The warehouse workers and mechanics, who repair the big earth moving machines and supply parts to outlets across the country, are members of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) amalgamated Local 112. At the end of May, the company was able to force the workers to take part in the government-organized vote under antilabor legislation in the province. After rejecting the offer by a 65 percent majority, many workers on the picket line said the company underestimated their unity and resolve to see the strike through to the end.

In the week preceding the vote all the strikers received a company propaganda sheet, the Toromont Newsletter, by courier. The bosses tried to divide the strikers by claiming that "the strike is led by a small group of radicals within the membership.... These people are extremists who want to turn this into their own private war."

The heart of the Toromont bosses' strategy has been to divide the skilled from the unskilled workers. About three-quarters of the workers are skilled heavy equipment mechanics. The rest are warehouse and yard workers. In its newsletter the company appealed to the skilled workers, saying, "You are striking for a group of unskilled workers who are substantially overpaid and who are keeping you from doing your jobs.... Do these people really deserve your support?"

The divide and conquer tactics have not worked. "The key issues are imposition of a continuous workweek, a wage freeze for the unskilled workers, and the cutting of the cost-of-living clause for the unskilled workers," Tom McNally, the strike coordinator said. The skilled workers have been offered a small percentage wage increase over a five-year contract. The final offer of the company was worse than the initial offer.

The stakes are growing each day as it becomes clear that the goal of the company is to seriously weaken or break the union, which has organized the plant for three decades. The 1,700 workers at the nine other plants in Ontario are not unionized. The wages and benefits that workers have won at the struck plant in at least eight hard-fought strikes--the last one in 1994--have been applied to the nonunion plants to keep out the union. The CAW has appealed to the office and nonunionized workers in the Toromont chain to support the strike.

At the beginning of the April 10 walkout there was a massive police presence at the picket line. At the end of June the company started advertising in the mass circulation Toronto Sun for replacement workers at rates of pay well below the current pay scales, and opened up two new entrances to the property. But at this point they have not tried to bus in replacement workers. Strikers report that 20 workers have crossed the picket line. There is little production taking place since skilled mechanics are required for most of the work.

"Together we are committed to take on this employer and set an example to all employers who may share Toromont management's vision of a union-free workplace," said a strike bulletin issued by the union. "We cannot allow any employer to break any union anywhere. This strike is not about wages and benefits. It is about the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively with their employer and, with your support, we will do whatever it takes to defend these rights."

Al Cappe is a member of CAW Local 707 at the Ford assembly plant in Oakville. Tony Difelici is a meat packer and a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers at Quality Meats.  
 
 
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