Purdys Chocolatier's management and union representatives last night reached a tentative agreement, hours before the midnight deadline, which the union had set as the start of a potential strike.
Unifor Local 2000's more than 200 workers at the Vancouver-based chocolate maker and retailer will now see and vote on the agreement, details of which were not revealed to the public.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director said workers now have "a tentative deal that advances their goals."
Key union demands included better pay and protection for worker seniority.
Purdys' president Lawrence Eade told BIV in a statement that he was "pleased that we were able to settle on an agreement with Unifor Local 2000 on Monday evening without losing a day of productivity, and we’re looking forward to ratification of the proposed settlement by our employees when they vote on it in coming days.”
Purdys has 81 stores across Canada. Its Vancouver operations also include a factory on Kingsway Ave. and a warehouse on Chester St., which supply chocolate for retail stores.
Founder Richard Carmon Purdy started selling homemade chocolates on Robson Street in Vancouver in 1907.
Flavelle's father, Charles Flavelle, bought the business in 1963, along with partner Eric Wilson. He then bought Wilson's stake in the venture, and sold the business to his daughter in 1997.
