Canadian Auto Workers Block Plant Auction To Salvage Back Pay, Benefits

[Omaha Steve]

http://labornotes.org/2009/12/canadian-auto-workers-block-plant-auction-salvage-back-pay-benefits

Gerry Farnham | January 4, 2010

Why are workers in Canada forced to occupy plants and blockade workplaces in the hopes of getting what they are legally entitled to?

Currently our Canadian Auto Workers local is in a bitter struggle with an American-based company, Catalina Precision Products. The company made heat shields, battery trays, hood hinges, and other small but crucial parts for Chrysler. Its two Windsor facilities, Aradco/Aramco, employed 80 of our members.


CAW members occupied a Windsor, Ontario plant of American-based Catalina Precision Products in March, winning eight weeks of pay owed to them, and then stopped the auction of the company’s equipment in November. Photo: Bob Cruise, CAW Local 195.


In March 2009, management told employees not to report to work until further notice. Our only leverage for getting severance, vacation pay, and other benefits they were owed would come from blockading both these facilities. With help from CAW members of other locals and the labor council, up to 200 union members blocked trucks from entering the facilities.

Police presence increased quickly, and we decided to occupy the Aradco plant. We were aware that the parts were needed by Chrysler to keep its production flowing.

Eight members chained the doors shut from the inside and stopped the company from removing valuable equipment, tooling, and parts needed by their customers and the owners.

Our CAW attorneys and top national officers negotiated with Chrysler, and after four days of blockade and occupation, Chrysler finally came up with a small portion of the money owed, about eight additional weeks of pay.

Still, this fraction was $400,000 more than we had prior to taking on this fight. Our occupation was a small victory for these workers.

FULL story at link.