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“The workers were showing up for work and before the day shift started the company had some security people right inside and when they were walking in they said, ‘We’re closing the plant. Here’s your envelope, your termination papers. The company is closing,’” he said.
Nabbout said the closure was a surprise.
“We’ve been having some problem with them,” he said. “They run the company to the ground. But nothing really unusual.
“We know that it’s not the best situation we have there but it’s not like we knew they were going to close, no we didn’t know.”
The company makes parts for General Motors.
The union sent a notice to begin collective bargaining about 10 days ago, Nabbout said, but now a closure agreement will need to be negotiated. Until that happens, the union vows the blockade will remain.
“We reached out to them and we said we are in a labour dispute and we are not going to allow product going in and out unless somebody who can make a decision (they) need to sit down with us and make sure we can take care of our workers, whatever they’re entitled for,” he said.
“It’s not good news. It’s a devastating situation to those 62 members and their family, in the bitter cold,” he added. “The company made lots of money and hopefully those employers they come to the table and give what our workers deserve.”
A local management representative with JD Norman reached Sunday by phone told the Star, “We have no comment at this time.”
jkotsis@postmedia.com
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