TRENTON - As valuable equipment is shipped to the U.S. from yet another closed plant in Pictou Country, recently terminated Steelworkers are calling for greater support for local jobs and industry.
United Steelworkers (USW) members were outside Nova Forge in Trenton today to bring attention to the plant's dismantling and the first shipment of equipment to the parent company in Texas.
"It's a sad day for workers and their families to see the plant dismantled and the equipment taken out of our country," said Darcy MacInnis, a third-generation Nova Forge worker and vice-president of USW Local 3172.
"More families are now faced with the prospect of having to leave their homes and community to find work," MacInnis said. "We have to reverse this trend. We need our political leaders to do more to defend good jobs and support industry in our region."
About 40 Nova Forge workers lost their jobs at the Trenton plant, which was closed Feb. 8 by the American parent company. About 60 jobs were lost last year when the Maritime Steel foundry in New Glasgow was shut down.
Workers and communities deserve greater commitment and co-operation from the company and federal and provincial governments to revive the Nova Forge plant and to provide greater support for industry as a whole, said Marty Warren, United Steelworkers Director for Atlantic Canada and Ontario.
"We are talking about skilled workers and valuable, productive facilities that are economic assets for this region. They should not simply be abandoned," Warren said.
"For example, we know that Nova Forge has one of the best forging presses in North America. And we know there is work in the future, including the federal government's national shipbuilding program. Our governments must take charge and assume a leadership role to promote economic development and defend middle-class jobs in this region."
