LAS VEGAS, June 27 -- Delegates at the Teamsters 27th International Convention today overwhelmingly passed a resolution to utilize the power of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT) to strategically organize Quebecor World, Inc. (QW) workers. QW is the second-largest publicly traded printing company in the world and prints a variety of materials including retail catalogues and popular magazines such as Sports Illustrated and employs over 22,000 North American workers. Forty-four workers at the Journal de Montreal were fired after being forced to strike to fight against large cuts in staffing that would have put their health at risk. QW Teamsters in the United States have offered their support for the Canadian workers in their fight for justice. "We are grateful for the support of American workers for our struggle," said Denis Fornier, Secretary-Treasurer of GCC/IBT Local 41M in Montreal. "Let us all fight for a day when all Quebecor workers have rights and dignity on the job." In 2005, the Graphic Communications International Union joined the Teamsters, bringing 60,000 new members into the union, including 7,000 QW workers. Later that year, QW and the GCC/IBT signed a historic neutrality agreement in which the company pledged to not interfere with or oppose employees' efforts to organize. However, in four separate elections, QW violated the agreement including behavior during the election in Covington, Tennessee, that led to an impartial arbitrator to rule the company "engaged in a systematic campaign to convince its employees of the risks and futility of unionization." "This company has no respect for the very neutrality agreement they purported to sign in good faith," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "We stand behind these workers in solidarity as they fight for their rights in the workplace, no matter how long it takes."