ArvinMeritor Locks Union Out of Ontario Truck-Brake Factory

June 5, 2006 8:50 AM, EDT

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arts maker ArvinMeritor Inc. said it locked union workers out of an Ontario, Canada, truck brake factory after both sides failed to reach a labor agreement, Bloomberg reported.

The Canadian Auto Workers union’s local at the plant has rejected four proposals made by the company, ArvinMeritor said in a statement.

ArvinMeritor and the CAW union have been negotiating since late April on a new contract to replace the three-year contract that expired Sunday.

The largest maker of heavy-duty truck brakes and anti-lock brake systems in North America will appeal to Canada’s Labor Ministry Monday for a secret ballot to allow the plant’s workers to vote on the company’s last proposal, a company spokeswoman said.

The plant has 293 workers, including 246 union employees.

ArvinMeritor said in a statement that it will continue to supply commercial vehicle brakes and related components to customers from its facilities in Frankfort, Ky., and Manning, S.C.