Mr Leo Gerard international president of the United Steelworkers, during a rally at Sudbury Community Arena to thunderous applause by a crowd of at least 2,500 supporters, has sent a message to the community reading "You're either on our side, or you're on Vale's side."
The steelworkers are asking local businesses to post signs in their windows, printed by the union, which state: "Sudbury supports working families."
The signs call for a fair deal for the 3,400 workers who are on strike against Vale Inco in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Voisey's Bay.
Mr Gerard and other Steelworkers officials said that they are convinced the overwhelming majority of Sudburians support the strikers and recognize the community's stake in the labor dispute. But it also is important to publicly demonstrate that support.
Mr Gerard said that if some local businesses are not prepared to support the strikers by posting the signs on their premises, then Steelworkers and their supporters will be asked not to support those businesses. He added that "Let us know what side you're on. If you're on our side, we'll stand with you. If you're not on our side, we'll never spend another dime in your store."
He said that the entire community stands to lose if Vale Inco prevails in its demands for historic concessions from the Steelworkers. He added that most Sudburians, including business people, understand that fact.
Mr Gerard said that Vale Inco's demands for concessions on pensions and the workers' nickel bonus will leave the community with less of the wealth generated by local mining operations. Ultimately, that will cost the local economy hundreds of millions of dollars and significant job losses throughout the community. He added that "Everything that Vale wants to do is going to lower the standard of living in our community. So, if you are going to make the choice that you stand with Vale, you're choosing a poorer community, a community where we don't have the same capacity to support and to build our community."
(Sourced from www.thesudburystar.com)
