A New Ford Plant Opens in Oakville

A New Ford Plant Opens in Oakville
Ford breaks ground for new plant in Oakville. The new site in Oakville was a punishment for the UAW's Ford Blockade(a general strike of Ford's Windsor facilities in 1945). The company was coming to Oakville-a nice, quiet, non-union town(or so they thought).

First Strike at Local 707(1954)

First Strike at Local 707(1954)
Despite the devestation of Hurricane Hazel and the resulting tough economic times in Ontario, brothers of the newly formed Local 707 took to the picket lines to demand union recognition, a living wage, benefits, and time off. After a bitter 109-day strike, during which the Ford Motor Co. tried to sway government agencies to prevent the union from even forming at the Oakville site, the brothers stood steadfast and wrestled an agreement from the company. After the final votes were counted, over 90% of the membership had said YES!!!

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Hurricane Hazel

Hurricane Hazel slams into Ontario in 1954 leaving social and economic destruction in its path.

Ontario Truck Plant Opening 1965

Ontario Truck Plant Opening 1965
With the signing of the historic Auto Pact in 1965 the future was looking bright indeed for the Canadian auto industry. The Auto Pact decreed that for every car sold in Canada one had to be built here. A certain percentage of the vehicle also had to have Canadian content. Auto workers were finally getting some type of government protection and security for their jobs.

The 707 Galaxy Club

The 707 Galaxy Club
The early years saw local union meetings being held at community centres and local movie theatres. With the addition of the Ontario Truck Plant and the growing membership, the members realized that we needed a place of our own. In 1966 the membership of local 707 purchased the Galaxy Club(an old nightclub) to be our headquarters.

"The Time Has Come at the Ford Assembley Line for Women"(1977)

"The Time Has Come at the Ford Assembley Line for Women"(1977)
Due to mounting pressure from the general public and the government the Ford Motor Co. agreed to hire women for the assembley line-something they hadn't done since the end of WWII. One Ford spokesperson stated"That up until recently, women have not really intersested in working in our plants". Cori Myers(above) was one of eight women hired at Ford of Oakville in 1977. By the end of that summer 45 more women had been hired. Ford hired the women so quickly that there were no washroom facilities available for them. Grecia Stroud and Pat Finlay(below) are some of the first sisters that are eligible to take the 30-and-out package today.