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Comment by FixOurWorld on April 29, 2009 at 9:13pm

Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza speaks to a large crowd gathered at Queens Park during a rally in support of pension protection in Toronto, Ont., April 23, 2009.Tyler Anderson/National PostCanadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza speaks to a large crowd gathered at Queens Park during a rally in support of pension protection in Toronto, Ont., April 23, 2009.

TORONTO -- Several thousand retired Canadian Auto Workers members from across Ontario lined the grounds of the provincial legislature in Toronto on Thursday afternoon to demand stronger pension protection from the government and corporations.

The rally came as negotiations between the union and Chrysler LLC continued in a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement aimed at preventing the Detroit automaker from falling into bankruptcy.

"We don't want a handout. We want justice," Brian Rutherford, president of General Motors Salaried Pension Organization told the gathered crowd, which the union estimated at 15,000, but appeared to be a few thousand shy of that.

CAW president Ken Lewenza said retired autoworkers are not a "legacy cost" but "human beings that have bills, that need pension protection and pension income."

The rally was the latest event organized after Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty warned the province's pension guarantee fund is insufficient to cover GM pensions if the company were to go bankrupt.

The fund exists to provide workers stripped of their pensions with up to $1,000 per month and is funded by corporate contributions.

Economic Development Minister Michael Bryant said Thursday retirees' pensions are secure unless GM is forced to liquidate its assets.

"Unless GM liquidates, which is today considered a very unlikely scenario, the retirees' pensions are safe," he said. "While they could be possibly reduced by a court in a bankruptcy filing, the court has never done that before."

"Don't ever mention taking our pension," some protesters shouted as they waved signs and union flags outside Queen's Park.

"I'm worried about my pension and benefits. I've been retired for 15 years and losing my pension means everything," said Raymond Chauvin, 79, who worked for GM for 28 years. "If you don't have a pension what do you do? I just hope it doesn't happen."

"It's a sad day when a man works for one company his whole life then has to worry about his pension," agreed Bob Lively, 54, who recently retired after working for Stelco for 32 years. "We paid in and now I have to worry whether my pension will be cut. It's not right."