LONDON, Ontario—Feb. 12 picket line at the Caterpillar-owned Electro-Motive Diesel plant here as 465 workers fight for an adequate severance package following Caterpillar’s Feb. 3 announcement that it was permanently closing the plant.

The workers were locked out Jan. 1 after rejecting the bosses’ demands for a 50 percent wage cut and steep cuts to their pensions and benefits. Canadian Auto Workers Local 27 has been negotiating with Caterpillar officials over a severance package. Workers say the picket line will stay up and nothing will be taken out until an agreement is reached.

—MICHEL DUGRÉ
AND JOHN STEELE