Unifor workers at THK in Tillsonburg go on strike

Extra than 100 employees at a Tillsonburg automobile sections plant are on strike for the to start with time in the plant’s 40-calendar year heritage.

Unifor users hit the picket traces right away at THK Rhythm Automotive.

Central challenges are wages, pensions and gains.

Tillsonburg Unifor Regional 1859 president Lorraine Sinclair suggests workers gave a potent strike mandate.

“We had a 78 for every cent strike vote. I feel we had 138 people there out of 156.”

With the vote, John and Jamie Opdecam are now strolling the picket traces.

The Tillsonburg couple satisfied at THK more than 20 yrs back. At the time it was TRW, and a excellent place to get the job done, in accordance to John.

“They treated us like spouse and children again then, but issues commenced to modify in the past 15 several years,” he explained.John and Jamie Opdecam fulfilled at THK above 20 many years in the past. They have two small children and say a strike at the vehicle pieces maker is essential to boost wages and benefits, April 25, 2022. (Sean Irvine / CTV Information)

TRW’s union plant chair Elaine Kamenar says the adjustments provided claw backs and concessions, in particular through the 2008 economic downtown.

Kamenar states wages are a significant issue but healthcare and retirement setting up remain a top rated precedence.

“Better added benefits, our benefits are definitely small. We want to see better pensions. We will need way greater pensions,” she reported.Back again on the line, Jamie Opdecam says a $1,200 cap on all gains does not get really considerably for her spouse and children of four.

“It can be very stress filled. I suggest a single dentist appointment can use up your full rewards, and you have nothing still left for the calendar year. Then it is all out of pocket,” she added.

The strike listed here arrives significantly less than six months right after the province dedicated $1-million to THK’s $27-million expansion, which has just started building. At the time, business officers advised CTV Information London the addition would generate 65 work.

But the union contends most new hires are not remaining on, given a small starting up wage.

The union says output personnel at THK make among $17.68 to in excess of $25 an hour on a two-tier wage process.

A indication-out entrance for the worker entrance at THK in Tillsonburg, Ont. has been protected by a Unifor flag, April 25, 2022. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)Each Kamenar and John Opdecam say it is not ample, as inflation pressures mount and say, “With the way inflation has been it appears to be like we’re stepping backwards, instead of forwards.”

There are no new talks scheduled amongst the business and the union.

In the meantime, tensions on the line have currently been tense. Security guards are seen at all plant entrances.

At a single level, a coach bus appeared in close proximity to the plant, stopped, and a handful of minutes later moved on. Picketers contend it contained substitute staff.

CTV News achieved out to Tillsonburg THK Plant Manager Marnie Kent for confirmation and to study additional from her agency.

But she said above the phone that the business is not “commenting to the media.”