TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec — Over 100 Steelworkers and others gathered in front of the Siemens Energy electrical transformer plant here Aug. 28 for a barbecue picnic to support the 105 United Steelworkers Local 8396 members locked out April 15.
“The fight waged by workers in Trois-Rivieres is important in Canada and elsewhere in the world,” Steelworkers International Secretary-Treasurer Myles Sullivan told the crowd. “When workers are attacked in one country, we unite and build solidarity.”
Among those present were Quebec Federation of Labour Secretary General Olivier Carriere and Quebec Steelworkers Director Nicolas Lapierre. Steelworkers Local 6951 Vice President Daniel Martel, representing the 300 Steelworkers on strike at ArcelorMittal’s Contrecoeur West plant, participated.
Steelworkers from the nearby ABI aluminum plant also joined in. They are donating to the Siemens picket fund through weekly membership pay deductions. Picket pay for locked-out workers has risen to 600 Canadian dollars ($430) a week thanks to such help.
Locked-out workers told the Militant the company is going after seniority in job transfers and is pushing to pay overtime only after 40 hours a week, rather than eight hours a day. And they haven’t even started talking about wages! they say. The workers haven’t received a wage hike for 2 1/2 years.
“Morale has never been stronger,” said Alexandre Laplante. “Bonds of friendship have been reinforced on the line. They’re trying to destabilize the union, but we won’t give up.” Show your support! Join the picket lines 24/7 at 3400 rue Bellefeuille, Trois-Rivieres.