Workers strike at Hamilton’s National Steel Car reaches week six

The strike by workers at National Steel Car is now in its sixth week.

Workers are asking for stronger guarantees in their collective agreement, which the union says will address both matters of wage and worker safety. The president of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7135 says their employer has been unresponsive after union members overwhelmingly voted against the employer’s latest offers.

“We’re asking for something both for health and safety and for wages,” said Frank Crowder, president of the USW Local 7135.

According to the union, the company offers an incentive program where workers can receive a 25 per cent wage bonus if they meet output quotas set by the company, which has had a negative impact on employees. “It’s a program that we have here at National Steel Car that affects our health and safety — at the same time, uses money to dangle that above us, and they can claw that money back on anything that they offer us.”

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Crowder says his members want a change in the language in their collective agreement that gives better protection of worker health and safety, and guaranteeing that they receive money that they’re promised. “We’re just looking to change it to protect ourselves so we can go home to our families and ensure the wages that they promised, that we actually get them,” said Crowder.

Three workplace deaths happened at the plant between 2020 and 2022. The union also says there have been a number of injuries.

Around 1,200 workers hit the picket lines after voting overwhelmingly against the employer’s last offer six weeks ago and Crowder says efforts have been made to return to the bargaining table, after National Steel Car walked away from negotiations.

WATCH MORE: Strike by Hamilton’s National Steel Car workers in seventh day

CHCH News attempted to speak with the plant’s managing director as he drove up to the gates this morning, but he rolled up his window and refused to comment. The company has not responded to many CHCH News requests for comment, including on Wednesday morning.

The last time workers at National Steel Car hit the picket lines was three years ago, which lasted 41 days. This strike is currently at day 36, and the union says as of this morning there are no new negotiations yet planned.

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