Windsor tool shop seeks injunction against workers blocking removal of manufacturing equipment

Lawyers for Titan Tool and Die want the Ontario Superior Court to stop Unifor workers from blocking the removal of manufacturing parts from a Windsor plant.

The company needs to move eight pieces of equipment under an agreement with a customer, lawyers said in court Thursday.

Members of Unifor 195 blocked the company from removing some equipment from the company's Howard Avenue location on Monday.

They told reporters that the equipment was being removed and shipped to another operation in Michigan which could put their jobs in jeopardy.

Lawyers said the blockade prevented a truck loaded with dies from leaving the site for six hours before the company removed the equipment from the truck.

Justice Jasminka Kalajdzic is presiding over the hearing and said she will make an order Friday. 

Company lawyers say equipment must leave this week

Titan Tool and Die lawyer Dante Gatti said the company wants an injunction that prevents workers from blocking any additional removal of equipment from the site. 

"Give us a guarantee, give as undertaking," said Gatti.

Eight additional pieces of equipment are expected to be shipped out Friday, according to company lawyers.

"Imminently they're going out, some of them tomorrow," said Jeff Patterson, a lawyer for Titan Tool and Die.

Patterson said the workers threatened and intimidated the driver of the truck, saying workers said "they would slash the truck" if it left the site with the equipment on Monday. 

He said that a police report has been filed and that the company is receiving email threats warning them "FAFO," a term that means "f--- around and find out."

Union lawyer says members actions are a labour dispute

Anthony Dale, a lawyer for Unifor 195, said in court that the union requested a meeting with the company about potential removals of tools in January. 

Dale said that the union was told at the time by the company that the tooling was being removed because of quality concerns.

He said that the union understands that Titan's customers, Toyo Tools and Autokiniton, can make certain demands of the company.

But, Dale argued, the union is able to oppose those demands. 

"There can not be a clearer, more direct connection between an issue, the presence or absence of these tools in the workplace, and the employment of employees in the workplace," said Dale. 

"The union very much has an interest in the presence or removal of tools in the workplace that could affect the availability of work."

Dale said that the court should deny the injunction request because, he argues, the union was not properly notified.

He also requested an adjournment on the matter because there is no active blockade at this time and the situation is not escalating.

"The union's protest has ended, there's no evidence that protest will happen again," said Dale.

He said if it does happen the company can come forward with an injunction at that time.

Union rep said they're trying to save Canadian jobs

Unifor 195 president Emile Naboutt said he could not comment on the case because it is before the courts. 

During the blockade Unifor 195 representative Sarkis Gaspar told CBC News removing the tools would take jobs out of Windsor. 

"In the union's opinion and our opinion, they are our [jobs], they are Canadian [jobs]," said Gaspar.

"And those jobs, they will be here, and they are going to stay here and we are not going to allow anybody to take our jobs. They are ours. And they will be staying here in Canada."