Over 10,000 support locked out Caterpillar workers

The Toronto Star:

London, Ontario — A crowd of more than 10,000 descended upon this city’s Victoria Park to support local workers who have been locked out of their jobs since the new year. They came from all over, from Timmins, Sudbury, and Pennsylvania in scores of buses. They came to protest corporate greed and Stephen Harper.

At issue is a three-week-old lockout at Electro-Motive Canada, a subsidiary of Caterpillar. The company locked out 425 Canadian Auto Workers Local 27 employees when the collective agreement expired on Jan. 1, citing the union’s negotiating flip-flops as the reason for the labour stoppage.

Workers became outraged over the company’s last offer in late December, which they said included wage reductions by as much as 50 per cent for some jobs, and the elimination of pensions, benefits and holidays.

Jeremy Beyea, who took a break from the picket line to join the rally, said the workers’ resolve is strong.

“There is no going back now,” Beyea said. “We’re digging in, here for the long haul.”

Beyea said the community has supported those locked out with food, drink and clothing. His family has also provided support, both moral and financial. But some of his co-workers are struggling.

“Some have lost their homes already and some relationships have already broken down,” Beyea said. “It’s been tough.”

The anti-government and anticorporate sentiment was palpable throughout the park, many waving signs that read, “Harper: stop corporate greed.” Bob Scott, union chair in the negotiations with Electro-Motive, said the union will hold a hard line.

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