London plant lockout

Some 4, homes in the small city lie abandoned. Caterpillar received tax incentives from local government to convert a large Muncie facility and begin locomotive production. Yet there are reportedly difficulties with getting sufficiently skilled, specialized staffing. Nevertheless, there is suspicion that Caterpillar intends to move all locomotive assembly to Muncie if London workers resist attacks on their living conditions.

Caterpillar is seeking out the lowest-cost labor even at the risk of stalling production and losing orders. At other points in the last decade, Electro-Motive—under both Caterpillar and other ownership—has contracted some assembly work to other locations, including Mexico.

The various unions involved are working to reinforce the nationalist competition that Caterpillar promotes, rather than unify the workforces. No mention is made on the UAW web site of the lockout in London. For their part, the Canadian Auto Workers makes no appeal for American workers to come attend a rally in defense of the locked-out London workers.

Despite this, La Grange workers indicated that a delegation of workers from this plant is planning on going to London, Ontario, to support the workers there. One of the workers told us that they expect a turnout of thousands of people. Menu Search. Latest Profile. Contact About. This version has been updated. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism.

Special Projects Highline. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes. Follow Us. Terms Privacy Policy. This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada, which closed in CAW plant chairman Bob Scott says the news was met with devastation on the picket line. Liberal Party Leader Bob Rae also called for more oversight. The OFL leader said the situation in London underscores the need for provincial legislation to ban the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts.

Ryan also had a message for Ottawa, saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper's corporate tax cuts are continuing to fuel record profits that companies are keeping instead of investing in new technologies and equipment that lead to job creation. Canada London plant lockout sidelines more than workers Electro-Motive Diesel, which makes diesel-electric locomotives in London, Ont.

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