EDMONTON , July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Nearly 50 Unifor Local 21-A members at AT Films went on strike at 3 p.m. today over the company's refusal to take concessions off the table and explicitly include all benefits within the collective agreement.

"Unifor members are critical to the success of AT Films, and the collective agreement should reflect that," said Unifor Local 21-A President Mike Kapalka . "Our members deserve fairness."

Collective bargaining began in December 2014 but has been at impasse since early June. Unifor says that a deal cannot be reached until its members receive contractual assurances that their benefits are secure. Unilateral changes by AT Films in the past has eroded Local 21-A members' benefits.

"We are eager to negotiate a deal, but that deal has to enshrine our benefits and pensions in the collective agreement and increase job security," said Kapalka.

AT Films Inc. researches, designs, and manufactures polythene film products for the horticultural, agricultural, and construction industries. Unifor members at AT Films manufacture, fold, and distribute polythene films products. The parties have been negotiating since December 2014 .

AT Films Inc. is the first Canadian company to join a prestigious group of six businesses within British Polythene Industries PLC, whose head office and manufacturing facilities are located in Edmonton . A conversion site is located in Westlock, Alberta .

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

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For more information, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or Ian.Boyko@Unifor.org

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