The worst fears of about 250 Montreal garment workers were realized Wednesday when the owner of their clothing factory announced the plant will close in March.
Peter Silverstone, president of Peter Stone Fashion International Corp., personally addressed the staff members of UNITE-HERE, the combined Union of Needletrades, Textiles and Industrial Employees-Restaurant Employees International Employees Union.
Lina Aristeo, director of UNITE-HERE s Quebec council, said the workers were informed that Peter Stone s existing contract with Atlanta-based Oxford Industries Inc. expires in February and that it wlll likely take until March to complete the job.
She promised a North American fight by UNITE-HERE members, vowing: We re not just going to let the shop close.
The workers walked off the job last Wednesday and marched to Silverstone s office demanding he answer their concerns about rumours Peter Stone may move production out of Quebec.
