As of Thursday, May 6 about 275 members of the Thompson Products Employees’ Association at THK Automotive St. Catharines were locked out during negotiations for a new contract. The St. Catharines plant is the linkage and suspension division, which makes components for steering and suspension to send to companies such as Ford, GM, Chrysler and BMW.
The previous contract expired May 5. During the previous three contract negotiations, the union took strike action until new agreements were reached. Leading up to the negotiations the union’s strike vote passed with 99.3 per cent voting in favour of a strike. They were locked out before the strike date. Pickets have now been set up outside both of the plants on Louth Street, while management workers continue to work inside.
Frank Viscek, president of the Thompson Products Employees Association, said to the St. Catharines Standard that the union is “Here to protect jobs from leaving the area.” Prior to the lockout, the employer was offering increased overtime, and workers speculate that they had been planning for the lockout by building up inventory. Talks between the union and the employer continue, but according to Frank Viscek, “Both sides are far, far apart…”
The workers at THK Automotive deserve a fair contract! Locking out employees in the midst of a pandemic is an attack on the workers and their families. The fact that the company has been unwilling to negotiate fairly on this and previous contracts shows the need for workers’ control of the factory! The current lockout is one of many attacks on the working class across Canada. Solidarity with the TPEA members, an injury to one is an injury to all.
