The women of UNITE local 1764 in Trenton, ON have been on strike against their employer, sock maker JB Fields, since March 23rd, 1998. They are on strike for basic rights and equal treatment in the workplace.

The company is cutting the wages of its women workers from $12/hour to $7.07/hour. While the company claims this is only a minimum and that wages can go up to $10.45/hour if certain onerous production targets are met, these targets are impossible to meet and dangerous to attempt. Realistically all women at the plant would end up making the $7.07/hour minimum. Meanwhile, 12 men working at the plant have had their wages cut from $14.45/hour to $13/hour without a quota requirement (the men, and several women have been crossing the picket line).

Arbitration rulings against the company have been ignored. The local president was fired unjustly three times. The workers face abuse and harassment at the hands of their employer.

To make matters worse, the women who remain on the line have now been told that, under new anti-union legislation in Ontario, their employment with JB Fields has been terminated as a result of their six month strike action. The workers are to be permanently replaced with scab labour.

This is a struggle for basic human and union rights. Your help is needed if these women are to have a chance of winning. Their fight is our fight.

Here are things you can do to help:

GO TO THE PICKET LINE. The women of UNITE #1764 have asked that it be made clear that they welcome ALL union and community supporters to join them on the picket line and to organize solidarity information picket lines across the county. JB Fieldsı largest customer is Eatonıs and a concerted effort is being made to pressure Eatonıs not to stock JB Fields products. In Regina, CUPE 2419 stages a daily half hour informational picket at Eatonıs (2150 - 11th Ave) at noon every day. For more information, or to obtain information to start a local solidarity picket, call (306) 585-1333.

GIVE MONEY. Ask your union/local to support the sisters of UNITE 1764. The members of the local have asked that cheques be made out to ³Friends of UNITE 1764,² c/o Bayshore Credit Union, 266 Dundas St. East, Unit #101, Trenton Town Centre, Trenton, ON, K8V 5Z9. This money will be made available to DIRECTLY support the women in Trenton.

WRITE TO JB FIELDS AND COMPANYıS THAT STOCK JB FIELDS PRODUCTS. Check out the Friends of UNITE 1764 web page at www.angelfire.com/on/unite1764 for an up to date list of companies and addresses.