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National President at picket line, vows to “find a solution”
Negotiations between Unifor Local 184 at Silicium Quebec in Becancour, and the employer are resuming today, though as Local President Jean Simoneau points out, “from the beginning there has have never really been any negotiations,” during the nearly six months that the workers have been locked out.
“We have had several meetings, but the employer was only interested in demanding concessions,” he said. These include a 20 per cent salary reduction, contracting out that would affect 30 positions, withdrawal of the defined benefit pension plan, and more.
Unifor National President Jerry Dias visited the picket line, Sept. 25, declaring that he is “committed to finding a solution, to the only lock out of its kind in the 300,000-member union.”
Meanwhile, members on education training at Port Elgin showed their solidarity by collecting $504 for the local. Unifor Local 2002 also recently made a donation to the locked out members, driving up a cheque for $1,000, along with the new Unifor flag.
The 145 members have been locked out since May 3, and the Commission des relations du travail (CRT) has issued two injunctions against the employer for using strike-breakers. The plant is Canada’s only producer of silicon metal.
Donations to the Local can be sent to the attention of Local 184 President Jean Simoneau, 10520, Blvd. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, G9C 1B3 (819) 609-2184.
