Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com - View Single Post - Workers in Oshawa, Ontario threaten strike against GM

camaro5 · 05-01-2008, 06:00 PM

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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05-01-2008, 06:00 PM	#13
camaro5 Drives: X-15 Velocipede Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,630	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 - __________________ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge General Motors ASEP, A.S. Automotive Technology, Telecommunications Specialist, CISCO Network Engineer STANDARD DISCLAIMER camaro5 is furnishing this information "as is". camaro5 does not provide any warranty of the information whatsoever, whether express, implied, or statutory, including, but not limited to, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or any warranty that the contents of the information will be error-free.