Workers in Oshawa, Ontario threaten strike against GM
 

This is from Jan 2008. Any updates? If they don't get additional product... Their contract is up Sept. 17.

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Jan 25th 2008 5:29PM

Workers at the General Motors assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario have given the automaker until this fall to confirm that additional models will be built there, or else... STRIKE! The Oshawa plant currently builds the Chevy Impala and Buick LaCrosse, and is scheduled to build the Chevy Camaro when it enters production in February of 2009, but that's it. Other rear-wheel-drive products were also promised, but because of the weak dollar and new CAFE regulations, GM is apparently rethinking whether those vehicles will be built at all.

Apparently back in 2006, the Canadian Auto Workers union agreed to concessions to reduce costs, convert to a more flexible manufacturing process and guarantee that future vehicles would be built at the plant. They're now claiming that GM wants additional concessions to secure those future vehicles, and all GM has to say is that "future products for Oshawa are in flux." According to CAW, it has until this fall to make those future product not in flux, or else the General will have another strike on its hands to deal with.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/25/r...ke-against-gm/

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The CAW's position:

CAW Local 222 Responds To GM Decision
January 24, 2008 - 4pm EST
The following statement was released January 24, 2008 by the CAW leadership at GM Oshawa:

On Feb. 14, 2006, our National Representative John Scanlan was sent a letter from the Company asking that we open up our contract in order to secure future product in Oshawa. The actual verbiage is as follows, “The prize is future product and future job security for the Oshawa workforce and the positive impact that has on the communities where we live. If we are able to obtain the first vehicle for the Zeta platform, other vehicles will follow. Conversely, if we fail to obtain the first product off the Zeta platform, that product will likely be produced elsewhere.”

Call it putting “a gun to our heads”, but your Union leadership entered into talks immediately and negotiated a Shelf Agreement that was ratified by the membership. This Company came out with a media blitz today (Jan. 24/08) announcing the suspension of the rear wheel drive platform for Oshawa (except the Camaro) and is moving the production of vehicles considered for Oshawa to Lansing, Michigan. Stew Low, General Motors of Canada spokesperson said, “no vehicle beyond the Camaro was ever approved, so you can’t cancel something that wasn’t there.” Shame on you GM!

Your Oshawa workforce, our members, have for generations built quality products at record pace. We have made this Company billions of dollars and you have the nerve to slap us in the face like this. Do you think for one minute that we are going to crawl into bargaining on bended knee and beg for jobs? The Company promised us jobs when we did the Shelf Agreement. They implemented the changes right away but have yet to deliver on their commitment.

This Company is taking the recent rise in the value of our dollar and loss of market share as reasons for their decision. Bullshit! This Company is investing billions of dollars overseas and assembling vehicles in countries with low wages and benefits with a total disregard for Human Rights and Health & Safety. They believe this is okay as long as the corporate executives get their bonuses and they get their best bang for the buck.

We are officially putting General Motors on notice. Live up to the commitment given to us in the Shelf Agreement or you will not be getting a Collective Agreement this fall.

We bargained in good faith and we now question whether the Company did. We convinced our membership that buying into GMS was the “ticket to the show”. Don’t mistake honesty and integrity as signs of weakness. Our membership has made their sacrifices to get product and product they will get, now or in September.

We are proud of the members of CAW Local 222 and together we will win this fight, whatever it takes.


https://www.cawlocal.ca/222/newsdetails.asp?NewsID={4E0C7098-718D-4ADA-A028-3E6FDE49EEBF}

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This is who's building the new Camaro?

If they're not on strike?

What has been done to resolve the situation?

GM announced today they are cutting back on truck production in Oshawa, that can't help the situation...

Yep cutbacks.... Here is the link to the article about them...

Link

Good for them!...Fight for your rights as an employees! But please wait utill the the Maro:wub: engines have been built...thank you! Noodles

:sm0:

Actually, this is about the people who assemble vehicles, not engines. Need all of them though :respekt:

hrm, hrm...this would be the plant that makes the cars.......

Still, I'm interested, too - what's the situation up there? I know we've got a few folks that either work there, or are close to it.

So there basically calling them slum lords, if they strike this would really delay the launch of the camaro in Canada, and if gm ship camaros from detrot it would reduce the number of camaro being shipped in the us in till the the second and third bach roll of the assembly line, not looking good for GM

Opppsss...Im at work so i don't get much time to read these word for word...otherwise I would have caught that...anyways, I hope you guys support me when I go on strike this September! I work at Boeing (QA Final Assy 777) in Everett, WA. And our contract is up this September. And truly I know the only way to fight for what you deserve is to strike...otherwise they keep taking and taking for your pension and your medical.

So needless to say Im glad the Maro dosen't come out to next year, Once the strike is over, I have a green light (my wife loves me) to buy whatever I want!

No, I was sincerely laughing at how you said - I support the workers, but just build my Camaro before you go on strike- :thumbup: I know what you mean :wave:

I work at the Janesville, WI plant. This reduction could directly affect me and many others here in town. The effects will be very far reaching. The paper said that the reduction will happen here by July 1st. Although I work in the skilled trades I could still be on the chopping block. There are alot of factors that could save my job, but I should still start working on my resume.

Ok Cool...I felt a lit stupid for a second;)

I wanted to share a few things about why we here at boeing will strike (if nessasary). I've had a few questions about my statment so i thought id share my responce to them.

I will start by saying "I'm paid very well and have outstanding benefits" and I thank GOD every day for my Job....BUUUUUTTTT!!!!

And theres always a but! And I'll keep it simple.

There are "talks" at this point, but they've become more like demands from us, and no reply from them.

Last Year 2007 and in the first Quarter of '08...Boeings profits have been at there highest in HISTORY.... 64 Billions and some odd change:confused0068: ...So this is why we strike.

(1) Hourly Pay Rate - Our average pay rate for non-salaried employess is $27.85 an Hr. I know that sounds very high, and it is...BUT 60% of the work force has 20 more more years of employement...and the remain 40% have less than two years and were hired in at an Average Hr. rate of $13 and Hr.

So were fighting for a payraise for the New Hires. (taking one for the team):drinking:

(2) They want to dissolve our pension fund and replace it with a 401k:mad0260::bs: ...Which means we have to put into our companys Stock fund to get any retirement:mad0260: ...So they gain WAY more than we get out of it....Drives and Keeps there stock fund prices up!:mad0260: (on a side note....buy Boeing stock, its on the way back up to $100 a share in the next 6 months:thumbsup: )

(3) Better Medical, Dental & Life Insurance...ect..ect at a lower cost to us.:word:

(4) More yearly Credits ($$$) for time served into our pension fund. Currently we recieve $70 a year...Industry standards are closer to $100 (per year served) So say you retire right now with 20years service you'd recieve a $1,400 a monuth pension check...we want way more....considering the money there making because of our efforts. and the cost of living going throught the roof!

Those are the main reasons...theres plent more smaller issues to fight for also.

MESSAGE TO THE GROUP: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL UNIONS...WHEN WE STRIKE AND FIGHT FOR COMPANYS TO SHARE THERE WEALTH....EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOURSELFS WIN....OUR WAGES AND BENIFITS HELPS RAISE THE HOURLY RATES FOR EVERYONE. SO HELP A BROTHER OUT!!!!!!!

If they go on strike, there is no Camaro till they go back to work. GM is between a rock and a hard place. If they green light other cars for Oshawa, it will cost a huge amount to get a car to build there. If they don't then they lose camaro sales. the only car I can see being built beside the Camaro is the G8

They originally planned to add G8 production to Oshawa after launch and depending on demand. The G8 is a hit, so maybe they can return to that idea. Perfect assembly companion (siblings).

And Oshawa can build FWD or RWD, so maybe some future FWD vehicle. There's no easy solution and it's nobody's fault, simply extreme market and financial changes in a super short period of time.



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GM, union need to find answers
 

Wed Apr 30, 2008

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

If GM workers and their families thought the news was bad last fall when one of three shifts in the truck plant was cancelled, they are devastated today.
The auto giant has announced a second shift -- another 900 to 1,000 jobs gone permanently in the truck plant -- will be trimmed this fall.

Some of the usual suspects have been blamed for a soft truck market in the United States, including rocketing fuel prices, a slumping U.S. economy and a high Canadian dollar that makes our exports much less lucrative than they were just a few years ago.

Despite winning fistfuls of awards for quality and productivity at the car and truck plants over the past decade, the jobs have been bleeding away from GM Canada by the thousands. And there seems to be no letup.

At this rate, the new-style Camaro, slated for production in the flex plant later this year, may be the only product GM Canada makes, other than the trucks made during a single shift in the truck plant.

Aside from all the hand-wringing over this sad state, it's worth asking: What can be done?

Can the provincial and federal governments come to the rescue to help save jobs at GM and at the feeder plants that supply it?

The hard reality that must be faced is that fuel prices are predicted to increase by leaps and bounds over the next few years. Some analysts are predicting gas will cost well over $2 per litre within four years. With its modest fuel economy, the GM Sierra and Silverado are likely to be in less demand as time goes on.

While the feds can work at securing fair, rather than free trade, with South Korea, that's not the only answer.

General Motors management and employees must strive to build vehicles that meet public demand for fuel economy and must be competitive with imports. It's a tough market out there and consumers are looking for the best bang for their buck.

GM has been losing billions of dollars worldwide over the last decade and is trying hard to turn it around. With plants across the globe, the pressure is on to find the right balance locally to ensure production for the future. Management and the union will have to find solutions -- both giving a little bit -- to keep jobs here. (Oshawa)

http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news.../article/97993


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CAW 222 (Camaro builders) Response
 

GM Announces Oshawa Truck Plant Will Lose Another Shift In September

On Monday, April 28, GM announced that the Oshawa Truck Plant will be reduced to a one shift operation in September of this year, affecting 900 more members. GM cites the weak U.S. economy and rising gas prices as reasons for the decision.

CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley said that this decision by GM feels like a 'kick in the gut'. He continued to point the finger at the federal government, and in particular local MPs Jim Flaherty and Colin Carrie, for turning a blind eye to the crisis in the manufacturing sector. North American automakers continue to lose market share and there is no end in sight. Buckley said that until the federal government comes up with a fair trade auto policy that protects Canadian jobs, this crisis will continue. He said, "We need government intervention, and we need it now!"

Three other GM truck plants in the U.S. will also lose a shift this year. There was no word whether the GM truck plant in Silao, Mexico will be affected.

Pictured below, CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley and Truck Plant Area Chairperson Greg Moffatt address the media during a press conference on April 29 to react to GM's latest decision.


https://www.cawlocal.ca/222/

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