USA. Local 6662 Union accuses company of strike breaking VoL 11, No. 36 Wednesday, September 9,1981 32 Pages By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The strike by the 32 employees of North American Steel Equip- ment Company, Ltd. shows no sign of ending and those walking the picket line resolved to stay out until a new agreement is reached. The picketers main- tained their vigil throughout the incle- ment weather that this area has been suffering for the last week as feelings between the workers and the com- pany became strained and even bitter. This situation has lead the president of Local 6662 of the United Steel- workers of America, representing the strikers, to accuse the company's owner of trying to break the union. "She's (company owner Rosalies Fabricius) been trying to break the union," ac- cording to local presi- dent John LaRose. "But it's not going to work." LaRose went as far as to accuse the company of using "scare tactics" to get the union to give in on certain contract demands. However, this does not mean that the union is not willing to sit down and talk. According to LaRose, the union agreed to two meetings last week - both of which he claimed were cancelled at the company's request. "The ball's in their court," he said. "I don't think they want to talk to us." "We want to negotiate," he added, "after all, it is our liveli- hood." The union has also ac- cused the company of using management per- sonnel and their fami- lies to keep the plant operating. LaRose said that many management per- sonnel have been bringing their wives and children into the plant to do bargaining unit work. He also main- tains that non-union of- fice personnel are working in the plant in an effort to keep produc- tion going. This last statement has been confirmed. When the writer attem- pted to contact company officiais for comment, he was told by the receptionist that everyone except her and one other person was working in the plant. LaRose estimates that 17 people - in- cluding office staff - are presently working in the plant. The union leader has also accused the com- pany of trying to sell the firm to a West German concern. According to LaRose the alleged prospective buyer would move the plant to New York State thereby throwing his members out of work. However, LaRose is not impressed by these turns of events. "We're going to stay out until she (Fabricius) sells it (the plant) or shuts the place down or until she negotiates a fair deal," he said. "But don't try to scare us - sell it." The last two-year agreement between the two parties expired on June 1 and no talks have been held since August 20 - the day before the workers walked off the job. Under that agree- ment, they earned an average of $8.61 an hour with a 0.5 per cent cost-of-living clause. The union rejected the company's last offer that included an 18 per cent wage and bènefit package increase in the first year of a three year contract. The second year would see a 16 per cent increase with a 13 per cent increase in the third year. Both sides have agreed to a three-year contract. According to union of- ficials the offer only means a three or four per cent increase and that is not acceptable. LaRose accused the company of inflating the cost of the benefit package and said that he could produce a similar package at a much lower cost. He said that the com- pany's offer was un- acceptable because it would in reality only mean an increase in salary of 75 cents an hour when the proposed contract expired. "We're not asking for a hell of a lot," LaRose said. Another incident that has upset the union is that FKL Manu- facturing of Whitby took approximately two CONT'D ON PG. 6 b r,