Caterpillar Inc News

London - If you think the closure Friday of the decades old Electro-Motive locomotive plant in London, Ontario is not your concern, you are either wrong or rich.

London - “It is regrettable that it has become necessary to close production operations at the London facility,” Electro-Motive Canada said in a prepared statement Friday.

London - "Get your ass down here, Prime Minister Harper!" bellowed Joe Fontana, mayor of London. In 2008 Harper visited the city's EMD plant, announcing corporate tax cuts to increase job security for Canadians. Now, EMD workers are locked out by their U.S. owner.

London - The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is asking workers throughout the province to gather in London, Ontario, Saturday, January 21 for a massive rally supporting the unionized workers locked out by Electro-Motive Canada.

London - Ross Seeley has worked at Electro-Motive Diesel in London, Ontario for almost three decades under three separate owners: General Motors, Greenbriar Equity Group, et al., and Progress Rail, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. He was to retire in a few months.

London - Daybreak brought the sun, a little warmth and a van carrying outside contractors to the men and women picketing in front of the Electro-Motive Diesel plant in London, Ontario.

London - The lockout at the Electro-Motive Diesel plant in London, Ontario comes as no surprise. Contract talks seemed to be off the rails way back in May when both the union and company agreed to a six month extension of the contract.

London - The workers at the Electro-Motive Diesel plant in London, Ontario have been locked out. Earlier in the day the company claimed that the CAW represented employees were refusing to report for their first scheduled work shift and were therefore on strike.

London - With a vote of 404 to nine, Electro-Motive workers gave their union a solid strike mandate should the company attempt unilateral changes to the existing terms of employment.

London - The fence is up and the question now being asked is: "What next?" Despite the Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) plant having a long history in London, Ontario, there are fears in this Southwestern Ontario community of losing the large, successful plant.