Canadian Auto Workers take to streets today over lost jobs in auto industry

TORONTO, May 9 - The Canadian Auto Workers union will be unveiling its auto industry strategy policy paper, Getting Into Gear, at its collective bargaining convention tomorrow at 10:30 am. Following the policy discussion approximately 1,000 delegates will take to the streets in a march to Queen's Park for a rally. The march will get under way at approximately 11:15 am as delegates leave the Sheraton Hotel, Toronto, and walk up University Avenue to Queen's Park.

With the ending of the Auto Pact by decree by the World Trade Organization last year, the CAW has charged the government with the urgent need to fill the policy void or watch the continuing decline of the auto industry in Canada. Since the ending of the Auto Pact approximately 12,000 jobs have been lost in the auto assembly and auto parts sectors of the economy, and the CAW expects another 12,000 jobs to be lost before the end of 2002.