Labour board slaps Unifor’s wrist

By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express

The Ontario Labour Relations Board has called protests held by Unifor against General Motors “unlawful strikes.”

The board handed down its ruling Feb. 22 after the company filed an application seeking to cease “any future illegal activities” by union members.

In the ruling, the board ordered Unifor, its Local 222 chapter which represents Oshawa plant workers, and members, including national president Jerry Dias to “cease and desist from engaging in, authorizing or counselling unlawful strikes.”

The activities in question are in connection to General Motors’ plans to close the Oshawa assembly plant, including a walk out on Nov. 26, 2018, the day of the announcement.

The labour board’s ruling also addresses employees of part suppliers, Inteva and Lear.

Unifor has pledged to continue to fight the planned closure, scheduled for the end of 2019.