(Montreal) Employees of the Resolute Forest Products plant in Alma, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, denounced Friday the use of scabs by the employer. Their factory has been on lockdown for over a month.

In a statement released on Friday, the union reported the presence of 13 scabs, citing a report sent to the Minister of Labor.

The Administrative Labor Tribunal is scheduled to hear the complaint of the National Union of Pulp and Paper Workers (SNTTPP) of Alma in this case on August 29.

The 230 unionized employees of the pulp and paper manufacturer in Alma have been without a contract since May 1. A lockout was declared by the employer on July 4. The union members had previously voted for a strike mandate.

The union accuses the employer of wanting to “impose a collective agreement that dates back more than a year, signed in the other provinces of Eastern Canada” and of refusing to sit down to negotiate.

“As if that weren’t enough, the company used ‘scabs’ in violation of the law. These facts speak volumes about the contemptuous and cavalier attitude of the leaders of Resolute Forest Products towards the people who operate their plant, “insists the vice-president of the SNTTPP of Alma, Daniel Bilodeau.

The vice-president of the Central Council of National Unions of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean-CSN, Marie-Pier Ouellet, points out that the reality of workers in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean is not the same as that of workers of the Maritimes and Ontario.

In an email to The Canadian Press, Resolute Forest Products states that “it is not appropriate for Resolute to comment publicly on a situation that affects labor relations with our employees.”

“Any labor dispute is difficult for the parties involved and we always hope to reach a resolution as quickly as possible,” adds David Marshall, Senior Director, Sustainability and Public Affairs, Resolute Forest Products.