The unionists have been working for 13 months under an extension of the old contract. The owner has refused to negotiate a new one with the union. “We shocked him though, he didn’t think we would go on strike. Then we did,” said Patrick.

—Ryan Scott  
 
Steelworkers in Ontario
end four-month strike
HAWKESBURY, Ontario—After a four-month strike against Ivaco Inc.’s steel mill here, 435 members of United Steelworkers (USW) locals 8794 and 7940 voted by a large majority January 10 to accept the bosses’ latest offer and return to work. The company, which locked out the workers September 15, had demanded freedom to contract out union jobs, and a two-tier pension for new hires. USW Local 8794 president Richard Leblanc reported that the workers had defeated the demand to contract out jobs but accepted a two-tier pension. Ivaco was recently bought by Heico Companies LLC, a large U.S.-based corporation.

The strikers faced scabs brought in from outside their ranks and a court injunction limiting the time they could hold up trucks coming in and out of the plant. During the course of the strike they held two marches in the town, winning support from other workers and bringing the two union locals at the steel mill together.

—John Steele  
 
Garment workers win
severance pay in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO—After months of protests, 140 garment workers won an agreement January 12 from NOVA Knits garment bosses to provide $500,000 in severance pay. Between October 2004 and March 2005 the workers had been laid off with as little as one hour’s notice, in violation of federal law requiring employers to give 60 days’ notice of a mass dismissal or plant closure. With support from the Chinese Progressive Association, workers held street protests at the Gap, organized a rally at Union Square in front of City Hall, and other actions to fight for there rights. NOVA Knits is a manufacturer for Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch, Sears, Liz Claiborne, and other major labels. It also has factories in China, Africa, and Mexico.

Michelle Xiong, who worked for NOVA Knits for a year and a half, told the Militant that when she started most of her 300 co-workers were from rural China, many of whom had worked at the plant at least 10 years. None will receive pensions from the company.

—Laura Anderson  
 
Unionists at Albany TV station
fight for decent contract
ALBANY, New York—Unionists here, members of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians—Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA) Local 21, have launched a campaign to push back contract concession demands by WRGB-TV, the local CBS affiliate. The company is seeking to cut pay up to 15 percent and turn many full-time workers into part-time. A “Turn Off CBS 6” campaign features billboards around the Albany-area calling for viewers to boycott WRGB-TV until an agreement is reached between the union and Freedom Communications of Irvine, California, the parent company of the station. The campaign also includes radio ads and lawn signs to build solidarity for Local 21.

—Ben O’Shaughnessy  
 
 
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