Linamar workers in Swansea to strike this Thursday

Rob

Workers at the Linamar plant in Swansea are set to strike this Thursday in support of sacked union convenor Rob Williams.

Following recent news that workers in Swansea's Linamar (formerly Visteon) plant had overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action in support of sacked union convenor Rob Williams, it was announced last week that the indefinite all-out strike is set to begin at 6am Thursday 11 June.

Tony Woodley, UNITE General Secretary said last Thursday:
This is the action needs as much support as possible and is vital to get Rob reinstated.
Rob is flying out to Kansas, USA, today to discuss with the Auto workers union at the Ford car plant which uses the Swansea components. Everyone who can make it should commit themselves to visiting outside the picket line on Thursday morning, 5am.

Williams was originally sacked on 28 April due to an "irretrievable breakdown of trust". Bosses at the Linamar plant were said to have forced him off the premises after he had locked himself in his office, refusing to leave. Rob was initially called back to work, but later that week was sacked for good.

Workers at the Swansea plant had voted 139 to 19 in favour of an indefinite all-out strike in support of Williams, with a vote turnout of 88%. Workers have indicated that they intend to strike until Williams is reinstated.

Plans were also announced of a demo in Swansea town centre on the Saturday (13th June) following the beginning of the planned strike.

Comments

I did some googleing on this

I did some googleing on this company and below are links which may be of interest to some

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National Shop Stewards Network
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Workers at Swansea auto parts plant vote to strike

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Linamar Corp
CEO: Linda S. Hasenfratz
Employees: 11017
Issue Type: CS
Market Capital: $573,905,640

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linamar

Based in Guelph, Ontario, Linamar Corporation (TSX: LNR) is Canada's second largest automobile parts manufacturer after Magna International. Linamar manufactures and supplies automotive and industrial markets across the globe with numerous manufacturing centres across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company was founded in 1966 by Frank Hasenfratz as Linamar Machine Limited in Ariss, Ontario. The current CEO is Linda Hasenfratz and the company is now based in Guelph, Ontario.[2]

A recent takeover occurred in Swansea, Wales where Linamar acquired Visteon UK's plant in July 2008.

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Linamar acquires U.K. plant
http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/07/07/linamar.html
Monday, July 7, 2008

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Linamar target of anarchist collective
August 15, 2007
. . .

The missive claimed various acts of vandalism were carried out in the name of workers killed at the company, and was a protest against Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz’s involvement in the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), a working group of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).

. . .

NACC is made up of more than 30 corporate representatives from major U.S., Canadian and Mexican corporations and advised governments on how to better integrate the North America economy and enhance security on the continent.

Hazenfratz, who oversees an international company that employs more than 10,000 and has more than 20 divisions in Guelph, is one of 10 Canadian NACC representatives, joining corporate heads such as Canadian National Railway’s Paul Desmarais, Rick Waugh of Scotiabank and Michael Sabia of Bell Canada Enterprises on the council.

. . .

Hazenfratz acknowledged the act appeared linked to Linamar’s involvement with the SPP and NACC.

“The NACC was quite simply formed to advise governments on how to allow us to become more competitive in (North America), and includes such innocuous recommendations as standardizing the width of food labels to simplify packaging operations,” she said in the statement. “Becoming more competitive helps all of us create jobs here in our country to support our families and our economy.”

Activist groups, including the Council of Canadians, have condemned the SPP, calling it a secretive body that serves the interests of large multinational corporations.

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Fasten seatbelts and ride storm, parts makers told
May 28, 2009

One company that seems to be winning that struggle to survive is Guelph's Linamar Corporation. CEO Linda Hasenfratz credited that survival to a simple, four-part plan: sales growth, cost cutting, cash conservation and employee morale.

"Our industry is going through a wrenching restructuring that will leave no company untouched," she said. "In a crisis like this you can either run and hide or look for a way to turn it into an opportunity."

At Linamar that has translated into acquisitions that grew the bottom line along with pay cuts of 5 per cent on the shop floor and 10 per cent in the executive suite, and a 33 per cent reduction in employee numbers from 11,900 in 2007 to just over 7,900 active today.

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Linamar freezes wages, cuts benefits
(Canada) November 12, 2008
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Unions circling Linamar plants
(Canada) December 14, 2007