Canada’s only tractor factory must give back pay to more than 250 workers who were on strike at the plant for four months this past winter, the Manitoba Labour Board has declared.
The board found Buhler Versatile Industries guilty of bargaining in bad faith and provoking the strike.
That could add up to more than $6 million, says the Canadian Auto Workers, which represents the plant’s unionized staff.
Company owner John Buhler could face more penalties if the board also finds him guilty of bargaining in bad faith during the lockout, which has continued until now.
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Buhler can appeal the penalty to the board itself or at the Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba.
On June 7, the board found Buhler Versatile Industries, owned by Winnipeg businessman John Buhler, guilty of bargaining in bad faith leading up to and during a strike and lockout at the plant. At a long labour board hearing, the union argued that Buhler never wanted to reach a deal with his workers. It said he wanted an excuse to shut the plant without having to give severance pay.
Buhler said owning a tractor plant was a lifelong dream of his, but union intransigence made it impossible to reach a deal.
He denied he was guilty of bargaining in bad faith and said he can’t afford to pay the penalty. The board has also ordered Buhler to go back to the bargaining table with the union.
The protracted dispute began after the workers’ contract expired at the end of September 2000. Union and company officials were unable to negotiate a new deal and the union went on strike in November 2000. The union ended its strike in March, but Buhler then locked out the workers.
Buhler had threatened to move the factory to Fargo, North Dakota, if the union didn’t give in to his demands.
He now says he can’t afford to move the plant. It is unclear whether the plant will reopen.
