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More than 100 workers at the Cambridge Brass production facility in Cambridge, Ontario, have been on strike since July 19 for better wages, pensions, and the protection of their rights. As of August 27, Cambridge Brass, a subsidiary of Iowa-based A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company, have failed to return to the negotiation table.
In spite of the company's refusal to negotiate, workers on the picket line are in high spirits and committed to ensuring their benefits are protected. "I'm retiring in three years," strike captain Bill Horne told The North Star, “but I'm worried about the people coming up behind me."
Horne explains that Cambridge Brass is demanding a 27-page list of concessions from the workers. Seniority rights, shift scheduling, and even health and safety are all areas the company is looking to cut.
"Seniority rights is what we're losing, the right to change shifts. There's been no improvements in our pension or any other funds to do with us," Bill explains. "It's human rights we're after."
According to Cambridge Brass employee Paul Strub, other concessions on the 27-page list point to the dismantling of benefits. "Right now, a lot of our benefits are 100%, and they wanted it to go to a co-pay where it would be dropped down to 80%, or even some of them dropped completely".
"Because of the lead and silica in the foundry, workers at the end of their shift are allowed a 20-minute shower time to clean up and so that they're not taking that home with them. At one point they were trying to either cut that down or get rid of it completely," Strub told The North Star.
Striking workers explained that the company's HR manager was fired by an A.Y. McDonald representative who flew in from Iowa on Friday, August 16. Their hope is that Cambridge Brass president Chris Siabanis will be next.
While some industries saw slowdowns during the pandemic, work at Cambridge Brass increased. "During COVID they were having 6, 7, 8 million-dollar sale months," says Rodney Hussey.
Despite the increased sales during COVID, Hussey says that the workers who generate those profits are underappreciated by Cambridge Brass. "The bottom line is respect," adds Strub. "We work hard for the company, we make them money."
During their previous strike, workers were on the picket lines for six weeks before management offered a tentative agreement. "I wish that they would get back to talking. I don't want to be on strike. I'd rather be earning a wage. But I'm not willing to bow down to demands that are unreasonable," said Strub.