Workers at Dajcor Aluminum in Chatham, Ont., walked off the job after learning the company intended to remove equipment and bring in replacement labour, according to Unifor.
The strike began after Unifor Local 127 members voted Tuesday to reject a tentative agreement. The union said it had extended the strike deadline and asked the company to return to the bargaining table with a better wage offer. Instead, it said, the company took steps to move equipment and use outside workers.
“Any attempt to remove equipment from a Unifor facility or bring in scabs will always be met with the swiftest possible response from our union,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president. “This is a clear case of escalation that calls for action.”
Union leaders say the strike is about protecting local jobs and the long-term future of the Chatham plant.
“Our members work hard and take great pride in producing high‑quality parts,” said Jeff McFadden, president of Unifor Local 127. “The company’s plan to remove equipment and bring in scabs is a slap in the face to the very workers who help generate its profits.”
Public funds and out-of-country investment
Unifor said Dajcor Aluminum has received public funding in recent years to support its operations in Ontario. That includes a $2.48 million repayable contribution from FedDev Ontario and more than $1 million from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.
Despite that support, the company has invested $19.6 million to open a second facility in Chavies, Kentucky.
“Dajcor has received a great deal of support from the community of Chatham … and from the loyal workforce who built its success,” said Payne. “You can’t accept public subsidies, rely on a skilled workforce for years, and then treat them like they’re disposable.”
Unifor said it is responding to growing threats to domestic manufacturing through its Protect Canadian Jobs campaign. The union is concerned about companies removing machinery, outsourcing production, or shifting operations abroad.
