---

Canadian Auto Workers Occupy Auto Parts Factory

15 April 1999

Canadian Auto Workers Occupy Auto Parts Factory to Stop Shipment of Jobs to Mexico

    TORONTO, April 15 /CNW-PRN/ - Members of the Canadian Auto Workers Union,
Local 1325, occupied at 5:30 a.m. today the Stratford Ontario Canadian
Fabrication plant (a division of Johnson Controls) which supplies seat covers
to Chrysler's Bramalea plants.
    The workers, 80% of whom are women, are angry that their jobs are leaving
for Mexico. Last January, the workers ratified a modest 3 year agreement with
no wage increases but the contract had improved pension language that
encouraged early retirement in an effort to keep younger workers employed and
return to work some of the 250 workers currently on layoff. Johnson Controls
has refused to bring back laid off workers and instead is transferring work to
its Ediassa Plant in Juarez, Mexico.
    Johnson Controls made a profit of $178 million over the last six months --
a 51% increase over the same period a year ago.
    The workforce of 600 with an average age between 40 and 45, makes seat
covers for the Chrysler Bramalea operations which assemble the Intrepid and LH
model cars. Approximately 4,700 workers, also members of the CAW worked at the
Bramalea facility.