A new labor contract is due between General Motors and the Canadian Auto Workers union, but before one can be implemented, it must first be negotiated between the two parties. With talks beginning yesterday morning in Toronto, the major divisions between the two parties are the current profit-sharing and two-tier wage agreements. The CAW is currently not up for accepting either for this new contract.
General Motors spokespeople have reportedly stated that Canada has currently become the most expensive place in the world to produce cars and trucks — which has partly to do with a strengthening Canadian dollar. CAW President Ken Lewenza has described the initial talks as “constructive,” and that The General is committed to continue manufacturing in Canada.
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Canada may now be an expensive place to assemble cars, but the CAW is actually a far better union that the UAW (I don’t support automotive union, just to point that out). Their workers actually show up to WORK and don’t call it a week after 27 hours. Plus not drinking on the job and doing crack is a huge poistive in comparison to UAW workers. Canada also has some of the most awarded assembly plants in the indurstry.
Andrew, I work for one of the big three here in Canada & I dont have the facts to confirm your statements about the UAW vs the CAW members work ehtics so I’ll leave that one alone, but one thing I do know if these company’s get major concessions to make Canada cheaper they will just go to the UAW 3 years from now & say “see boys, Canada is cheaper so we need more concessions” . These two unions better get some strategy sessions going or they will be all minimun wage jobs in the near future!! Don’t think it will happen,? just look at whats going on in Columbia at GM !
Well Columbia is a third world country and although the recent news about some GM plant employees going on a hunger strike is terrible, those workers are actually lucky to have the jobs they do.
The CAW and UAW aren’t dumb (well they are, actually), they are greedy little f***ers and if it wasnt for the Government stepping in and straightening them out post-bankruptcy they would have stalled until GM and Chrysler gave in and the fantastic turn around we’ve seen by both, but mostly GM, would not have happened and they would still be struggling right now. Ford renegotiated later on to be on the same level, but again, had the post-bankruptcy gone the way the unions would have exactly wanted, Ford would be hurting now too (actually they are in a way).
Here is a quote regarding the literal cost of a job in Columbia. I read years ago, and I believe it was regarding Columbia (it was at least a comparable third world country), that working for General Motors, Ford, Toyota, etc, was like winning the lottery compared to the alternative jobs in the country.
Columbia’s biggest exports? Coffee and cocaine
“Labor relations are a tough business in Colombia, where the AFL-CIO estimates 4,000 trade unionists have been murdered in the past 20 years.”
I believe General Motors must invest in new product in Canada, keeping or adding to current staffing levels. The Canadian government also contributed to the General not failing in 2009, most importantly the workers took major concessions to assist in the survival of General Motors and must be rewarded with future product!