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Ford plant pioneer just wanted a new MustangBy Meredith MacLeoding to a July 12, 1977 Spectator no harassment or discrimination sealing line in the paint shop toMETROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUPnews clipping, which featured policies to protect women or other welding car bodies, has given her aThompson in a picture.minorities. Thompson says the great life. She became extremelyWhen a teenaged Rita Thompson "I was concerned that they were union stewards represented women active in the CAW Local 707 and wastook a job on the assembly line at just going to bring in some token well, but there were simple issues elected employment equity repre-Ford in Oakville, she wasn't tryingwomen, but it appears that they are like coveralls and gloves that didn't sentative. She's been around theto make a feminist statement.serious about making women a part fit women right. When she was first table during collective bargainingSure, she was among the first of the work force," Pat Clancy, presi-assigned to the paint shop there was and lobbied for child-care changesgroup of women hired in 1977 todent of the Ford Oakville local of no women's washroom. She had to on behalf of the national union. Shework on the shop floor. Sure, she what was then the United Auto use the men's until one was built.also organizes a summer picnic andhad to deal with men who didn'tWorkers, said in that story 33 years Over the years, there were anti-volunteers for the union's manywant females around, who wantedago.discrimination education classes for charity fundraising drives.to be able to swear and have pin-ups After taking out big newspaper workers. Thompson says the most Thompson, who lives in Oakvilleon the walls and strip off their shirts ads, Ford hired 45 women between effective way to confront a particu-with her husband and has four adultwhen the plant got hot.May and July 1977.larly stubborn guy was to ask how children, is currently the CAW'sSure, she was among the pio-It was one of those ads that got he would feel if his wife, mother, workplace training co-ordinator.RON ALBERTSON / HAMILTON SPECTATORneering women who fought for anti-Thompson to apply. She had anoth-daughter or sister was being It was a very difficult decision toRita Thompsonharassment and employment equity er factory job in her hometown of harassed.take a buyout package that includespolicies.Burlington, but Ford was paying "He'd think about what he was a cash severance and a vehicleleft from that 1977 group. Many of But Thompson, 18 when she was $6.43 an hour, more than double doing then."voucher. Thompson second-guessedthe other hires in that year were inhired, just wanted to buy a convert-what she was making, and the same Peggy Nash, assistant to CAW her choice several times, but thetheir 30s, 40s or 50s.ible Mustang. She would pay it off as that paid to men.president Ken Lewenza, says beneath company is trying to make way for"Some thought we didn't belongand then she would quit.Her mother encouraged her to Thompson's friendly and sweet workers coming from the St.there, that we made too muchInstead, close to 34 years later,get an application and repeatedly demeanour is a determined, tough Thomas assembly plant that willmoney There was a lot of resent-she is retiring.pestered her to get it to the plant, person.close this summer and Thompsonment," said Thompson, a sunny,Aside from a two-year layoff in says Thompson, who was then Rita "It was an era when it was an says it's time to go.petite woman with curly blond hair1980 when the plant went down toBording. Her mother and a friend exceptionally non-traditional job for She hopes to land a job in theand a frequent broad smile.one shift, Thompson has workedalso applied, but it was only young a woman. She was young and very labour movement.The best answer for that washer whole adult life at Ford. Friday Rita who got the call. Her mother attractive I can only imagine it "I'm certainly not retiringdoing a good job and not complain-was her last day.never forgot that.was a very challenging environment because I don't like (my job) I'ming, she says.And for the record, she managed"It's a bit of a bone of conten-for her."going to miss the people, my friends.Ford had long held out on bring-to buy a used, hard-top Mustang.tion," she laughs.Thompson says her career at It went by so fast. I remember theing women to the plant floor, exceptThompson is the only womanIn those early days, there were Ford, which has taken her from the day I was hired."as nurses or in the canteens, accord-Improve your health, feel better, lift your spirits.www.taoist.orgJoin a class today!A camp where kids with cancer Sample Text:can just be kids.Unit 1, 2464 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville905-825-05140000 Address, City ON (Postal Code) (000) 000-0000 (phone number)Open Houses:Open House:Sat.April 9, 11 amTuesday, August 31, 10:00 - 11:30 amSunday, September 19, 10:00 am - noonMon.April 1, 7:3 pMonday, September 27, 7:00 - 9:00 pmTues.May 10, 10 amWednesday, October 27, 7:00 - 9:00 pmBeginner Classes:Class Schedule:Because many kids cant make it to our camp in Muskoka, Tuesday, August 31, 10:00 - 11:30 amThurs.pril 14, 7:30 -9:30 pmwere bringing Ooch to Bathurst & College. Sunday, September 19, 10:00 am - noonSat. April 16, 9-10:30 amMonday, September 27, 7:00 - 9:00 pmMon.May 16, 10-12 noonWednesday, October 27, 7:00 - 9:00 pmHelp Ooch help kids. Go to facebook.com CampOochVisit www.taoist.org/location url or email to (local club email) for information about our open house and class schedules.Visitwww.taoist.org/oakvilleor email tooakville@taoist.org for information about our open house and class schedules.The Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada is a registered charity - #119258655 RR0001The Taoist Tai hi ocit f i ritr rit - 55 0001Media generously donated by:www.taoist.org13 Wednesday, April 6, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com