8 August, 2017
For immediate release
Thunder Bay, ON – IAM members in Thunder Bay remain on strike as the owner of Lakehead Motors has gone on vacation.
“This is serious business,” said Pete Topetto, Directing Business Representative of IAM Local Lodge 1120 in Thunder Bay, “and the owner is pretending that by going away, the problem doesn’t exist,” he said.
Local Lodge 1120 has been on strike since August 3rd, as the employer did not respond to the initial Union offer. “I don’t know why this employer found it impossible to respond to our offer,” Topetto said. “The terms were reasonable and well within the bounds of a reasonable offer. The employer has made it confrontational by refusing to bargain,” said Topetto.
“By going on vacation, he is abdicating his responsibility to bargain with the workers he employs
“The items being bargained for were accepted at the other four auto dealerships in Thunder Bay, so his refusal simply boggles the mind,” he said.
Topetto is asking other IAM members and the general public to put pressure on Lakehead Motors to get back to the bargaining table with the IAM
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Call Lakehead Motors and tell them how you feel. Tell them to negotiate with the IAM and to settle for worker fairness. Call (807) 345-6581.
- Tell them you won’t buy anything from them and will tell your family, friends and neighbours to do the same.
- You can also tweet your support for us by mentioning:
@IAMAW1120 or @IAMAWCanada - You can also retweet our messages. Your solidarity helps us get the word out!
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For further information:
Pete Topetto, Directing Business Representative, IAM Local Lodge 1120
807-475-4779/807-251-0600
Frank Saptel, Communications Representative
416-386-1789 Ext #6325/(416) 579-0481
