Members of UFCW Canada Local 401 stand strong on the picket line at Old Dutch Snack Foods in Calgary, with continued support from other labour groups and the community. On May 8, they were treated to a barbecue sponsored by CAW Alberta Local 4050 during a sunny break in the generally inclement weather – and received a further boost to their spirits (pictured above) when they learned during the rally that the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) had just endorsed a national boycott (with the exception of Quebec) of Old Dutch.

May 8, 2009 - The Canadian Labour Congress has endorsed a national consumer boycott (excluding Quebec) of snack food
products manufactured by Old Dutch Snack Foods Limited.

The boycott is in support of 170 UFCW Canada Local 401 members at the Old Dutch snack processing plant in Calgary who were locked out of their jobs last March 29.

Their collective agreement with the company expired more than a year ago.

“We are very pleased that the CLC has urged the support of millions of Canadian trade unionists to this boycott,” says  UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley.

“It is unusual to sanction a boycott this early in a dispute, but the CLC recognized the unusual circumstances of this lockout that allows Old Dutch in Alberta to keep on manufacturing product despite its lockout of our members.”

Products subject to boycott are all Old Dutch snack foods as well as several private-label brands including

· President Choice - Western Grocers
· No Name - western Grocers
· Great Value - Wal-Mart
· Compliments Value - Sobeys
· Safeway Blue Bages - Safeway
· Co-Op Crunchie - Co-op
· Cyclone - Overwaitea