MEDIA ADVISORY-OFL OFFICERS TO VISIT LONDON PICKET LINES TO LAUNCH MASSIVE MOBILIZATION: Electro-Motive Plant to Be Site of Massive Day of Action Against Corporate Greed

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2012) - The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Hutchison and Executive Vice-President Irwin Nanda will join CAW Local 27 members on the picket line on Monday, January 9 at the London, Ontario plant of Electro-Motive Canada (a subsidiary of U.S. industrial giant Caterpillar Inc.). The Officers will be marking the start of the second week of the lock-out by bringing news of the OFL's province-wide effort to mobilize thousands of workers for a massive London Day of Action against Caterpillar.

"These workers do not have to stand alone to stare down Caterpillar's ruthless anti-worker bulldozers. We plan to mobilize thousands of workers to descend on this London plant to show the overwhelming support that Canadians have for decent paying domestic jobs," said OFL Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Hutchison. "These workers are an important part of our communities and their jobs contribute to Ontario's economy. We aren't about to let a greedy, foreign-owned corporation turn its profit at the expense of our livelihood."

Last week, the OFL announced plans to mobilize for a massive London Day of Action on Saturday, January 21. On their first visit to the picket line since that announcement, Officers Nanda and Hutchison will deliver news of the mobilization efforts and be on hand for questions from the media.

WHAT:	OFL Officers to visit picket line at Electro-Motive Plant in London
WHEN:	9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2012
WHERE:	2021 Oxford St. E., London, ON (between Clark Rd and Industrial Rd)
WHO:	OFL Officers Hutchison and Nanda; CAW Local 27 members

Electro-Motive Canada has locked-out its employees in an attempt to impose a 50 percent cut to hourly wages and dramatic pension and benefit concessions, even though Caterpillar has enjoyed record profits and a 20 percent boost to production over the last year. The company is rumoured to be taking advantage of Ontario's lax labour laws by bringing in scab labour to keep the plant operational while bullying the union into devastating concessions. Many fear that the company's hidden agenda is to move production to a U.S. plant in Indiana.

"The Harper government has a shameful track record of handing tax cuts to corporations who turn them into private fortunes that never get reinvested back into Canadian wages or job creation. It is time for Ottawa to require foreign-owned corporations to demonstrate an accountability and commitment to Canada before buying up our industries," said OFL Executive Vice-President Irwin Nanda. "We need a full and retroactive review of Caterpillar's acquisition of Electro-Motive and safeguards to protect Canadian jobs, retirement security and our quality of life. We aren't just mobilizing to protect decent jobs in London we are taking a stand against corporate greed."

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario.

www.OFL.ca

www.Twitter.com/OntarioLabour

www.Facebook.com/OntarioFedLabour

Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1604182&sourceType=3

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