A decision could be coming within the next month after an April 9 hearing for Navistar's appeal of a $28-million pension ruling.
Last July, the Ontario Financial Services Tribunal ruled Navistar had to pay pensions to retirees of its former Chatham plant from 2009 to its closure in 2011.
Unifor National Representative Jim Mitchell tells BlackburnNews.com the union is hopeful this hearing will settle the matter.
"The line of questioning from the judges was encouraging to the union. They seemed to be asking questions that were positive to the union position, but obviously that's not an indication of a ruling," says Mitchell, adding Navistar could have a further appeal. "It would have to go in front of another judge to get permission to appeal it to the Ontario Supreme Court, so it's not just an automatic appeal."
Mitchell calls the process "long" and "drawn out" which he says has been impacting those affected members.
"It's been difficult to talk to people who have been losing their homes and families breaking up and so on for lack of income; there's no support payments while this process is ongoing," says Mitchell. "It's rattled the whole community, it's just not fair."
The appeal hearing was held at the Ontario Court of Appeal in Toronto with a panel of three judges and representatives of Navistar, Unifor and the financial services commission in attendance.
A call by BlackburnNews.com to Navistar on Friday has not yet been returned.
