Jamieson strike will affect vitamin supplies in stores very soon, says union as workers dig in

It's only a matter of time before the strike that began Feb. 1 at Jamieson Vitamins will impact product availability on store shelves, warns Unifor Local 195's president.

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 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 shortages on the shelf very soon.

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

Production has been halted since the strike started.

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

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

Nabbout said Thursday that negotiations have stalled. The union and employer last exchanged proposals on Monday, but no other talks are 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."

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" for negotiations to continue.

Winker declined to comment further.

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.

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

"Unified, that's for sure," said Dan Cipparone, who works in inventory control. "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."

Marvin Ryder, an associate 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 believes Jamieson will "be motivated to bring this strike to an end."

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