Striking can-makers ask beer drinkers to buy bottles

Workers demonstrate against Crown Holdings outside a Toronto Beer Store on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015.

Beer drinkers may notice striking workers outside the Beer Store this weekend.

Employees from Crown Holdings, which makes beer cans at a Toronto factory, have been on strike for 17 months and they want the public’s help.

“We're basically telling them just to buy beer in bottles, not in cans,” said worker Steve McHugh, speaking outside of a local Beer Store on Saturday.

The workers hope to put pressure on Crown Holdings by hurting their bottom line through reduced sales.

McHugh said the strike started when the company demanded wage cuts of up to $9 per hour.

“They’re making a lot of money, so why (are) they’re coming after us?” he said.

The United Steelworkers, the union representing the workers, said that Crown Holdings demanded young workers take wages up to 42 per cent lower than what more senior workers receive.

After the strike began, the company hired replacement workers so that it could continue to fill orders, according to the union.

Crown Holdings reported a net income of $374 million the first nine months of 2014, compared to $275 million for the first nine months of 2013.

Similar demonstrations were held at Beer Store and LCBO locations in December.