In the Grey-Bruce Labour Council's tradition of fifty years
of "Building Communities" the delegates and activists
around the council table heard and responded to the heart wrenching
story of abuse and desertion of dedicated and skilled workers
at Hanover Kitchens. At the Council's regular monthly meeting
at the IWA Hall in Hanover on March 26th, 2007, Bruce Weber President
United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-500 told of a productive company;
one that had been sought out as a model for other plants, and
one with a community based unionized workforce. The process of
negotiating a new collective agreement started as any normal negotiation
just before Christmas of 2006, but in short order this very standard
step in the worker-employer relationship soon disintegrated as
the employer made it known that the company was folding up.
The reasons behind the collapse of the company, according to Bruce
Weber, were never fully disclosed to the workers nor was there
any information provided about how a model and productive organization
could suddenly fall into financial ruin. Not only was there no
disclosure, but when a buyer came forward the offer was never
taken seriously as the company's assets were moved quickly to
their three non-unionized plants away from Hanover. Although no
official comment was ever received by the union it is thought
that this action was a continuation of union busting tactics seen
so often in recent years in the business world.
Bruce Weber wanted the Labour Council and the Community to know
that these workers, workers who live in Hanover and area, had
not been forgotten, and he noted ongoing activities such as helping
the members of the USW from Hanover Kitchens secure monies owing
from severance and lack of notice are ongoing. The emotion in
Bruce's voice was clearly noticeable as he described families
that had been Christmas shopping and preparing for the holidays
only to have their wishes destroyed and their families thrown
into turmoil. As the story was expanded on it became clear that
the Labour Council needed to respond and long time Labour Council
delegate and community and union activist Bob Houston of OPSEU
224 asked the Labour Council to donate $1000 to these workers.
With nothing but unanimous support, and a desire to go back to
our own unions for more support, this step to provide some relief
for these workers became reality.
As a rural Labour Council with our own funding struggles the council
delegates from our affiliated unions and the activist community
knew only too well that if we cannot stand together now, we will
stand alone in the future, and an opportunity to stand in solidarity
with our sisters and brothers is a privilege for this labour council.
In the pictures provided you will note Grey-Bruce Labour Council
President, Dave Trumble on the left, USW 1-500 President Bruce
Weber receiving the cheque for $1000 from Bob and Dave, and Bob
Houston, OPSEU 224 on the right.
Dave Trumble
President
Grey-Bruce
Labour Council
(519) 396-9452