Vol. 77/No. 4 February 4, 2013
Quebec unionists join solidarity action for strikers at Mapei plant
MONTREAL—Nearly 200 unionists turned out for a solidarity demonstration at the Mapei factory in Laval, Quebec, north of Montreal Jan. 16, to support 115 workers who have been on strike since May 4, 2012. The strikers—members of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN)—voted to reject the bosses’ last concession contract offer in October by 84 percent.
Mapei—which produces tile cement and chemical products for building construction and owns 59 plants in 28 countries—is now demanding government action to force a new vote on similar offers. “Mapei doesn’t seem to understand that this type of action only reinforces our solidarity,” said local union president Eric Caron in a statement released to the media.
Supporters of the Mapei strikers came from a number of unions, including those locked out by Acier Leroux in Boucherville, south of Montreal.
“Without realizing it, the company has built strong solidarity among the guys,” Sylvain Fournier, a fork lift driver with 31 years at Acier Leroux, told the Militant in their picket line trailer on Jan. 10.
Steelmaker Acier Leroux, a division of Russel Metals, locked out 94 workers Sept. 10, 2012. One of the main issues is a drive by the company to contract out union jobs to lower-paid contract workers. Last November the workers, who are also CSN members, unanimously voted down the company’s last contract offer.
When we go back to work “we will go back as proud men,” said Daniel Jobin, a van driver with Acier Leroux.
—Amélie Lanteigne and John Steele
As strike deadline approaches, ILA workers resist concessions
International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett and other union representatives walked out of the bargaining session with the New York Shipping Association Jan. 9, protesting “revolutionary demands” presented by the bosses for changes in work rules and reduced crew sizes on New York/New Jersey docks.
The New York area talks are part of negotiations with the U.S. Maritime Alliance—of which the New York Shipping Association is a member—on a contract covering 14,500 longshore workers at 14 East and Gulf coast ports. The contract expired Sept. 30. A strike deadline has been extended twice, most recently from Dec. 28 to Feb. 6.
Terminal bosses have their eyes on the expansion of the Panama Canal, slated to be finished in 2015. If they can slash labor costs and boost productivity, they hope to outbid other ports for goods shipped from China and other Asian countries destined for Midwest delivery.
“The members of our organizations stand ready aboard ship and ashore to assist your efforts,” said a Jan. 14 letter of solidarity sent to the ILA from presidents of five other port unions around the country. It was signed by ILWU President Robert McEllrath; Donald Marcus for the Masters, Mates & Pilots; Floyd Hepting, American Radio Association; Michael Jewell for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; and Alan Cote for the Inlandboatmen’s Union.
—John Studer
Philadelphia city workers rally for union contract, wage raise
PHILADELPHIA—Municipal workers, joined by other union members, demonstrated Jan. 19 at Independence Mall here to draw attention to their fight for a union contract.
Members of districts 33 and 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—which organize 15,000 sanitation, street maintenance and other city workers—have been without a contract or wage increase since 2009.
Responding to speakers with chants of “No givebacks!” “No concessions!” the Martin Luther King Day action drew more than 1,800 unionists, including from AFSCME, Transport Workers, Steelworkers, Teamsters, UNITE HERE, Service Employees, and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.
Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter made the city administration’s “final offer” at a news conference Jan. 16. Representatives of the union rejected it.
Nutter threatens to unilaterally impose his contract and get a court ruling if the unions do not approve it by Jan. 30.
During his 2007 campaign Nutter appealed to “tax payers” with an austerity platform targeting pensions, health care, and work rules of city employees.
—Osborne Hart