UNITED STEELWORKERS
USW
MÉTALLOS
UNITED STEELWORKERS (USW)
Monique Jérôme-Forget mistaken on Cari-All - Losing 400 jobs in Montreal East is not right
MONTREAL, April 10 /CNW Telbec/ - The Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ) strongly denounces the insulting remarks made by Monique Jérôme-Forget, regarding the Cari-All plant closure. "We want Minister Forget to know that a plant closure is not right, and the Cari-All closure even less so, since the company is owned by the Caisse de dépôt et placement (CDP), among others. That a company founded in Quebec should decide to move to the United States and come back here to sell its product is also not right - nor is losing 400 jobs in Montreal East. The Minister is either mistaken or a complete cynic," declared Pierre Arseneau, union staffer for the Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ).
The head of Amalgamated Local 7625 continued, reminding his audience that workers are demanding a viable long-term solution. "We want the grocery cart operation to be maintained in Montreal East," he said, "with a solvent buyer and a business plan that holds together, so that it can keep most of the relevant jobs. We are very troubled, however, at seeing the CDP divest itself of almost 15% of its shares in Cari-All in the time that elapsed between the plant closure announcement and the Steelworkers' demonstration on March 20. There's something in the wind."
Yves Primiano, head of the local unit at Cari-All, added that "before this surprise decision to move production was made, the union and Cari-All's senior management were discussing concrete, easy-to-accomplish measures that could increase profits at the Montreal East plant. Talks had progressed significantly. The plant was already profitable. In November 2007, Cari-All's senior management believed that the solution was to repatriate part of the production from Technibilt, the company's U.S. subsidiary, and bring it back to the Montreal East plant. Now, even helping find a solution to continue making grocery carts and racks in Quebec is out of the question. What happened?"
In conclusion, the union staffer pointed out that the manufacturing sector is undergoing a severe crisis that can only be countered through strong measures. "Demagogic speeches and economic laissez-faire," he said, "won't help us save 400 jobs in Montreal East. We're demanding action to resolve the crisis, rather than intensify it."
Cari-All is a grocery cart manufacturer based in Montreal East. The transfer of production from this plant, to Newton in the United States, is expected in late June.
For further information: Pierre Arseneau, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), (514) 599-2006; Daniel Sylvestre, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), Amalgamated Local 7625, (514) 525-7625; Yves Primiano, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), Amalgamated Local 7625, (514) 640-0999, extension 3229
USW
MÉTALLOS
UNITED STEELWORKERS (USW)
Monique Jérôme-Forget mistaken on Cari-All - Losing 400 jobs in Montreal East is not right
MONTREAL, April 10 /CNW Telbec/ - The Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ) strongly denounces the insulting remarks made by Monique Jérôme-Forget, regarding the Cari-All plant closure. "We want Minister Forget to know that a plant closure is not right, and the Cari-All closure even less so, since the company is owned by the Caisse de dépôt et placement (CDP), among others. That a company founded in Quebec should decide to move to the United States and come back here to sell its product is also not right - nor is losing 400 jobs in Montreal East. The Minister is either mistaken or a complete cynic," declared Pierre Arseneau, union staffer for the Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ).
The head of Amalgamated Local 7625 continued, reminding his audience that workers are demanding a viable long-term solution. "We want the grocery cart operation to be maintained in Montreal East," he said, "with a solvent buyer and a business plan that holds together, so that it can keep most of the relevant jobs. We are very troubled, however, at seeing the CDP divest itself of almost 15% of its shares in Cari-All in the time that elapsed between the plant closure announcement and the Steelworkers' demonstration on March 20. There's something in the wind."
Yves Primiano, head of the local unit at Cari-All, added that "before this surprise decision to move production was made, the union and Cari-All's senior management were discussing concrete, easy-to-accomplish measures that could increase profits at the Montreal East plant. Talks had progressed significantly. The plant was already profitable. In November 2007, Cari-All's senior management believed that the solution was to repatriate part of the production from Technibilt, the company's U.S. subsidiary, and bring it back to the Montreal East plant. Now, even helping find a solution to continue making grocery carts and racks in Quebec is out of the question. What happened?"
In conclusion, the union staffer pointed out that the manufacturing sector is undergoing a severe crisis that can only be countered through strong measures. "Demagogic speeches and economic laissez-faire," he said, "won't help us save 400 jobs in Montreal East. We're demanding action to resolve the crisis, rather than intensify it."
Cari-All is a grocery cart manufacturer based in Montreal East. The transfer of production from this plant, to Newton in the United States, is expected in late June.
For further information: Pierre Arseneau, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), (514) 599-2006; Daniel Sylvestre, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), Amalgamated Local 7625, (514) 525-7625; Yves Primiano, USW/Syndicat des Métallos (FTQ), Amalgamated Local 7625, (514) 640-0999, extension 3229
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