Hundreds rally for locked out workers

Conservative MPs from the London region and Prime Minister Stephen Harper were pilloried Saturday for not supporting locked out workers as hundreds of people rallied at the gates of Electro-Motive Canada.

"Stephen Harper, get your head out of the tar sands," said Peggy Nash, MP for Parkdale-High Park and NDP leadership campaign.

Nash told the receptive crowd that people across the country are aware of the struggle of the Electro-Motive workers who were locked out Jan. 1 after rejecting a 50% pay cut and reduced benefits.

She said she has seen attacks on working people across the country with companies locking out workers, but this is the worst case she has seen in all her years in the labour movement.

"It is absolutely unacceptable in Canada today," she said.

She told the workers people from all regions are supporting them.

"Your struggle is a struggle for all of Canada. You are on the front lines," Nash said.

Nash said she is pushing a law that will require foreign companies buying Canadian firms to guarantee jobs, wages and investment.

The failure of the Canadian government to do that at Electro-Motive is absolutely incredible, she said.

The barbecue and rally Saturday at Electro-Motive, attended by union activists and members of the general public, was organized by Cami Automotive workers in Ingersoll.

Many passing motorists honked their support while a few rolled down their windows to hurl insults at the pickets.

Tim Carrie, president of CAW Local 27, said it is important for local politicians and members of government to support the workers who have helped build the community.

"Susan Truppe, Ed Holder, Joe Preston, I do not accept their statements that this is a provincial issue," said Carrie.

Carrie also took a swing at London Mayor Joe Fontana for issuing a statement on the lockout that never mentioned Caterpillar.

"That was disgusting," he said, adding that the city should no longer use Caterpillar equipment.

Carrie said Caterpillar has underestimated both the response of the labour movement and the community as a whole.

London-Fanshawe NDP MP Irene Mathyssen attacked Caterpillar for saying it needed the wage cuts because of the competitive environment it is operating in.

GE, which manufactures locomotives in Erie, Penn., settled with workers for $30 an hour.

"If GE can do this this in a tough climate so can Caterpillar," Mathyssen said.

Original Article
Source: if Press