Occupation of Ledco plant ends

Workers were locked out on Wednesday after refusing a 25% cut in wages and 20% cut in benefits. Ledco Ltd., which makes parts for GM, Ford and Chrysler, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday evening.

Workers attempted to hold a vote on the wage cut early last week but did not have any support from the Canadian Auto Workers union. CAW leaders have instead discussed encouraging Ledco's customers to fund severance pay, and to look into finding another company to take over the plant in order to keep it open.

On Friday evening, around 30 workers occupied the plant, and were joined by dozens more on Saturday morning. However after the judge's ruling they left the plant 90 minutes before the official deadline to avoid confrontation with the police. Workers will continue picketing the plant, but the local CAW president said they would not be blocking trucks from entering the plant to pick up owed inventory.