Workers at Titan Tool and Die have been locked out of work for 100 days, and there's still no end in sight.
Union members showed support for the 27 employees by holding a rolling rally throughout the city. Dozens of cars left Titan Tool and Die on Howard Avenue and travelled throughout downtown at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
"I've seen the resolve of these members, I've seen the resolve of these workers and their determination and their spirit. Of course, they have up and down days as you can imagine," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. "The reality is they know that they're fighting for themselves, but they're fighting for Canadian workers from one part of the country to the other."
Unifor said, while these workers have been locked out, the company has been shifting operations to the United States.
"Locking out our members while not coming clean with what they are going to do with this facility," Payne said. "Are they going to open it again? Are they committed to working and having this plant in Canada or are they just going to shift our jobs and our investment to the United States?"
In September, all 27 members voted to reject the company's offer that they say included a three-year wage freeze, reduction of company pension contributions, and mandatory overtime.
"I feel forgotten by my company. I've put 33 years in this place, and this how they've discarded me and my fellow workers, they've discarded us to the road. It's just disgraceful that you've put this much time into a company and this is how they treat you in the end," said Randy St. Pierre.
The union is calling on the federal government to take more action to protect Canadian workers.
"They can penalize companies. They can do all sorts of things to make sure that companies like Titan Tool do not get away with these kinds of actions, and they're going to have to get creative here. This is a time unlike any other," said Payne.
WindsorNewsToday.ca reached out to Titan Tool and Die for comment, but did not receive a response by time of publication.
