The Telecommunications Workers Union would like to extend its support to the brothers and sisters, represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), who are fighting against the closure of the Shell refinery in Montreal, Québec.

  The economic impact of the closure is estimated at about 240 million dollars per year and would have devastating effects on the area economy and those affected:

• 800 jobs lost
• 3,500 jobs indirectly affected
• Financial difficulties and closures of businesses related to area retailers (ex. suppliers such as Marsulex that retrieves and processes the sulfur)
• Negative ripple effect on the nearby Suncor refinery (Petro-Canada)
• Portland-Montreal Pipeline that both maintain and use
• Threat to the survival of the petrochemical industry and impoverishment of Quebec

The action team against the closure of the Shell refinery has organized a solidarity rally in support of the Shell workers:

Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Time: Walk begins at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Meeting at 11 000 - A, Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal, QC

A Facebook page (in French only) has also been created in support of keeping the refinery, located in Montreal east, open and saving the petrochemical industry in Quebec:

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/group.php?gid=367608679075&ref=ts