Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles was in Windsor on Friday and joined striking workers on the picket line at Windsor Salt.
Stiles says it's been really rough on the workers having been on the picket line for 3 months and they want to make sure the Ontario NDP sends a really strong message to Windsor Salt that they stand with the striking workers.
She says the NDP have been pushing the Ford government to pass anti-scab legislation.
"I think right here on this line, you see what happens when scabs come in. It divides workers. It's designed to break the union. It's terrible for the workers here. It just extends the whole strike."
She says Doug Ford likes to talk the talk that he's the party of workers but she doesn't see it.
"When it comes to actually supporting workers he's all talk, he's all talk. We're not seeing the action. We don't see him standing up and taking leadership. We certainly don't see him showing up at a picket line. And these workers deserve to know they have a provincial government that has their back."
Stiles told the workers her party has put forward anti-scab legislation over a dozen times, "Sixteen times, Sixteen times we've introduced legislation and sixteen times they've made the choice, Liberals and Conservatives, to vote that down. Shame on them."
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles joined striking Windsor Salt workers on the picket line on Friday, May 19, 2023 (Photo by AM800's Dustin Coffman)
Nearly 250 unionized workers have been off the job since February 17 to back contract demands.
They're represented by Locals 1959 and 240.
According to the union, contracting out unionized positions and job security are key issues.
On Thursday, Unifor Local 240 President Jodi Nesbitt told AM800's The Morning Drive talks between the union and company continue but are being done remotely after the company suspended in-person talks last month after an alleged assault at the Ojibway mine facility.