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September 11, 2018
ST. JOHN’S - Unifor National President Jerry Dias is again reaching out to Premier Dwight Ball to meet concerning the 631-day lockout of 30 aerospace workers in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dias called the Premier’s office today.
It is the fourth request from Unifor for a meeting with the Premier whose media statements about the lockout this week clearly indicate he doesn’t understand what is at play in this dispute that is likely the longest lockout in the province’s labour history.
“To be clear, this is not merely a problem of getting the union and the employer to a negotiating table as the premier has said. This is much bigger than that. This is about an employer intent on undermining and busting the union,” said Dias.
The Unifor National President said every action by the company from the lockout just days before Christmas in 2016, to two separate findings of bargaining in bad faith in 2017 and 2018, to the escalation of the dispute with hiring of scab labour reinforce the intentions of DJ Composites.
“Had the premier met with us when we first requested it in February and twice since, we could have very clearly explained why this situation is not merely a matter of getting the two parties to talk,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director. “The fact is the government has ignored what has been going on right under its nose – a full-scale attack on the union rights of these Gander workers.”
The DJ Composites lockout has also exposed once again the need for anti-scab legislation, as well as improved labour laws that result in real consequences for employers who try to bust unions.
For further information or to arrange in person or facetime live interviews: please contact Unifor Director of Communications Natalie Clancy at @email or 416-707-5794 (cell).
