York police investigating after video shows tractor trailer driving through Sobeys picket line in Vaughan

Video of the incident shows a truck rolling into a picketer who had been trying to block it on its way out of the distribution centre
Thestar.com
Oct. 23, 2023
Josh Rubin

York Regional Police say they’re investigating after a tractor trailer drove into a picket line outside a Sobeys distribution centre in Vaughan Friday night.

“We’re aware of the incident, and members of our District 4 Criminal Investigations Bureau are looking into it,” a police spokesperson said.

Video of the incident shows a truck rolling into a picketer who had been trying to block it on its way out of the distribution centre. On-site security can be seen trying to get the driver’s attention.

In an email, Teamsters Local 419 president Jason Sweet, whose 175 members have been on strike since Oct. 16, said the truck narrowly avoided injuring a picketer, thanks to some quick-acting colleagues.

“Thank God, he was pulled before we were dealing with a much worse situation,” said Sweet.

Sobeys didn’t immediately reply to a Star request for comment.

In a previous interview with the Star when the strike began, Sweet said wages, job security and pension were all priorities for the union.