Three-hour motorcade halts CAMP X activity
Jun 07, 2008 - 11:47 AM
OSHAWA -- A protest by General Motors workers in Oshawa this morning caused the cancellation of veteran’s memorial service in Oshawa.
The service was to be part of a weekend-long series of events at Camp X on Boundry Road in Oshawa. It was cancelled when General Motors employees stepped up their protest efforts this morning by staging a three-hour motorcade around the company's truck and car plants in Oshawa.
“This was no way to garner support for your cause,” wrote Marianne Waldman in an email to newsdurhamregion.com. Mrs. Waldman’s daughter was one of the cadets who were to have taken part in today’s service. “The cadets, who gave up their time to come out and support the veterans as well as to show their loyalty to the military and the community, were met with nothing more than a slap in the face.”
Members of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 222, which represents workers at the Oshawa complex, set up a blockade at GM headquarters Wednesday after the automaker announced it would close the truck plant and three assembly operations in the U.S. and Mexico within two years.
The closing would eliminate more than 2,000 plant jobs and several thousand others at parts suppliers.
"This is about all of us - all our jobs, all our community," CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley told hundreds of cheering union workers this morning (Saturday) as he announced plans for the motorcade, described as "Phase Two" of the rally.
Dressed in red T-shirts that read "Made in Canada Matters," workers drove out single-file for the tour; only a handful stayed behind to man the blockade. About 100 cars took part in the slow motorcade as it circled GM, disrupting parts delivery. The motorcade later made its way back to GM headquarters on Col. Sam Drive.
Mr. Buckley said employees have been instructed to work as scheduled, stressing that the union wants to maintain production quality at the plant.
Liberal Party Leader Stéphane Dion visited union headquarters this morning to show support for the union. Dion has called for the Conservative government to fire Finance Minister Jim Flaherty over the closure and his handling of the economy. Dion was joined by Liberal MPs Judy Sgro and Dan McTeague.
Also on hand to show his support was New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton.
Oshawa's Conservative MPs Colin Carrie (Oshawa Riding), and Mr. Flaherty (Whitby-Oshawa Riding), have not visited the protest.
-- With files from Paola Loriggio, Toronto Star
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