Canada Goose workers in Winnipeg vote to unionize

Employees work with Canada Goose jackets at the Canada Goose factory in Toronto on April 2, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

WINNIPEG -

Canada Goose workers in Winnipeg have voted to unionize.

In a news release Wednesday night, the Workers United Canada Council announced that around 1,200 garment workers with Canada Goose will be joining the union after 86 per cent voted in favour of unionizing.

Workers United – which represents about 10,000 workers across Canada – said the vote comes after a three-year effort by workers, with a union campaign led by a committee of Canada Goose workers.

The news release said Alelie Sanvictores, a Canada Goose sewer who has been with the company for five years, was a leader of the union effort.

"This is a wonderful moment for our workers," Sanvictores said in a news release. "We work so hard to make this company a success. Now we feel we have a real voice in the company to share in that success."

Canada Goose responded with a statement Thursday morning, saying their goal has been to support their employees and respect their right to determine their own representation.

“We welcome Workers United as the union representative for our employees across our manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg and look forward to working alongside them as we have in Scarborough and Toronto for decades,” the company said.