GM, CAW await judge’s verdict on Oshawa blockade

Source: Exec Digital Canada

Date :6/13/2008 5:45:02 AM

An Ontario judge is expected to rule Friday June 13 on whether to grant an injunction to end the blockade at General Motors of Canada's Oshawa headquarters.

Judge David Salmers ruled late postponed his decision in a Whitby courtroom on Thursday, June 12, saying that he needed to consider the matter at least overnight on whether to grant an injunction to end the blockade, which began June 4.

"This is not a simple case and it is certainly not unimportant," said Salmers, telling lawyers that he would deliver his ruling via email as soon as possible.

GM is arguing for an injunction to end the action and for C$1.5 million in compensation from the Oshawa local of the Canadian Auto Workers union and five of its members.

Plant closure

CAW members have been protesting in front the headquarters since the automaker announced June 3 that it was closing a truck plant by the end of 2009, leaving 2,600 people out of work.

GM says higher gas prices and steep declines in truck sales are forcing the plant closure. The automaker said US truck sales in May were down 39 percent from the same time in 2007.

Rally

CAW president Buzz Hargrove says GM is violating the agreement by closing the plant, although GM argues that there are clauses in the deal that allow the plant to shut down.

"The union believes that General Motors gave them a promise, a binding promise to consult with them before making a decision affecting certain production lines," union lawyer Tim Gleason said after court was adjourned.

On Thursday, 2,000 union members from across Ontario spent rallying in front of GM’s headquarters.