Unifor blocks Windsor Assembly Plant gate over contractor dispute

Unifor members have blocked agate to theWindsor Assembly Plant over adisputeinvolving a contractor.

Unifor Local 444 membersaredemonstrating at the Vimy Avenueentrancebecause they want to continue to representthe group of workers who drive the newly builtvans away from the plantahead of shipment.

Previously, the workers wereemployees ofAutomotive Warehouse Company, who were represented by Unifor.

The contract for the service was taken over by Motipark, a subsidiary of the Essex Terminal Railway Company, on Jan. 1 after a bidding process last year.

Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, said Unifor should have first rights to represent the workers. Unifor has filed an application under the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

Cassidy saidMotiPark hasindicated to him that the workers will be represented by the Teamsters Union.

A notice on the TeamstersLocal 879 website posted on New Year's Eve says a collective agreement was reached with a group of workers driving vehicles at the FCA plant.

CBC News has reached out to MotiPark for comment.

Meanwhile, the union intends to stay put outside the plant until the situation is addressed, Cassidy said.

"There's a lot of moving moving parts to this whole situation anduntil we can get resolve here, nothing's coming in or nothing's going out," Cassidysaid.

The plant is on a layoff week but workers are expected to return Monday.

"If this isn't resolved by Monday then the Windsor Assembly Plant will not be running," Cassidysaid.

FCAdeclined to comment on the blockade.