Talks have broken off
Jul 15, 2010 - 12:12 PM
By Jennifer Stone
BOWMANVILLE -- The strike at Bowmanville's St. Marys Cement has entered its 18th week, and talks between the two sides have broken off.
Approximately 100 Canadian Auto Workers Local 222 workers hit the bricks March 12, with pensions as the major issue.
Talks broke off last Friday, CAW local president Chris Buckley said.
"We're waiting to get a signal the company's ready to go back to the table," he said, noting the union's willingness to bargain to end the "terrible dispute."
But, "St. Marys has no desire to end the strike, because they're running the plant with scabs," Mr. Buckley said.
Replacement workers are bused in and out, past the picket line on Waverley Road, south of Hwy. 401, each day, and the plant is said to be running at 60 to 80 per cent capacity, Mr. Buckley said, calling on the Province for anti-scab legislation.
Watching the buses go in and out of the plant is tough on the striking workers, he added.
"We've acted respectfully, we've acted responsibly, but I can't guarantee that'll be forever," Mr. Buckley said. "You can imagine how testing it is on an individual who has been on the picket line for 18 weeks, seeing a bus filled with replacement workers," entering the plant.
A representative of St. Marys did not return calls for comment.
Recommend :