Canadian rubber workers on strike as employer requests more pay cuts

ERJ staff report (DS)

Toronto, Ontario -- Despite accepting a 10% pay cut last year, a group of manufacturing workers is now on strike after their employer demanded even greater concessions to their modest wages and benefits.

Unionized employees at Infinity Rubber Technology Group Inc. in Toronto decided to strike in response to the company's demands for a 25% pay cut and for the workers to start paying for group insurance benefits.

"These are workers who were earning $20 an hour and they reluctantly agreed to take a $2 hourly wage cut in November 2008," said Bryan Adamczyk, a USW staff representative.

Most of the workers who were still on the job prior to the strike have more than 20 years of service with Infinity Rubber, formerly known as Biltrite Rubber Inc.

The company had employed more than 100 unionized workers, but the layoff of more than 60 employees left 44 workers prior to the strike.

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