Caterpillar locks out Canadian Locomotive workers


LABOUR PREPARES TO BAR SCABS FROM LONDON PLANT: 

http://ofl.ca/index.php/news/index_in/labour_prepares_to_bar_scabs_from_london_plant/

More militant defence of good jobs
could mean widespread labour unrest in 2012 


(TORONTO) -- Ontario Federation of Labour
President Sid Ryan today declared that Ontario's labour
movement will mobilize to help the Canadian Auto
Workers (CAW) stop scabs from crossing picket lines at
Electro-Motive Canada's London plant. Workers from
across Ontario will prepare to flood the picket lines
at the locomotive plant if called upon by the CAW.

"Workers across the province are angry and feel
betrayed by their government and they are ready to
fight together to defend good jobs," said OFL President
Sid Ryan. "We are putting corporations and all levels
of government on notice that 2012 will be marred by
labour unrest if they continue to destroy the
livelihoods of Ontario's middle class."

Electro-Motive, a subsidiary of U.S. industrial giant
Caterpillar Inc., issued a final offer to its London
workers that would cut hourly wages to $16.50 from $35
while slashing pensions and benefits, even though
Caterpillar has enjoyed record profits and a 20 percent
boost to production over the last year. The company
locked out its workers on New Year's Day and is
rumoured to be taking advantage of Ontario's lax labour
laws by bringing in scab labour to keep the plant
operational while bullying the union into devastating
concessions. Many fear that the company's hidden agenda
is to move production to a U.S. plant in Indiana.

"Caterpillar has a reputation for refusing to negotiate
and escalating labour disputes through the use of
scabs. This kind of confrontational negotiation tactic
is unnecessary and underscores the need for provincial
legislation to ban the use of replacement workers
during strikes and lock-outs," said Ryan. "Scab labour
destroys families, divides communities and protracts
labour disputes. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has
the power to de-escalate this dispute but we won't sit
by while good jobs are destroyed."

Ryan has offered CAW President Ken Lewenza the full
support of the province's labour movement to stare down
this greedy employer and pressure both levels of
government to defend good Canadian jobs. The union is
calling on federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis
to use his powers to retroactively order a full review
of Caterpillar's acquisition of Electro-Motive. At
issue is Harper's failure to strengthen the Investment
Canada Act and ensure a 'net Canadian benefit' by
obliging foreign companies to protect Canadian jobs,
quality of life and retirement security before
purchasing Canadian companies.

"Harper's corporate tax cuts are continuing to fuel
record profits that companies are keeping instead of
investing in new technologies and equipment that lead
to job creation. If Harper is refusing to protect the
interests of Canadian workers, then we'll have to do it
ourselves," said Ryan. "In 2012, workers are going to
start fighting together against greedy employers to
defend the good jobs that drive our economy. We are
angry, we are organized and we are at this union's
disposal. Essentially, we are just waiting for a call."

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54
unions and one million workers in Ontario. OFL
President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario's labour
movement.


For More Information: Patrick (Sid) Ryan, President p:
416.441.2731 | m: 416.209.0066 | f: 416.441.0722

Joel Duff, Communications Director p: 416-443-7665 | m:
416-707-0349 | f: 416-441-1893 




CAW Questions Government Claims Regarding Electro
Motive Assets, Calls for Full Disclosure of Sale

January 5, 2012, 3:32 PM EST

http://www.caw.ca/en/10830.htm

Canadian Auto Workers Union

The CAW is questioning federal government claims that
London, Ontario locomotive maker Electro-Motive's
assets were below the Investment Canada Act threshold
for government review.

CAW President Ken Lewenza was responding to media
reports today that a federal Industry Minister
spokesman said the value of the company's assets were
below the $299 million threshold when it was sold.

"There is no oversight and no transparency in this
whole process," Lewenza said. "Caterpillar declared a
gain of $1.3 billion in assets on its books following
the takeover of EMC. The federal government now says
that the takeover did not meet the threshold of $299
million for a full review, or to seek legally-binding
commitments to Canada."

"In a $1.3 billion deal, how can the Harper government
seriously believe that not even a quarter of those
assets are in Canada?" Lewenza asked.

"London is the largest manufacturing plant in the
company, and at the time of the takeover had nearly
half the company's employees. The Harper government
gave this sale a rubber stamp paving the way for this
disaster," Lewenza said. "This is a disservice to
Canadians."

Lewenza is now asking the Harper government to disclose
the value of assets in London declared by Caterpillar
and is asking what steps did the federal government
take to ensure the validity of the information provided
by Caterpillar?

"Will the federal government use its powers under the
Investment Canada Act to review this obviously faulty
decision to head off this job-destroying disaster?"
Lewenza asked.

He also blasted a statement by the federal government
spokesperson in the media today that the federal
government won't get involved in the lock-out of
Electro-Motive workers because it is a dispute between
a private company and the union.

"The federal government certainly had no problem
interfering in bargaining between Air Canada and the
CAW last year," Lewenza said.

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