Titan Tool & Die escalated its lockout of 25 Windsor, Ont., workers by removing the last remaining raw materials from its plant, with union representatives witnessing the removal and believing the materials are being moved to the United States.
The company locked out workers at its Windsor facility while continuing operations at its American locations, according to Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union representing 320,000 workers.
Union alleges production shift to U.S.
Unifor claims the company is quietly shifting production across the border to avoid public and political backlash that would follow admitting to moving jobs to the U.S.
“This company is trying to pull a fast one on our members, our union and the entire Windsor community, hiding the betrayal of its workforce behind the smokescreen of a lockout,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The union said the company first emptied the plant, then locked out workers, and is now removing the last raw materials.
Local union criticizes company’s approach
Local 195 President Emile Nabbout said the company refuses to admit what it’s doing to workers who have provided skill and loyalty for decades.
“What cuts the deepest is not the fact that Titan locked our members out, or the trucks removing the last of plant’s raw materials, it’s that Titan refuses to look our members in the eyes and admit what they’re doing,” said Nabbout.
Unifor continues to call on Titan Tool & Die to reveal its plans for the Windsor plant’s future and immediately resume negotiations for a deal that secures jobs and production in Canada, according to the union.
