Noose investigation continues at Windsor Assembly Plant
The search continues for the source behind three noose-shaped ropes discovered at the Windsor Assembly Plant where police are investigating a case of harassment.
Dino Chiodo, president of Unifor Local 444 said people were told the unions and company are cooperating to making the environment safe.
He also said workers were encouraged to take some responsibility for each other and ensure that harassing behaviour would not be tolerated.
Chiodo said a full investigation is underway.
"To make sure that we've not left any stone unturned with regards to making sure we do our due diligence in finding out who's doing this kind of heinous activity," he said. "Make sure we find out who it is so we can take them out of the workplace because they don't deserve to be working in that facility."
Black worker believed to be target
Rob Petroni, spokesperson for LIUNA Local 625, said one of his members - a 52-year-old black man - claims he found a rope tied into the shape of a noose on a golf cart he was using while on his afternoon shift Thursday. The man is a construction worker subcontracted to help upgrade the plant.
Police said after officials began an internal investigation into the incident, another employee located a second noose on Friday targeting the same man.
That noose was allegedly left in the same worker's station.
More diversity needed in workplace
Peter Thompson, the chair of the Workers of Colour Caucus for OPSEU in Windsor, said he was shocked to hear about what was found at the plant, but said racism in the workplace still exists.
A few years ago the group went public after racist letters were sent to guards at a Toronto jail.
He said some improvements were made following those incidents and he has advice for unions, the company and subcontractors at the assembly plant.
"There needs to be some dialogue with the work places in order to try to get more people of colour within these work places so you can break down these walls and these barriers of perception from people who have no idea what it is to be a worker of colour within a certain area or how to interact with people like that," said Thompson.
