Over 150 Workers On Strike at THK Rhythm Automotive

Tuesday, 26 April 2022 10:12

Over 150 workers at THK Rhythm Automotive have hit the picket lines in Tillsonburg. They're fighting for better wages, benefits, and pensions for newer employees.

TILLONBURG - More than 150 workers at THK Rhythm Automotive have hit the picket lines in Tillsonburg.

The strike action began over the weekend after 78 percent of their union members decided to vote against a tentative deal with the employer.

Lorraine Sinclair, the President of Unifor Local 1859, says they have 159 workers with varying seniority. Some have been working there for 40 plus years and while others started a few weeks ago.

She says their newer employees deserve better medical benefits.

"A brand new hire gets $300. They get a spending account for $300 for the year and that's for eyeglasses, dental, chiropractor, massage, physiotherapy, everything."

She adds the employees who have been working at THK for years would also like the newer staff members to be treated better.

"I'm hearing from members that they used to be very proud to work at THK and now they feel almost embarrassed to tell people in town where they work because of the drastic changes that have happened. The starting wage is $17.65 which is about $4 an hour under what the average is for starting wages around here for a factory job."

Sinclair says the plant recently hired 28 new employees and they still need to hire another 60.

She says the union members met to vote on the tentative deal at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday and that's when they received shocking news.

"We had members texting us and showing us pictures of gates being locked down, security being hired, security was already inside the plant and management had locked themselves inside the plant. That is more of a lockout than it is a strike and those are the actions that upset the membership. We can't trust them, look at what they're doing to us already."

She says lots of people have shown their support since the strike began. She says the local Tim Hortons has dropped off free donuts and muffins while Tillson Ave Pizza delivered free pizza.

Sinclair says the union reached out to the employer yesterday afternoon and they're still waiting for a response.