THUNDER BAY - It’s been three days since workers at Lakehead Motors walked off of the job after negotiations with management halted.
Technicians and mechanics lined up outside of the car dealership on Friday with signs and flags for a second consecutive day.
“They haven’t notified us, or tried to talk to us. We’re willing to come to the table at any time to negotiate a reasonable, fair deal,” said Peter Topetto, president and directing business representative with Local Lodge 1120.
The striking stems from a breakdown in negotiation over pensions and wages. Topetto said other local dealerships have come to an agreement of an eight per cent wage increase over three years.
In a statement made Thursday, Lakehead Motors vice president and general manager Greg Cieslik said he hopes the situation will be resolved amicably, but added he could not get into specific detail regarding any negotiations.
On Friday, he declined to comment any further on the matter.
“Obviously that’s the company’s position,” said Topetto. “We’d be done this if it wasn’t for that.”
Stan Pickthall, the general vice president of Canada’s machinist union, travelled from Toronto to visit the workers on the picket line.
“I think it’s important that this employer gets back to the bargaining table,” Stan Pickthall said. “That’s the first step.”
Pickthall, who has been on the job for the past 18 months, said it’s the first strike their union has encountered.
“Thunder Bay is a union town,” he said. “It’s interesting that four other dealerships [in town] have ratified a deal, and I’m being told by our bargaining committee that we need a similar deal.”
Both Pickthall and Topetto said they were pleased by the community support.
“We’re getting support from everybody: the community, the customers, the unions. We appreciate all of their assistance,” said Topetto amidst a steady barrage of honked horns from people driving down Memorial Avenue.
“We’re doing the most we can do,” Topetto said. “We’re all waiting.”
