DEVLIN, ON - A prominent wood components firm has closed up operations following a vote by its employees to unionize.

In an e-mail this morning to customers, Leon Gingrich, president of Gingrich Woodcraft Inc., said his privately held business will cease operations. In an email to customers, Gingrich said:

On Aug. 12, 2015 the majority of our production workers chose to join a labour union.

As Christian business owners, our personal beliefs will not allow our conscience the freedom to work with a labour union, as we are required by Scripture to “live peaceably with all men”, and not to use force to gain what we want or for what is require to succeed.

Our decision in view of developments to date was to stop production of wood products at Devlin, ON, effective Aug 17, 2015. All production employment was terminated.

We will not be taking any orders for wood products at this time, and will be contacting you about any confirmed orders we have in-house so you are aware of lead times, etc.

I apologize profusely to the awful production issues and inconvenience this may cause your respected company! This will obviously affect our service to you and is of great concern to us. Our goal, as always, is to try our best to take care of your needs. We will try to continue communication with you. Please fax any documents of communication to 807-486-0351.
 

Stephen Boon of Unifor, the Canadian union under which employees had voted to organize, told the Fort Frances Times,  “It is almost inconceivable that in a country like Canada in 2015, we are dealing with an employer that is willing to take the position that the Constitution and Ontario labour laws somehow do not apply to employees of Mennonite-operated businesses."  Unifor is scheduled to hold its national council August 20-21 in Montreal.