Autoworkers Plan Their Next Steps
Posted June 9, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
They haven’t given up yet. And so far, there’s no end in sight.
On its sixth day of protests, the Canadian Auto Workers’ union is blockading GM’s corporate offices Monday. “We’re into day six and we’re going to continue with this occupation,” affirmed Jim Nimigon, CAW member.
He said there would be a meeting on Monday to map out the next actions of the protest. But one thing’s for sure: it’s not over yet.
After General Motors announced the closure of four assembly plants last Tuesday, including the truck plant in Oshawa, workers took to a blockade of the company’s corporate offices last Wednesday. A meeting between union top brass and General Motors representatives, meant to reverse the decision, instead confirmed the shutdown.
Since then, the auto workers and their supporters slowed production at the Oshawa plant Friday by blocking all entrances to the facility with a slow-moving auto convoy.
Sunday morning, Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti and Secretary-Treasurer Hassan Yussuff addressed workers at the blockade, lending support to the workers there. CAW President Buzz Hargrove spoke Sunday afternoon, giving a morale boost to the crowd.
A solidarity march is planned for Thursday, which is planned to include CAW bargaining delegates, as well as retirees from the union.
Nimigon says there are “other plans” in the works, which will be unveiled in the coming hours and days. So far, there’s no word of a strike at the plant.
The plant’s closure would cause an estimated 2,600 job losses, as well as untold economic damage to the city of Oshawa.
Recent Stories on the GM Protests:
GM Confirms It’s Halting Production At Four Factories Including Oshawa
Oshawa Reels After Layoff Announcement
