LAVAL, Quebec — Following their Friday general assembly, it was hot dogs and ice cream on the picket line Aug. 8 for members of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) at the Heroux-Devtek aerospace company here.
The bosses locked out some 100 workers July 9, the day after the union organized a one-day strike to emphasize their demand for wage parity. Workers at another division of the company in Longueuil, earn eight Canadian dollars ($5.80) an hour more.
The workers manufacture landing gear for both military and commercial aircraft.
They said they’re getting a lot of solidarity from CSN members and other workers. Dozens of truckers and others passing by honk and wave in support.
The bosses have hired some scabs, but there is virtually no production going on. The Quebec labor tribunal recently ordered the company to stop using scabs, which is illegal under Quebec labor law.
“With a boss like ours the union is really, really important,” said machinist William Gagnon, adding this is his first time on a picket line.
“The workers here have our full support,” CSN Executive Committee Treasurer Yvan Duceppe told the Militant. He spoke to the 35 to 40 workers present, saying, “Your unity is key. They can’t make profits without you.”
The workers were very impressed that Joanne Kuniansky, Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor of New Jersey, had joined them on the picket line Aug. 8. She was here to speak at a Militant Labor Forum the following night.
“This is what we use our campaign for,” she said. “To help build solidarity with fights like these that are going on here and around the world.”
Visit the picket line! Support messages can be sent through the CSN website, or by mail to CSN, 1601, avenue De Lorimier, Montreal, Quebec H2K 4M5.