The labour standoff at London's Electro-Motive Diesel clearly illustrates the threat unions face in the evolving global market, a Canadian labour analyst says.
Charlotte Yates, McMaster University's dean of social sciences and a labour studies professor, said the Canadian Auto Workers and other unions may appear to be impotent when companies table take-it-or-leave-it contracts under the threat of closing and moving operations to cheaper markets.
EMD parent company Caterpillar, which owns the locomotive factory, through its Progress Rail Services subsidiary, hasn't threatened to close the plant if London workers don't accept a wage-slashing final contract offer.
Still, many workers fear their jobs will be moved to Progress Rail's under-used factory in Muncie, Ind., where workers are paid less than half that of London workers.
"About 20 years ago, (former CAW president) Bob White said something along the lines of, 'You don't need a union if it's to help you march backwards,' " Yates said. "The idea of a union's goal to move forward is being challenged when they're being told to accept it or we'll relocate."
Eleven days into the lockout, there's been no return to the bargaining table since workers were offered wage and benefit cuts to the tune of about 55%.
"We know that unions still have relevance and we know workers still want rights in the workplace, but if unions can't deliver that, then what does that say for unions?" Yates asked.
She also condemned the McGuinty government for leaving the 425 workers to fend for themselves thus far.
"That's where the Ontario government should step up and say, 'We value collective bargaining, it's part of the democratic process and we expect companies to bargain.' This is an erosion of fundamental bargaining rights. This is shocking that Caterpillar is being able to get away with this, if it is allowed to do so."
The president of CAW Local 27, which represents the workers, said the battle in London reaches far beyond city limits.
"Now, more than ever, unions have an important role to play," Tim Carrie argued. "Let's face it, we see more and more everyday people losing their jobs. We're seeing our entire province being relegated to part-time work, to low-wage work. We're losing the middle class."
He called for a commitment to defend what he called "our way of life."
"The labour movement cannot start to concede or cave in to this stuff. We have to stand stronger together, not only with unionized workers, but with non-unionized workers."
Original Article
Source: lf Press
Charlotte Yates, McMaster University's dean of social sciences and a labour studies professor, said the Canadian Auto Workers and other unions may appear to be impotent when companies table take-it-or-leave-it contracts under the threat of closing and moving operations to cheaper markets.
EMD parent company Caterpillar, which owns the locomotive factory, through its Progress Rail Services subsidiary, hasn't threatened to close the plant if London workers don't accept a wage-slashing final contract offer.
Still, many workers fear their jobs will be moved to Progress Rail's under-used factory in Muncie, Ind., where workers are paid less than half that of London workers.
"About 20 years ago, (former CAW president) Bob White said something along the lines of, 'You don't need a union if it's to help you march backwards,' " Yates said. "The idea of a union's goal to move forward is being challenged when they're being told to accept it or we'll relocate."
Eleven days into the lockout, there's been no return to the bargaining table since workers were offered wage and benefit cuts to the tune of about 55%.
"We know that unions still have relevance and we know workers still want rights in the workplace, but if unions can't deliver that, then what does that say for unions?" Yates asked.
She also condemned the McGuinty government for leaving the 425 workers to fend for themselves thus far.
"That's where the Ontario government should step up and say, 'We value collective bargaining, it's part of the democratic process and we expect companies to bargain.' This is an erosion of fundamental bargaining rights. This is shocking that Caterpillar is being able to get away with this, if it is allowed to do so."
The president of CAW Local 27, which represents the workers, said the battle in London reaches far beyond city limits.
"Now, more than ever, unions have an important role to play," Tim Carrie argued. "Let's face it, we see more and more everyday people losing their jobs. We're seeing our entire province being relegated to part-time work, to low-wage work. We're losing the middle class."
He called for a commitment to defend what he called "our way of life."
"The labour movement cannot start to concede or cave in to this stuff. We have to stand stronger together, not only with unionized workers, but with non-unionized workers."
Original Article
Source: lf Press
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