By Caroline Van Hasselt
TORONTO--About 500 workers at two auto-parts makers in Canada
walked off the job over the weekend, the Canadian Auto Workers
said.
The CAW said 400 workers at Lear Corp.'s (LEA) Whitby, Ontario
plant went on strike Sunday after negotiations broke down over the
company's demands for "deep concessions."
It is the second job action in as many days.
About 75 CAW workers at Wescast Industries Inc. (WCS.A.T) walked
off the job in Strathroy, near London, Ontario on Saturday, over
job security, the CAW said. The CAW said it has learned that
General Motors Co. (GM) intends to move work currently being
performed at the facility to China.
Brantford, Ontario-based Wescast, which supplies exhaust
manifolds and other components, said it has plans in place to
ensure continued supply of parts to customers. It estimates it has
a 51% share of the North American exhaust-manifold market,
including 65% among the Detroit Three auto makers, GM, Ford Motor
Co. (F) and Fiat SpA's Chrysler Group LLC.
Labor talks began in July, a month after Wescast announced that
it agreed to be acquired by a unit of Sichuan Bohong Industry Co.
of China. The transaction has not yet closed.
Lear, which makes automotive-seating systems and electrical
systems, has four parts plants in Ontario. The company wasn't
immediately available to comment.
GM wasn't immediately available to comment.
Write to Caroline Van Hasselt at
caroline.vanhasselt@dowjones.com.
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