Members of Unifor staged a protest at the Wescast plant in Wingham, demanding almost $10 million in compensation and severance pay they say are owed to workers.
Approximately 100 people, most of them former Wescast workers, gathered outside of the Machining Shop, holding signs that said "We only want what's right: Our severance" and "Shame on Wescast."
Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi spoke to the workers, saying that Unifor is behind them in their struggle to claim compensation and severance they say is still owed to workers a year after they were laid off.
"Let this be clear to Wescast: They have another thing coming. They're now dealing with 350,000 members across this country. Not on Unifor's watch. We will not let them get away with this," Hashi told rallyers.
Workers attending the rally told stories of a once-proud cornerstone of the community that's reputation is now "tarnished" due to the actions of its current owner, Bohong Industries Group based in China. "They're withholding millions of dollars from workers. Shame on them," said Hashi.
Laura Collison worked at Wescast for 44 years before it ceased operations. She says workers just want to move on with their lives, "but they can't because they haven't closed any chapter here."
"You work for a company all your life, you devote your life to them, and this is how they treat you. They turn their backs on you, like you're nothing," added Collison.
Approximately 200 Unifor Local 4207 members worked at the Wescast foundry when Bohong Industries ceased operations in Wingham in July 2023. The foundry had been in operation since 1902.
Before ceasing operation, Wescast supplied cast components for the automotive industry. It was acquired by Bohong Industries Group in 2013.
**disclosure: members of the newsroom at CKNXNewsToday.ca are also members of Unifor.
