Versatile Strike Ends, Lockout Begins

The four-and-a-half month strike at the Winnipeg Versatile tractor plant came to an abrupt end on March 26 when the striking workers, on the recommendation of their national leaders, voted 83 percent to terminate the strike and return to work without a collective agreement. Versatile owner, John Buhler, initially welcomed the end of the strike, but on March 27 the company declared a lockout in response to a dispute over which employees would be allowed to return to work.

The strike by 250 workers began on November 4, 2000 when negotiations between the Canadian Auto Workers and Buhler Industries for a new collective agreement broke down. During the strike, Buhler announced that a major contract with Case-New Holland had been lost, making the Winnipeg plant financially unviable. He declared his intention to close the Winnipeg plant and move the operation to Fargo, North Dakota. Buhler is now stating that he may not move the plant, but that there is work for only 50 to 70 unionized workers. He has stated that he intends to keep about 70 non-union personnel performing union work and has insisted that he be able to pick and choose which workers can return.

The Manitoba Labour Relations Act specifies that when a strike is ended without a new collective agreement being adopted, the workers must be recalled to work in order of seniority. Since the stated objective of the lockout by Buhler is to contravene these provisions of the Labour Relations Act, the union has filed an unfair labour practice charge against Buhler Industries.

A union spokesperson stated that the union also intends to pursue previous complaints which it has filed with the Manitoba Labour Board charging that the employer did not bargain in good faith. It has also pledged to continue its campaign to have the Versatile plant bought by the provincial government. However, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has stated repeatedly that his government has no intention of nationalizing the plant.

In addition, the union has called on the government to pass legislation which would guarantee workers severance pay in the event of a plant closure. If the Versatile plant is eventually closed, it remains to be seen whether such legislation, if passed, would apply to the 200 Versatile workers unable to return to work following the strike, or the 250 workers who were previously on laid-off status.