Union: Canadian GM blockade to continue

TORONTO, June 6 (UPI) -- The Canadian Autoworkers Union vowed Friday to maintain the blockade of General Motors Canada's head office in Oshawa, Ontario.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove told CTV News the company had acted in bad faith after collective bargaining May 14 and then announcing Tuesday the closure of the plant that employs 2,500 people.

Wednesday, workers set up roadblocks at corporate headquarters, forcing employees to park outside and walk in.

Hargrove cited the agreement to keep the plant open through the life of the contract until 2011, but GM's announcement said it would close in 2009, along with two U.S. plants and one in Mexico.

GM said soaring gasoline prices and the associated plummet in demand for trucks were behind the closure decision.

Thursday, the Conservative government told GM there was $250 million fund it could tap into to keep the plant at least partially productive on other models.