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Cory Bilyea photos
SPEAKING OUT - Wescast Industries employees who were laid off in July 2023 held a rally at their former workplace on April 25 to demand that the now China-based company Bohong Industries pay workers their severance and termination pay, which totals approximately $10 million. Right: Laura Collison worked at Wescast Industries for 45 years, and her children also worked there. She is pictured here with National Staff Representative Tyson Siddall, holding her sign “Shame on Wescast” while she speaks to her fellow employees.
Abandoned Wescast employees hold protest over $10 million in payments owed to workers ‘We will not give up this fight until workers are paid every cent they are owed for their years of blood, sweat and tears.’ - Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi CORY BILYEA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter cbilyea@midwesternnewspapers.com
WINGHAM – It’s been nine months since Wescast Industries shuttered its doors, laying off 180 workers from its Wingham-based foundry with a promise that the closure would be temporary so that “assessments, planning and requests for new investments can be made,” according to an internal memo sent to employees in May of 2023.
Since the closure, many of the workers have relied on Employment Insurance (EI) to survive, and that benefit is now running out, leaving frustrated workers without an income and in a dire financial situation. On April 1, Wescast’s “temporary” layoff became permanent because it lasted at least 35 weeks in a 52-week period, according to Ontario labour laws. Thus, employees are entitled to request severance and termination pay. When employees attempted to
access these funds, the holder of the group’s policy, Manulife Insurance, told them benefits could only be paid out once their employment was legally terminated. Unifor National Staff Representative Tyson Siddall said several laid-off employees were called back to work in March. Some had already taken other jobs but quit to return to Wescast so they would not lose their seniority and pension benefits, only to have that recall cancelled, leaving them once again without employ-
ment. On April 25, the union representing Wescast, Unifor Local 4207, held a rally outside of the Water Street factory’s machine shop, the only part of the company in Wingham still operating, to demand the overseas company Bohong Industries Group, who purchased the business in 2013, pay these hard-working and loyal employees what they are owed. “Unifor stands firmly with the workers of Wescast in their fight for accountability from this
overseas company,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Our union will not stand idly by as a multinational corporation attempts to run from its contractual and legal obligations and stiff the hard-working people of Wingham.” Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi spoke at the rally, expressing her frustration with Bohong’s lack of response. Continued on page 6
Voting day set for DGR referendum in South Bruce CORY BILYEA
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter cbilyea@midwesternnewspapers.com
SOUTH BRUCE – South Bruce Council approved a bylaw authorizing the “submission of a question” to the municipality’s electors through a referendum, subsequently setting dates for advanced voting and voting day. The long awaited referendum will determine whether or not the people of South Bruce are willing to be the host (if chosen) to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) Deep Geological Repository (DGR) in the region. A report prepared by Director of Legislative Services Clerk Vivian Kennedy included the following notice, released on
April 24: “The Municipality of South Bruce Council has passed a Bylaw authorizing the submission of the following question to the electors (“Referendum Bylaw”) in a by-election in 2024: “Are you in favour of the Municipality of South Bruce declaring South Bruce to be a willing host for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR)?” If 50 per cent of eligible voters participate and at least 50 per cent of those votes are a yes, then South Bruce will continue to be eligible to be chosen by the NWMO for the project. Alternatively, if 50 per cent of those votes (by 50 per cent of eligible voters) are no, South Bruce will no longer be eli-
gible to be chosen by the NWMO. But, if less than 50 per cent of eligible voters “cast a vote on the question,” the results would not be binding and Municipal Council will decide. Council approved the bylaw, and the referendum date is set for Oct. 28, 2024. “In addition to setting the date of the voting day, staff have also considered advance voting,” the report said. “The Municipal Elections Act (MEA) states that at least one day of advance voting is required. In keeping with the regular election, staff recommend that the advance voting begin Monday, October 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and until voting day. Voting on voting day closes at 8:00 p.m. A bylaw has been prepared authorizing the advance voting and confirming the use of
internet and telephone voting.”
sSpecial meeting on May 1 A report from CAO Leanne Martin requested that South Bruce Council hold a special meeting on May 1 to consider the Draft Hosting Agreement with the NWMO. “The Municipality of South Bruce and NWMO are in the final stages of completing a Hosting Agreement relating to the Deep Geological Repository for Used Nuclear Fuel Project. Staff anticipate receiving a final draft of the agreement in the near future,” the report said. “With this in mind staff request that Council hold a special meeting to consider the final draft Hosting Agreement on May 1, 2024 at 6 p.m.”