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16 July, 2002The Canadian Auto Workers have signed an agreement ending a six-week strike at truckmaker Navistar International Corp.
CANADA: An overwhelming ratification vote (81%) for a proposed agreement has ended a six-week struggle by the CAW against Navistar. The company had asked for 20 pages of concessions, but in the areas of wages, benefits, time off the job and hours of work the union fought them all off. In addition, there were gains in pensions and a guarantee that the plant would not be closed prior to June 1, 2003.
"This strike was unlike any other struggle our union has had in the last 50 years," said Buzz Hargrove, CAW president. "A major multinational, U.S.-based corporation, International Truck, attempted to break a legal strike in a large assembly plant by bringing in scabs. With concessions demands that forced us out on strike, the corporation chose to taunt the workforce by hiring large numbers of goons and thugs to bring the buses of scabs through the picket line." However, continued Hargrove, "the entire union understood the importance of this struggle and at my request remained on alert to down tools at a moment's notice and head to Chatham."
One striker, Don Milner, who was critically injured on June 24 when a van driven by security guards hit six picketers, remains in critical condition. The IMF joins the CAW in sending its heartfelt support to this CAW member and his family.