STILES, GRETZKY: Ford sells out Windsor workers time and time again

WINDSOR — Today in Question Period, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky pressed Premier Doug Ford to explain his government’s repeated failure to protect workers in Windsor-Essex as layoffs and labour disputes continue to get significantly worse.

“I want to talk about the hundreds of workers at the Diageo plant in Amherstburg who were given just two days’ notice before losing their jobs. After decades of loyalty from workers, companies get to walk away with millions in public subsidies. One worker I spoke with, Kathy, was laid off just one month short of retirement after 26 years. She asked this Premier for fairness. Will he step up, or keep ignoring these workers?

“We’ve seen the Essex member quite literally run away from workers and media asking questions instead of standing up for his community. This government shows up for photo ops, not for workers. They protect corporate profits but abandon the people who actually build this province. This is a repeated pattern.”

Gretzky also raised the ongoing lockout at Titan Tool and Die.

“Titan Tool and Die workers have been locked out for 250 days. After 30+ years on the job, these workers are being stripped of the pensions and the benefits they rightfully earned, while the company moves equipment to the U.S. and brings in scab labour to replace them.

“The Premier has backed the use of scab labour, voting against banning replacement workers. Titan workers are watching, and they deserve so much better than this. It’s time for the government to step up, end this lockout, and pass the anti-scab legislation they’ve earned.”