BOWMANVILLE — The strike at Bowmanville’s St. Marys Cement has entered its 18th week, and talks between the two sides have broken off.

Approximately 100 Canadian Auto Workers Local 222 workers hit the bricks March 12, with pensions as the major issue.

Talks broke off last Friday, CAW local president Chris Buckley said.

“We’re waiting to get a signal the company’s ready to go back to the table,” he said, noting the union’s willingness to bargain to end the “terrible dispute.”

But, “St. Marys has no desire to end the strike, because they’re running the plant with scabs,” Mr. Buckley said.

Replacement workers are bused in and out, past the picket line on Waverley Road, south of Hwy. 401, each day, and the plant is said to be running at 60 to 80 per cent capacity, Mr. Buckley said, calling on the Province for anti-scab legislation.

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TORONTO – Hundreds of CAW members from across the Greater Toronto Area will rally in support of striking St. Marys Cement workers on Tuesday, May 18 in Bowmanville, Ontario.

The 100 St. Marys workers, represented by CAW Local 222, have been on strike since March 14 - with the employer making no sign of getting back to the bargaining table any time soon.

St. Marys Cement is demanding the elimination of the pension plan among other concessions, including a drastic reduction in benefits.

CAW President Ken Lewenza said that the Brazilian parent company is making enormous profits, yet is trying to go after the workers to give up important benefits, like retirement security. “This is outright bullying of this small group of workers,” said Lewenza. “This company is far from destitute and the rollback of any hard won workers’ benefits is out of the question.”

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BOWMANVILLE — A strike at St. Marys Cement’s Bowmanville plant continues, but a deal has been hammered out to allow trucks faster access to the site.

The approximately 100 Canadian Auto Workers Local 222 workers hit the bricks March 12. Pensions are the major issue.

Wednesday, though, the two sides did come to an agreement with regard to allowing trucks to cross the picket line. Each truck had been held up 15 minutes, beginning when it arrived at the picket line, meaning each one could be held up for several 15-minute periods, depending on how many trucks were ahead of it in line.

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