News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 June 1, 2007Workers From Across the Country Gather in Ottawa
Rally on the Hill Demands Government Action on Job Loss
Workers from across the country and Members of Parliament gathered at the West Block on Parliament Hill May 29, for an evening forum filled with stories of plant closures, lost jobs and the effects they have has on their communities.
CAW local 200 member Carrie Schroeder worked at a Ford plant in Windsor for seven years until her job was lost due to what she described as government inaction and shareholder greed. "I know I will never see the inside of that Ford plant again," said Schroeder.
Another retired worker spoke about his pension being cut by 40 per cent, $447 less per month. He said that most pensions are not funded at 100 per cent and that the government gave the company the right to withhold those pension funds.
CLC Secretary-Treasurer Hassan Yussuff closed the forum with a passionate narrative on the uneven rules Canadian plants are forced to compete with. "We are going to fight to turn this reality around," he said to the applause of all who were in attendance.
Rally on the Hill Demands Government Action on Job Loss Labour activists took to the hill in Ottawa on May 30, making their voices heard both inside and outside the corridors of Parliament in an effort organized by the Canadian Labour Congress.
Members of the CAW were joined by CUPE, USW and CEP in a rally 3,000 strong, culminating three months of forums and actions surrounding the massive loss of manufacturing jobs.
Inside the Parliament buildings, CAW members and other labour representatives spent the day lobbying Members of Parliament, meeting with Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Bloc politicians.
Labour leaders and protesters demanded government adopt a 'Made in Canada' policy and better trade deals that would grow national industry, instead of throwing Canadians out of work.
"We need laws that say to the countries we trade with, we will buy your products, but only if you buy ours in equal parts, " said CAW National President Buzz Hargrove. "What would be wrong with that?"
The CAW march kicked off blocks away at the Ottawa Congress Centre with rallying speeches by Hargrove, Quebec Director Luc Desnoyers and CAW Council President Ken Lewenza.
The 'Job Loss Cemetery,' erected on the front lawn of Parliament Hill drew attention from curious members of the public and politicians alike. Only hours after its construction began, the Prime Minister's Office ordered the RCMP to have the graveyard dismantled although RCMP clearance was previously granted. The CAW refused.
Thousands Rally in Windsor, Highlighting Massive Job Loss
More than 38,000 people joined forces in Windsor, Ontario demonstrating against the loss of manufacturing jobs, with the rallying cry, "Our Jobs, Our Communities, Our Future."
Families with children, retired workers, local union activists and community members all convened at the Ford Test Track Park, after marching from three rallying points.
Organized by a community coalition group including Windsor area CAW local unions, the rally was made up of members of several CAW local unions, CUPE, OPSEU, OECTA, the National Farmers Union and many other groups. All expressed concern about the ways that the loss of 18,000 manufacturing jobs in Windsor-Essex is wreaking havoc on the area.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove said the troubled auto sector is the reason for the manufacturing crisis in Windsor. "The loss of thousands of auto jobs is not inevitable and could be prevented by fair trade with foreign producers, allowing equal access to overseas markets, Hargrove said.
CUPE national President Paul Moist connected manufacturing sector jobs to maintaining high levels of service and a good quality of life for citizens.
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Ken Georgetti called on the federal government to address manufacturing job loss through stronger trade policies which reflect the needs of Canadian workers.
Ken Lewenza, CAW Local 444 President demanded politicians across the country put aside partisan politics to ensure that future generations will have a chance to know the very industries that built the country.
Oshawa Rally & March Demands Job Loss Action
Hundreds of CAW Local 222 members, their families and the community were joined by CAW members from Kitchener, Brampton, Woodstock and the surrounding area at a Manufacturing Matters rally and march in Oshawa, Ontario on Sunday May 27.
The rally started at the Midtown Mall and continued with a march though Oshawa to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, MP Colin Carrie's office, to highlight the massive job losses in the area and across Canada.
CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley told the crowd "manufacturing in Canada is in crisis and it's not just auto. All sectors are experiencing job loss . . permanent job loss. It's time our country woke up and realized we're in a crisis."
Jim Freeman, President of the Durham Region Labour Council and Jim Mitchell, CAW Skilled Trades Council President joined with General Motors Unit Chairperson, Keith Osbourne and Patty Rout, Regional Vice President for OPSEU to highlight the need to pressure the Federal Government on the manufacturing job loss crisis and demand fair trade policies to protect Canada's manufacturing sector.
Oshawa has lost 20 per cent of its manufacturing jobs with more than 7000 jobs lost in this community since 2002. In the last four and a half years, Canada has lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs or 150 manufacturing jobs every day - and that rate is accelerating.
Workers Vote No To Wage Cut Demands
CAW Local 558 members at Wabco Ltd. in Hamilton, Ontario have voted overwhelmingly to reject company demands for wage cuts.
Local 558 is in bargaining with the company, which manufactures brake parts for rail cars. The company applied to the province for a supervised vote on management demands for a $2 per hour wage concession.
The 278 members voted May 27 by 86 per cent against the company demand for wage cuts. The union is now pushing to get the company back to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair and reasonable collective agreement for all workers.
Despite the 27 per cent increase in revenue and a 15 per cent increase in profit over the last three quarters, this corporation clearly attempted to take advantage of the current crisis in the manufacturing sector.
"This was an incredibly important membership meeting where our members turned out in large numbers to reject the company's demands," said Bob Chernecki, assistant to the CAW president.
"This is an important victory for these workers and for our union."
Steve Jefferies, President of CAW Local 558, said the company is trying to force through a number of concessions. He said the solidarity of the membership and the committee was key to this victory.
"The membership stood strongly behind the committee - we're a no-concessions union," Jefferies said.
