You are no doubt aware of the tenuous situation involving members of CAW Local 27 at Electro-Motive Diesel / EMD. Approximately 400 members were locked out by US-based Caterpillar Incorporated on New Years' Day when they refused to accept a Collective Agreement that would see wages and benefits cut by over 50%. As Chris Townsend who studies labour relations for the United Electrical Workers in Washington has said, "This is a rogue company that will wage war on its workers to get what it wants. We now have a massive number of workers here who work full time yet live in poverty." This avarice comes from Caterpillar where the top eight executives were paid $67.6 million in 2010, a company that showed a profit of $1.14 billion, up 44% from the same quarter in 2010. (Sun Media)
The ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local stands in solidarity with CAW Local 27.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is organizing a Day of Action on Saturday, January 21, 2012. ETFO Provincial President Sam Hammond and members of the ETFO Provincial Executive will be in attendance as will many of our OT colleagues and leaders from across the province.
All members of the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local should consider participating in the OFL Day of Action to demonstrate their support for the workers at EMD. The Rally will take place on Saturday January 21, 2012 at Victoria Park in London at 11:00a.m.
It is our hope that the situation at Electro-Motive will be resolved quickly and in the best interests of the members of CAW Local 27. To that end we will continue to do what we can to help our friends in this time of need.
We are calling on all Thames Valley Occasional Teachers to come out and show support. Bring family and friends. A $5.00 Tim Horton's gift cards will be given to the first 100 people who make their attendance known to Terry Card. Look for our ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' flags.
ETFO THAMES VALLEY OCCASIONAL TEACHERS' LOCAL
