ArvinMeritor workers locked out of Ontario brake plant
TILBURY, Ont. -- ArvinMeritor has temporarily ceased operations at its Tilbury, Ont. brake plant after labor negotiations between the commercial vehicle component manufacturer and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 1941 fell apart last night. ArvinMeritor says it locked out the 246 union employees after the CAW refused to take the company's final offer to members for a ratification vote. ArvinMeritor is now asking the Ontario Ministry of Labour to allow a secret ballot vote for workers on the component maker's last proposal. It says it will keep the facility closed until a new collective agreement is ratified. "We have presented our fourth -- and final -- economic offer to the union bargaining committee, said Mark Parris, Tilbury's site manager. "Because the committee refuses to present the company's final offer to its members, we plan to call on the Ministry of Labour in Ontario … so that employees will have an opportunity to determine the final outcome." Adds Pedro Ferro, vice-president and general manager of Braking Systems: "The economic realities of our industry require that we, as a global corporation, take actions which improve our cost structure and ensure the future stability of the company -- and the Tilbury facility. Certain modifications to the previous collective agreement are necessary for this facility to remain competitive in today's challenging automotive environment." The CAW says that the final offer contains major monetary concessions in addition to cuts to current and future retirees along with major outsourcing of our jobs to U.S. facilities. It is advising membership to reject the offer should the vote actually take place. In the meantime, the union is asking workers to report for picket duty. Ferro says that ArvinMeritor will continue to supply commercial vehicle brakes and related components to customers from its facilities in Frankfort, Ky. and Manning, S.C. "During this time, we are focused on meeting our customers' requirements and have contingency plans in place to deliver on that commitment," he says.