Jamieson strike will affect store shelves 'very soon,' says union

It's only a matter of time before the strike at Jamieson Vitamins will impact product availability on store shelves, warns Unifor Local 195.

"(Workers) want to fight for their future. By the same token, the company gets hurt because they don't produce product while we are on strike," said Local 195 president Emile Nabbout.

"So how much do they have to supply the market? Everybody knows, in recent years, most employers have a lean manufacturing — very low inventory. I'm sure many of the clients (Jamieson) has, they're going to see shortage on the shelf very soon."

"That's why we urge the employer.... come to the table, give the workers what they deserve."

The company didn't respond to a question about whether the strike would affect supply.

Unifor Local 195's picket line at the Jamieson facility on Rhodes Drive in Windsor on Feb. 15, 2024. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

Unifor Local 195 represents 317 workers involved in the manufacture and packaging of health supplements at the Jamieson facility at 4025 Rhodes Dr.

Production has been halted since the strike began Feb. 1.

Nabbout said Thursday that negotiations have stalled as well: The union and the employer last exchanged proposals on Feb. 12, but no further talks have been scheduled.

"We're still far apart on many different issues, and specifically on the wages and the monetary package," Nabbout said.

"This is a wealthy company, and they have been making a record profit.... Our union does have some figures, but that is not for us to release."

Unifor Local 195 president Emile Nabbout speaks with CBC Windsor via Zoom. (CBC News)

Ruth Winker, a spokesperson for Jamieson, said the company "remains committed to ending this work stoppage as soon as possible."

However, Winker said it's up to the union to "return to the table" in order for negotiations to continue.

Winker declined to comment further.

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Striking Unifor Local 195 members hold up signs on the picket line at Jamieson Laboratories in Windsor. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

Founded 102 years ago, Jamieson describes itself as Canada's leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality natural health products.

While the company has three other facilities — one in California and two elsewhere in Ontario — the Windsor plant is Jamieson's main production facility for capsules and tablets.

Marvin Ryder, a professor of marketing at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business, believes a prolonged strike will damage Jamieson's footing in the highly competitive dietary supplement market.

"Yes, the brand name is well known, but there's nothing terribly proprietary about the formulation," Ryder pointed out.

"If I can't get Jamieson Vitamin C as a consumer, it's no problem switching to something else. Then the question becomes: Will I switch back when the strike is over?"

That's why Ryder feels certain that "Jamieson is going to be motivated to bring this strike to an end."

The sign at the Jamieson Vitamins production facility at 4025 Rhodes Dr. in Windsor. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

But Nabbout said Local 195's relationship with Jamieson has been "a little bit rocky in the last few years," and bargaining was moving "very slow" even before the latest impasse.

On the picket lines on Rhodes Drive on Thursday, Local 195 members said they're prepared to endure a strike as long as it takes to receive what they're due.

Dan Cipparone, a Unifor Local 195 who works in inventory control at Jamieson Laboratories stands on the picket line. (Dalson Chen/CBC)

"Unified, that's for sure," said Dan Cipparrone, who works in inventory control at Jamieson. "Out here for the long haul, if we need to be."

"The cost of living is insane... We all have families, trying to make ends meet — and we're working for a company that makes lots of money. All we ask is for fairness."