International trade union activists warned anti-union transnational Crown Holdings at the weekend to expect protests at its facilities in Switzerland, Italy, and France.
Crown manufactures containers and cans at 147 plants in 40 countries and is rapidly becoming notorious for its anti-union attitudes.
Union representatives were infuriated on Thursday when they attended the company’s annual meeting in Philadelphia only to be refused the right to speak and fobbed off with evasions when they questioned chief executive John Conway.
Kemal Ozkan, assistant general secretary of 50-million-member global labour federation IndustriALL, and Unite vice-chairman Mark Lyon attended the meeting.
Both held shareholder proxies but Mr Conway barred them from speaking.
Shareholders were told to submit written questions but most went unanswered.
Crown has failed to consult its European works council — as required under European law — over the divestment of operations in Spain, Mr Ozkan said.
It should also tell shareholders why it has refused to abide by a supreme court decision in Turkey ordering the company to recognise a union.
Mr Lyon, whose union represents workers at 11 Crown plants, stood up to protest against Mr Conway’s attempt to stifle shareholders.
Shareholders submitted four written questions about a seven-month dispute in Toronto.
But Mr Conway refused to provide information on the strike.
“Conway refused to say why he forced employees to vote on a contract that provided few, if any, assurances that workers would have jobs even if they voted to end the strike,” said Joe Drexler of the United Steelworkers.
“The offer signalled Crown wants the dispute to continue rather than secure its customer base.”
And Wayne Harrison, chief steward of USW Local 9176, whose members are on strike, asked: “Why is it refusing requests from the Ontario Ministry of Labour to return to the bargaining table?”
The Toronto workers recently voted 117-1 to reject Crown’s contract offer.
“We want Crown to explain why it is prolonging this strike and attacking workers’ living standards,” said Mr Ozkan.
“Crown has turned a small labour dispute global and its shareholders will suffer along with workers.”