plant now operated by scabs; thousands of postcards were sent to neighbors living in close proximity to Crown board members; an unprecedented radio ad campaign in Ontario began encouraging the public to buy beer in bottles and not cans; and the Steelworkers Toronto Area Council organized an effort to educate Ontario NDP members at last week's convention about the strike and USW campaign.