The Canadian Auto Workers union has said it’s not surprised General Motors went to court in a bid to end the blockade of its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa.

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GM served notice in court on Tuesday that it would seek C$1.5m in damages against CAW Local 222 and five members, The Canadian Press reported.


Local 222 president Chris Buckley said the union anticipated the court fight and had no plans to back down from its roadblock, which was launched last week after GM said it would end truck production at Oshawa in 2009. Other parts of the facility will continue to make cars.


He said the union would wait to see just how aggressively GM pursues its legal battle before coming up with a plan. Buckley wouldn’t say whether the union would consider ignoring a court order to end the blockade but CAW president Buzz Hargrove has said workers don’t plan to stir up trouble.


Separately, the CAW said automakers including GM should be required by the Canadian government to match their domestic output of cars and trucks with the number they sell in the country.

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The government also should demand that automakers send a proportional share of hybrid-vehicle production to their Canadian units, the union said in a proposal circulated to members at its political convention Tuesday in Toronto, according to the Detroit Free Press.


GM’s decision to shut the facility “undermines the whole concept of collective bargaining,” CAW president Buzz Hargrove said in a speech at the convention, according to the paper.


Oshawa should stay open until the end of 2011 as negotiated with GM on 15 May, the union said.