At two union meetings September 19, the more than 300 unionists present discussed the ramifications of the proposed contract and in particular the “Return to Work Protocol” demanded by the bosses. According to Local 28-0 president Steve Armstrong, a controller with 15 years on the job, the protocol states that a worker would be considered laid off if not called back within 12 days of the end of the strike, and that the contract would be set aside for 30 days so that the company can disregard seniority in calling back workers. These provisions could also result in the permanent layoff of 160 workers in the adipic-acid operation.

“Our national union says it’s the worst back-to-work protocol they have ever seen,” Armstrong told the Militant. “There is basically no collective agreement for 30 days, including on seniority rights.”

Many strikers expressed their anger at the bosses and their determination to fight to defend their union.

“If we don’t have seniority we are like fish out of water,” said mechanic Rick Daub, who has worked at the plant for 31 years. “At first we went out for the junior people, now we have to turn [the offer] down for the senior people.”

“They are turning this into a 1940s sweatshop,” said Gary Witcher, who also has three decades of work at the site.

Mark Darrah, with 16 years’ seniority, took the initiative to circulate his analysis of the company offer because the bargaining committee was forced by the company to recommend approval if there was to be any offer at all. “It’s a document from hell that would set us back 20 years,” he said. “They are declaring open season on trade unions.”

Pickets said management, bused in by security goons, has maintained a degree of production. The sprawling plant, near the town of Brockville, east of Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario, produces industrial chemicals, including those critical to the production of nylon and plastics used by the auto assembly industry in Ontario.

The plant was until recently owned by Dupont (Canada). It is now owned by Invista, which is a subsidiary of Koch Industries. According to the union, Koch Industries is the second largest private company in the world. Many strikers refer to it as the “Wal-Mart of the chemical industry.”

In a statement reported in the Brockville Recorder, Invista said “it is disappointed that the union bargaining committee failed to live up to their commitment,” to recommend the deal to its members, and that it “is not optimistic about a potential settlement, given these circumstances.” Mark Lichty, Invista Canada’s director of human resources, declined to say whether the company was willing to change aspects of the return-to-work protocol or whether the offer the workers rejected has been taken off the table.

Up to now the main issues in the strike have been demands by the company to extend the average workweek from 40 to 44 hours, more flexibility to contract out jobs, and the power to reopen the contract with 90 days notice in response to “unanticipated benefit costs.”

Lists of supporters of the strikers from other CEP locals and unions as well as local businesses line the walls of the picket trailer at the plant gate, indicating broad support for the fight in the area.  
 
 
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