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﻿<title﻿>﻿New Socialist Magazine, Victory at Can Fab CAW Local 1325 - Article﻿</title>﻿
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﻿<b﻿>﻿Victory at Can Fab 
﻿<br﻿>﻿CAW Local 1325
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"For one Day Can Fab belonged to the workers"﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
by Diane M. Albrecht﻿<br﻿>﻿
﻿<i﻿>﻿New Socialist Magazine, July - August 1999﻿</i>﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
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April 15, 1999 will long be remembered as the glorious day on which the workers at the Canadian Fabricated (Can Fab) plant in Stratford, Ontario took control of their lives and made the factory theirs. The occupation began when the union president, chairperson and one steward hid out overnight in the factory in order to let the troops in. At 5:30 AM a small group of leadership and workers (approximately 24 people) including Hemi Medic assistant to CAW President Buzz Hargrove entered and secured the factory. The rank and file were then mobilized to surround the plant in order to defend the occupation.
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
We have in the past been a passive workforce, but dealing with an employer like Johnson Controls (JCI), the corporation that took over Can Fab, changed all that. Johnson Controls, true to their name, set out to achieve complete control. When Can Fab became a JCI plant our workforce was close to 1500. During six years and two contracts with them they have demanded major concessions and paved the way for future out sourcing and layoffs.
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
Our last contract was signed in January of this year but JCI showed its true intent immediately after signing. During the negotiations the corporation committed to maintain the existing level of employment in the plant. Despite this, they put 500 of our members out on a five week layoff while producing our work in a plant in Mexico. To add insult to injury, shortly after everyone returned to work they announced a permanent layoff of another 57 workers. Almost immediately on the heels of this announcement they then called a meeting to inform us that they would be permanently out-sourcing our main NL contract (a seating contract with Chrysler), which would result in a total reduction of approximately 160 workers. The reason they gave -- insufficient workforce. This with 200 members already on layoff and 57 having just received permanent layoff notices.
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
This was more than the membership was willing to take. They were quick to express their dissatisfaction and soon calls for action and a fight back plan were heard everywhere. The militancy of the rank and file was building, members were encouraged and many became actively involved. Workers everywhere expressed their disgust at the way the corporation was treating them. 
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
I believe it was the voice of a united union membership, speaking out through a variety of communications that played a key role in the decision to proceed with the job action. Hemi Metic attended a special membership meeting to address our concerns. In order to realize our goal to keep the NL contract and bring our members back from layoff, drastic action would be required regardless of the usual legal restrictions. The decision to support the leadership was unanimous.
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
The morning of the occupation was among the best days of my life as I joined hundreds of workers overjoyed to see action being taken. Workers from both shifts, members on layoff and retired workers were joined by other CAW locals from across Ontario, and members of other unions -- CUPE, UFCW, Steelworkers to name a few. Workers everywhere could be overheard talking about the excited but relaxed mood, for once the stress was gone. Workers were taking control, making the workplace ours: for one day Can Fan belonged to the workers.
﻿<br﻿>﻿<br﻿>﻿
In the 28 years I have been a members of this local I have never seen the membership so united, this action did more in one day than a lifetime of education could have accomplished. With the plant down and occupied a settlement was reached that gave us what we wanted plus a few extras. Can Fab would be the primary supplier for the Chrysler Assembly plant at Bramalea (thereby keeping the NL contract), the layoff notices of the 57 people were rescinded, a formula was created that allows for a 75 per cent recall ratio of individuals in line with their seniority when people retire or quit, all individuals 55 and older would be eligible for the early retirement window recently negotiated, and the corporation committed to consulting the union before any changes were made in work process or organization. This victory is a look into the future, Local 1325 members are a force to be dealt with. We are no longer in a concessionary mood but demand to be treated with the dignity and respect we deserve.
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