Letter to the Editor Part 2

Mark Lundgrens Letter to the editor appeared today, along with AL's in the Brantford Expositor.

As a former GenFast worker of nearly 25 years, I was appalled to learn that the American owner, MNP Corporation which declared bankruptcy six months earlier, was allowed not only to cross our borders into Ontario but also to spend enormous amounts of money to buy back the equipment it walked away from at below market prices, while we former workers are unable to receive any sort of severance pay that we are legally entitled to.

If MNP had this money to spend on our equipment, then my question is why were these people not forced to pay their workers first?

Why are our elected politicians (Dave Levac and his wimpy party) not creating laws that will stop this sort of rape and pillage of our honest and hard-working people of Ontario? There are many people other than GenFast workers in our immediate area who are experiencing the same sort of problems I am going through. I hope things work out for them and their families.
I truly believe, though, that this type of robbery is going to keep happening until we finally elect people who truly care about the people they represent.
My advice to anyone now working for companies that are using our weak laws to declare bankruptcy and move to the sunny south, chain yourselves to your machines, keep fighting for your benefits and money you are legally entitled to.

Don't be intimidated by these narrow-minded owners and their highly paid legal staff. Don't believe it when they say you will be given what you are entitled to until you finally receive what you are in fact entitled too.

Mark Lundgren
Brantford

Letter to the Editor

The Following Letter to the editor was sent into the Brantford Expositor earlier this week.

Dear Editor

In last fridays edition, the Expositor ran a picture of the equipment being auctioned off at the Genfast Manufacturing Bankruptcy sale.
My former coworkers were present at this auction and they have expressed to me their outrage. It is criminal that officials from our parent company are allowed to return to Ontario. These are the same officials who orchestrated the bankruptcy and fled the country while Genfast was still in operation. How is it that when a company closes shop and has no money to pay it's workforce, they can sweep back into Brantford and spend millions of dollars. In just a few short hours these morally challenged members of the human race, purchased the very equipment and supplies they need to further their operations outside of Ontario.
All of this is legal and accepted, without question by our Provincial and Federal Government.

Al Magill

Going to school?

I received an email from Gib Love the other day informing me that Danjay Training Solutions has closed their doors. I recently finished my course in Industrial Robotics Programming and fortunately I have my certificate, for what it's worth. Gib on the other hand isn't finished his course and now he will not be able to. The money is all paid up front and so I wonder what happens now. Will manpower enable these students to finish their studies at another school?
I am, as most know, somewhat disappointed with what my tax dollars and 24+ years of payments into the E.I. system actually get me. We are part of the manufacturing segment, which the government seems to have abandoned. Many of us. that have lost our jobs in the recent American Jihad, against Canadian unions, are in fact highly skilled, in non-portable, job specific areas, but very capable of being retrained and reinserted, into the labour pool, in new occupations. unfortunately your tax dollars get you minimum training, for a entry level position, in a field requiring 12 to 20 weeks training. In other words, a minimum wage occupation. A brother or sister in their early fifties, with thirty years or more of work behind them, supporting the system, deserves more respect than this.
Service Canada is supporting a system in Brantford, that is leaching tax dollars away from any real possibility, of retraining proven, productive, citizens. Instead the system supports ripoffs like Danjay and classes in "knowing your color" which prepare you for the local sweat shops in the temp agency system.
I find myself speechless at the ability of Service Canada and the local Liberal politicians to continue to collect their wages while doing nothing of significance in this area. They cannot plead ignorance. I feel that they should resign and try out E.I. for a while.

later..........................dave

Worker Welcome Part 2

We are having another Worker Welcome to showcase our new location.


Feel Free to come out on

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24
44 Elgin St.
Brantford

10 AM till 2 Pm

Good Job Brian

I caught the thankyou note that Brian published in the Expositor. I was impressed by the class act that Brian has demonstrated himself to be. The Steelworkers called me today to do a little survey and when they asked me what I had voted, I told them that although I had always been liberal and had known that party's candidate since high school, I had, had the opportunity to see the devotion and concern that the NDP candidate has demonstrated for the manufacturing sector which is being decimated with the government's apparent indifference and I was compelled to vote for the man who represented myself and my family and friends the best. That was Brian. I believe that he showed well this time and I believe he'll carry it next time.
later...........................dave

Bernie Thetica at Genfast ???

FYI

I have heard from reliable sources that Bernie Thetica will be in Brantford on Wednesday at 10am for the Auction.

Thank You

HelloI am back at the Action Centre today.

I want to thank all those from Easton Coatings and Genfast who took a sign, showed support, came out and volunteered, or just simply cheered me on in my bid for election.

We stuck to the issues, yet people have a right to be cynical. Almost half the voters stayed home, some 49%, which means those that didn't vote represent more people then voted for the incumbent. That is how turned off and disillusioned people have become. I understand this cynicism as I often share it, but I will vote, participate and do whatever is required, because it is important. Change can occur with the conviction to follow through and make your voice heard.

I rejoin you all as another former worker from a closed manufacturing plant, who is going to use the action centre services to find fulltime steady employment.Congratulations to all who have done so, in the meantime, don't forget about what we set out to do.

Shortly after the election another plant was occupied by workers trying to get severance from a bankrupt company. They were successfull in coming to a deal for 70% of their severance, whereas nothing was being offered by the company prior to the takeover.


Again, thanks for your support.


Well see what happens next time around :)

Brian.

Victory Party

You are invited to the victory party.

9pm till midnight
Oct. 10th
Brandos
135 Market ST.Brantford

Get Orange on E Day :)

Howard Hampton Coming To Brantford

The Campaign is gathering Momemtum. This is very Clear.

Howard Hampton Will be coming to Brantford,
Thursday October 4th,
2pm at Tim Hortons265 King George Road. (the newer one by Food Basics)

You are all welcome to come and join the campaign.

For more Info Call 519 751 9111 (Brant NDP)

NEW LOCATION For ACTION CENTRE

I dropped in yesterday to the new location of the Steelworker Action Centre. Everything has been moved and most everything is up and running. Really impressive for a one day move.

The New Location for the Centre is

44 Elgin St. Brantford.
On the Main Floor.
Call 752 3333

for more information.