Strike report – day three

The first two days of action gave us momentum, and day three maintained it.

In Newfoundland, picket lines remained tight, with police escorts needed at all locations in St. John’s.

The local in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, held a strong line throughout the day at the employer’s regional office. Community support in Inverness was remarkable, with 50 residents joining our four pickets to express their concern over the effect of government cuts in rural areas. “We’re out here in the wind and rain for only one reason” said NVP Theresa MacInnes, “To get a fair wage and good job security.”

Local President Robert Hamel (Bathurst/Acadian Peninsula) reports that the final designate passed through the picket lines at 11:15 a.m. Workers at the EI call centre are the last to be allowed through.

In Quebec, picket lines were solid at the Excise building and at the Guy Favreau complex, all staff were sent home at 1:45 p.m. Dorval airport was picketed heavily at noon and the action had a major impact on operations.

Management in Toronto got the brush-off from police when they asked for help to keep picket lines open. The police reviewed the situation and simply suggested that management work the matter out with the union. In Sarnia, CEIU and CEUDA members picketed the Bluewater bridge, backing up trucks for miles on the US side. Police charged any drivers who ran the picket line. At 4900 Yonge Street, entry to the regional office by designates was delayed for hours.

Pickets in Winnipeg were out in force despite the windy, cold weather. According to Local 50767 President Maureen Cruz, strikers effectively concentrated their efforts on main entrances to their workplace. Designated members provided lunch to all picketers. In Brandon, the picket line protocol was tightened up and when designates finally gained entry, they found the computer system down and no assistance available from the telephone help desk. A number of strikers from Brandon joined members from the Union of National Defence Employees to bolster the picket line at Boissevain border crossing.

Designates in Edmonton have shown active support of the strikers, joining them on the picket lines and providing hot food. In Red Deer, members received support on the line from the local Iron Workers union. Vegreville lines were tightened further in response to two managers gaining entrance in the early hours.

In BC the sunny weather seemed to be at an end but the members’ strength and resolve was not dampened on the picket lines. At HRCC Coquitlam plans were being made to fire up the barbeque for a hot dog roast. Many of the picket signs were the original drawings of a member with artistic talent. In the morning members from Surrey HRCC joined others to put the message out with a picket at the border. In Maple Ridge a small but determined band of picketers kept the lines going front and back of their office while their lone designate met her obligations inside the office.