The labor union representing employees at the soon-to-be-shuttered Diageo Crown Royal plant in Amherstburg has finalized an agreement for its workforce facing job loss in February. Unifor Local 200 members gathered to approve the company’s last proposal, solidifying the irreversible closure plan, according to John D’Agnolo, the union’s president. Approximately 160 unionized workers at the plant can choose to depart immediately or stay until the facility shuts down.
D’Agnolo disclosed that the workers overwhelmingly backed the deal with an 89% approval rate during the Sunday vote. In response to the closure, Ontario Premier Doug Ford pledged to remove Crown Royal from LCBO shelves next year in protest. Despite calls for intervention to prevent the closure, D’Agnolo expressed his belief that the decision to shut down the plant was already predetermined.
The company clarified that while Crown Royal whisky production will continue in Canada, some bottling operations will relocate closer to U.S. consumers. Diageo emphasized its ongoing presence in Canada with headquarters in the Greater Toronto Area and additional facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.
Operating since 1971, the Amherstburg plant has a long history of bottling Crown Royal products. Although efforts to retain the jobs in Amherstburg were unsuccessful, the plant chair for Diageo workers, Doug Benekritis of Unifor Local 200, emphasized the importance of negotiating a favorable closure agreement to support affected employees.
D’Agnolo acknowledged the emotional toll on workers and described the closure agreement as the best possible outcome given the circumstances. He highlighted the delicate nature of closure negotiations, where the company holds leverage to walk away, leaving workers with minimal government-mandated benefits. Despite the negotiated terms, D’Agnolo expressed the workers’ devastation, emphasizing the bittersweet feeling of finalizing the closure agreement.
Looking ahead, there is optimism for potential job opportunities at the site, as the Town of Amherstburg has already received interest from several companies looking to repurpose the bottling facility.