Tomorrow's 12 o'clock protest will mark one week since the ex-workers of PMP started protesting in front of Keele plants, where they try to interrupt the trucks carrying the tools away, all in hopes that this may result in some financial compensation from GM, Ford and Chrysler. The media has covered these protests in a few attempts (one of the latest ones in Toronto Star).
The protesters have been organized in three shifts. Selected representatives were interviewed at the police station. Even though local MP's were informed of the protest no one showed up to discuss the mass termination with them. The law is clear, for mass termination of more than 500 employees at the same time 16 weeks notice is required for each employee regardless of how long he/she has been with the company. The law requires the termination be submitted to Director of Employment Standards before being given to employees. PMP management did not care to do that. They claim they've lost 500 million dollars in a day between 30th of June and 1st of July and they didn't see it coming!!!! Quite contrary, in April this year they thought PMP was doing so well that they determined units for upper management bonuses.
And they still smile, laugh and 'whistle while they work' just as if nothing has happened.
Today a group of about 100 ex PMP employees went to discuss the situation with Federal Labour Minister, along with some CAW representatives. Federal Law has been changed already and effective October 2008 will provide more security for the workers. This change does not apply to PMP mass termination that happened now. Federal law doesn't provide any security to over 2,000 people left without work with ZERO notice and ZERO compensation.
Minister has power to make special provisions, will he?
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD and be there, rain or shine, FRIDAY 11th of July @ NOON to help get a positive answer to the above question.
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