Locked-out workers at Titan Tool and Die in Windsor blocked truck access to the facility last week, citing concerns over replacement workers. The company allowed union members to inspect the site and confirmed no production activities occurred.
Lockout Background
The dispute at the heart of a lockout exceeding 200 days involves Unifor, representing the workers. The union accuses Titan Tool and Die of shifting operations to the United States, with more than two dozen employees maintaining a picket line since August.
Recent Truck Blockades
On Thursday, Unifor members halted transport trucks on busy Howard Avenue for nearly 12 hours. The following day, the union refused entry to trucks heading to Titan Tool and Die or related firm Futura Tool without permission to inspect the facility.
Union representatives previously claimed the blocked trucks carried parts for replacement labor, following a letter received earlier this month stating the facility had ceased operations and stopped shipping or producing parts.
Company Inspection Confirmation
To prioritize public safety, Titan Tool and Die permitted select Unifor members to enter and inspect the plant. Their review verified no production was underway, according to a company statement released Monday.
Randy St. Pierre, chair of Unifor Local 195 at Titan Tool and Die, questioned the operations. “As you can see, a week later they’re shipping parts, producing parts, and they’re not closed,” St. Pierre said, pointing to the trucks. “So the only way they can produce parts is to have scab labourers in there because we’re not in there working.”
Court Injunction Concerns
A court injunction favors the company, allowing equipment removal to the U.S. after prior blockades. However, Titan Tool and Die expresses worry that the order faces non-compliance, leading to extended delays and traffic disruptions.
“We had hoped that this injunction would balance the rights of the employees to picket lawfully and safely, while also ensuring that the public and the operations of the surrounding businesses would continue without unlawful obstruction,” the company stated. It urges union leaders and members to follow the injunction terms.
Unifor seeks support from federal and provincial governments amid the standoff.
