OFL and CAW Visit Locked Out Workers in London Ontario

Tim McSorley — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:40:19 +0000

650 workers on the picket line

In this video from the Occupy London Ontario Media Team, they continue their coverage of the lockout of 650 workers at the local Caterpillar plant. On December 30, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), which represents the production and skilled workers at Canada's only locomotive plant, voted to strike if necessary, as attempts to reach a collective agreement had stagnated.

The CAW notes that Caterpillar is trying to slash workers' wages (by 50 per cent), significantly reduce benefits to workers, and eliminate workers' pension plan. It's an offer, in effect, that Caterpillar knows can never be accepted by the workers. With the recent purchase of three plants in Mexico, the US, and Brazil, Caterpillar seems to be planning to outsource the London plant to take advantage of non-unionized workers abroad. A major rally is planned in London for January 21.

In this video Tim Carry from Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Nancy Hutchison from Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) visit the lines outside the Caterpillar plant.

"It's frustrating that this government keeps giving handouts to corporations and in return these corporations just slam workers one by one by one and shut the doors and lock-out workers when they have made them so profitable," says Hutchison

OFL and CAW Visit The Locked Out Workers in London Ontario

Miles — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:08:01 +0000

Our friends with the Occupy London Ontario Media Team have been doing some great coverage of the lockout at the Catipilliar plant. The corporation is trying to slash the wages (by 50%) and benefits of workers with an offer they know can never be accepted by the workers, and seems to be planning to move the plant to the United States to take advantage of ununionized workers. A major rally is planned for January 21st.

In this video (lockout update, January 9th 2011) Tim Carry from Canadian Auto Workers [CAW] and Nancy Hutchison from Ontario Federation of Labour [OFL] visit the lines. Hutchison said: "its frustrating that this government keeps giving handouts to corporations and in return these corpotations just slam workers one by one by one and shut the doors and lock out workers when they have made them so profitable"

Occupy London Media Team also did videos on how the Unions were told to remove porta-potties that strking workers were using. One of the sticking points in bargaining is that the company no longer wants to pay into the solidarity fund that CAW pays into to support broader social struggles such as the Occupy movement. Occupy London Ontario camped out in solidarity with the striking workers. Although it was -25 outside, Jess from Occupy London said: "We had the tent set up and I took a nap and I woke up and there was a woodstove there, and there was a table with all kinds of soup and cookies".

The Dominion - Mike Roy and Occupy London Media Team

OFL and CAW Visit Locked Out Workers in London Ontario

OFL and CAW Visit The Locked Out Workers in London Ontario