Canadian auto industry facing big challenges as contract talks begin with Detroit 3

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

big Detroit 3,Canadian auto,How will this effect you?

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

Here is a letter sent to the retired personnel staff. Now this puts the line workers in the same boat with their pensions at risk. I know at the Toronto auto show they had some of the old Canadian built cars on display there including the first 1908? Buick built in Oshawa on display. Has always stayed in Canada but they were shipped to the US after the show. Looks like GM Canada is packing up and leaving the country high and dry after the billions in bail out we gave them. I guess they are following Heinz ketchup. The contract talks are just smoke and mirrors to make an excuse to leave Canada. Try and live in Canada at $4.25 PR hr. like the Mexicans get. We cannot compete with those wages. archive.skem1.com/csb/Public/show/bv4kw--95vni-28jjibx7

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Saturday 13th of August 2016 10:59:41 PM

dualquadpete · BLACKSTOCK, ONT

It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

www.youtube.com/watch

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

dualquadpete wrote:
It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"

They went too St thomas to the old ford plant back in the late 90's..

I worked there was owned by magna Via:formet ind.building the truck frames

An what a **** show it was...they installed all the eqt wrong an when they fired up the lines..Robot welding machines that were suppose to turn left tried to go right knocking some of the arms off!!!

They thought they could hire computer programmers to fix the issue along with jack ass millwrights...

What a joke it was too watch as the robots could not be reprogramed due to the fact of the design...to spin left or right...An the arms u could plainly see would not work...

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 07:43:57 AM

Petebil · ONTARIO

dualquadpete wrote:
It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"

Yeah, you tell them Pete ! How dare they work for $30 an hour to put food on their family's table ! They should be ashamed ! You never had benefits your whole life, so why should they ? No one should have a better standard of living than you !

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

dualquadpete wrote:
It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"

That is the problem is that people do not know what the people earn working on the line in GM as Pete has just shown. There is more temporary workers making not much over minimum wages with no benefits no pension in GM than full time. They have not hire a full time worker in two decades and a new hire would be making $16. with only a drug plan for benefits. They also have no pension plan or union rights seeing they are part time. Remember Pete when they had to renegotiate the last contract 3 times by order of the government for GM to get the bailout and keep reducing their wages. If you read the news you will also see that the local union hall is on the verge of closing seeing there is only 2,000 workers supporting it now.

On another note last winter in Toronto GM took their restored Oshawa built cars to the show that they had in storage. BUT did they put them back after the show????? NO they were sent to the US including Sam's 1908 Buick that was the first car built in Oshawa. That car should have never left the country seeing it is a heritage vehicle that was built by Sam and not by GM. Should start a petition with the museum in Ottawa to have it brought back even though GM paid Hairy over $1,000,000 to restore it yes over $1,000,000.

GM is leaving Canada so they can skip paying all the retirees I think. All 50,000 of them seeing the company will no longer exists if they leave the country then will not have to pay. Another Heinz ketchup deal is on the way and the government just sits back after giving GM $3,000,000,000. that we lost in the buyout

Now do not get me started on free trade please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 01:33:59 AM

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 01:36:09 AM

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

dualquadpete wrote:
It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"

It took much longer than a week to clean the plant out and sending the hourly to the car plant and salary on the street. Pete the truck plant did not close it was moved to Mexico.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Smokin Joe wrote:
dualquadpete wrote:
It looks a stand off between GM & union, GM won't commit to a new product until contract settled & could still pull out after making a deal. & Union won't budge till they know what's coming in to build!!! Either way, somebody is going to lose!!! GM is sitting on prime property in south Oshawa & would 'reap" a ton of money selling it off & moving south. Average wage in plant is around $30 hr. & as Joe said "hard to compare to $4:25 in Mexico!! I meet up with many of the GM workers at cruise's & they still think there's no way that plant will ever close. Well, welcome to the "REAL" world boys & girls!! Get your head out of your A$$ & look outside the plant, it's a different world in the work force that's not GM or Union driven, & you certainly won't be getting $30/hour, forget benefits, they don't exist in very many private sector jobs [ I never had any in all the yrs. I worked] When GM shut the Oshawa truck plant down, it was "cleaned" out in about a week, & sent south. Can you say, " OH look a new subdivision of houses, is being built in south Oshawa"
GM is leaving Canada so they can skip paying all the retirees I think. All 50,000 of them seeing the company will no longer exists if they leave the country then will not have to pay. Another Heinz ketchup deal is on the way and the government just sits back after giving GM $3,000,000,000. that we lost in the buyout
Now do not get me started on free trade please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johns Manville, did excately that when they pulled out of scarbrough ontario after posioning their entire employee staff.Many died...the walls were covered with thousands of names in memory when port perry salvage tore down the old plant.

The workers that didnt die or should say haven't died yet are still sick an have not been taken care of nor will they..

Johns manville is now back in canada ...remember tentest??? = tentest fibreboard, your house is probably warped in it!!!!!!! Well guess wHAT IT"S Asbestos..

Bet you're mortage papers say you're house is asbesto's FREE....Cough ...cough...Bullshi_t

You now know an that is evidence of mortage fraud!! when fraud is entered into a legal contract,The contract becomes null an void!!

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 08:24:11 AM

dualquadpete · BLACKSTOCK, ONT

Just saying that the GM Oshawa long time workers have "no idea" of what it's like, outside the plant!! When I hauled parts into there, for a trucking co. that got an 'outsource' contract, & sequencing of parts, the dock people treated us like $hit, & couldn't believe we weren't getting the same wage that they did!!! One guy on fork lift said 'everybody makes $ 26 an hr. [2004] No clue of life outside the "plant] Then stopped unloading the last skid off my trailer to go for break, threw the whole delivery schedule off, as I was 'late' getting back to warehouse for next 'round' Not saying everyone in there is that way, but I sure met a bunch of "DOGGERS" on the docks!!! If you were lucky enough to get a job with benefits, Pension etc. hope you appreciated them [ petebil] cause the majority of jobs back then didn't have any & if you mentioned it, you were shown the door!!! Today, it's rare to get full time work, contract work is taking over + part time. The word "Pension" is dirty word nowadays & is going extinct, like the Dodo Bird!!!!

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

I went through their Bull sh@t hiring process for over ten years have all the letters here...
An never ever did get hired on....
It was so GM could have numbers to sell out to paragon as so paragon could pick an chose who they would hire...For min wage
You know like the ones that would subject themselves to unsafe work practices or the kind that would sh@t where they were told to shi_T With no questions asked...
After all the years i was told to apply for a different position...At which time I'd had enough seen enough.

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 17th of August 2016 08:20:24 AM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

New GM Canada engineering jobs welcomed, but no word on future of Oshawa car plant
Vice-president David Paterson says Oshawa engineering work focuses on autonomous cars, infotainment
General Motors Announcement

Jason Liebregts / Metroland
OSHAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the General Motors Canada's Canadian Engineering Centre, with a Chevrolete Bolt pictured right. GM announced the hiring of 750 engineers over the next number of years as it plans to invest in electric and self-driving vehicles. June 10, 2016

Oshawa This Week
By Reka Szekely

OSHAWA -- News that General Motors Canada will add 700 to 750 engineering jobs in Ontario in the coming years was broadly welcomed in Oshawa, though questions remain about the future of GM’s Oshawa plant.

On Friday, June 10, GM officials were joined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Kathleen Wynne for the announcement that the new jobs would be split between the Oshawa engineering centre, Kitchener-Waterloo, a Kapuskasing cold weather facility and a new facility in Markham.

Following the announcement, GM officials faced questions about the future of the company’s Oshawa manufacturing facility.

GM Canada president Stephen Carlisle said it’s a working process with negotiations with the union coming up in August and September and said the company is working with the Unifor as well as levels of government.

Unifor president Jerry Dias was in attendance at the Friday announcement as were representatives from Unifor Local 222.

“We’re all working in the same direction, we all want the same thing so it’s incumbent on us to put the best possible foot forward whether it’s the core economics or the policy issues or working with Jerry’s team, so that clearly our focus,” said Mr. Carlisle.

Mr. Dias said the announcement of engineering jobs was a sign GM is not exiting Canada and said the union would focus on the Oshawa footprint in bargaining.

“There’s no question, we have to find a solution for Oshawa and that includes a long-term commitment,” he said referring to bringing new product to Oshawa’s manufacturing plant.

Mr. Dias said he understands people are feeling nervous about GM’s future in Oshawa.

“We lost the Camaro, the truck plant closed several years ago so people have the right to be nervous but we are absolutely determined that we are going to find a solution.”

Following Friday’s announcement, GM vice-president of corporate and environmental affairs David Paterson explained some of the work that will come out of the Oshawa engineering centre.

He said locally the focus will primarily be on software development related to autonomous vehicles and infotainment. He explained that infotainment relates to the centre console of the car and includes everything from interfaces with Apple and Android, OnStar and the 4G WiFi system now available.

“You can run seven tablets streaming TV in your car at the same time, that’s not just for entertainment, kids in the back seat, what that allows you to do is bring in new safety features into the vehicle,” he explains. “When you think about it, autonomous vehicles have to be very, very connected to the world around them, it’s about mobile systems and the connectivity with mobile systems. You have sensors in the car that are connecting with other cars, with the road around them.”

Mr. Paterson said his company believes the move to autonomous, connected and electric vehicles is just as a major an inflection point as the switch from horses to automobiles.

He said the change will ultimately mean driving will be more accessible, it will mean less congestion and fewer cars on the road as vehicles become part of the sharing economy and lower greenhouse gases.

“All of that is going to be connected to the work we do in Oshawa, this a very important and significant portfolio of work that is right in the sweet spot of where the automobile industry is going,” he said.

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Thursday 18th of August 2016 11:48:55 AM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Council calls on GM to make electric cars in Oshawa Invitation extended to automaker's CEO to come to city to meet with political leaders http://oshawaexpress.ca/council-calls-on-gm-to-make-electric-cars-in-oshawa/ Posted on June 16, 2016 in News General Motors currently produces three electric and electric-hybrid vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt seen here at its Canadian debut in 2015. Oshawa councillors are calling on the automaker to take advantage of the skilled workforce in the city and produce its electric cars here. General Motors currently produces three electric and electric-hybrid vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt seen here at its Canadian debut in 2015. Oshawa councillors are calling on the automaker to take advantage of the skilled workforce in the city and produce its electric cars here. By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express Following a much heralded announcement from General Motors that an expansion in advanced manufacturing work would bring up to 1,000 new jobs to the province, with many of those in Oshawa, councillors were still scratching their chins. “That presentation actually caused me great concern,” says Councillor Nancy Diamond. Now, with GM having no production mandate in Canada beyond the end of year and contract negotiations with Unifor – the union representing the assembly line’s workers – set to get heated this summer, councillors are putting their cards on the table. “I think that we need, as a council, to stand with the workers…to stand up and say we are with these workers and we know that they can compete.” In a motion carried unanimously through council chambers, councillors are calling for the automaker to bring the production of electric vehicles to Oshawa. In her motion, seconded by Councillor John Shields, Diamond notes that with the multitude of international awards earned by the Oshawa workers, they have shown they are capable of handling the advanced technologies. Currently, General Motors produces two electric vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt and the Chevrolet Spark EV, with a third, the Chevrolet Bolt, set to hit the market later this year. Both the Volt and the upcoming Bolt are produced in Michigan, while the Spark EV is made in South Korea. Along with that, council will extended an invitation to Mary Barra, General Motors’ president, to come visit the city and meet with council, stakeholders and our other political leaders. The motion stemmed from the appearance of local residents and activists Larry Ladd and Gord Vickers, who suggested the idea. “We are very worried about the continuing loss of product and jobs with no new or additional hourly rated jobs announced for the GM manufacturing and assembly facility,” Ladd said. Vickers was slightly more strong-worded in his sentiments toward the automaker, calling its actions “shameful.” “We didn’t bailout GM for $10 billion just for them to give a lifeline to Mexico,” he said. “I don’t know what more we can do to keep GM here…we’ve done everything possible to satisfy them.” The motion was well supported by councillors who have now requested the mayor extend the invitation to Barra. Mayor John Henry, who is a member of the Ontario Auto Mayors – a group that pushes for support in the upper levels of governments for large cities that support the auto industry – said that he was “absolutely in support of the direction of this motion.”

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

What is going to happen to GM in Canada is they will fold up getting rid of all the workers and pensioner's. Then in a couple of years they will start over again under a new name and new part time workers making minimum wage and no benefits. Plus have the backing of our government.

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Thursday 18th of August 2016 05:39:00 PM

40Rat · MINTO, ONT

If most Canadians are working for wages just above minimum wage - who the hell are the major car companies going to sell their cars to?? Maybe all we can afford to buy yrs from now will be a Tata????

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

40Rat wrote:
If most Canadians are working for wages just above minimum wage - who the hell are the major car companies going to sell their cars to?? Maybe all we can afford to buy yrs from now will be a Tata????

No problem when you have a second job at Burger King and a third at Tim's seeing all the full time jobs are leaving. But you may have to work until you die seeing you will never be able to save any money unless you get a job in Ottawa.

DJD · SCARBOROUGH, ONT

john's manville sounds like the mess canada metal left behind on east ave when they closed down

canada metal was U.S. owned so leaving the mess to the city was no issue for them

neither was looking after the employies properly either - thus the begining of their fall when my father quit and 40 + mill a year in sales followed him out the door

lol
the union boys taking a break when almost done unloading my truck would find that one skid on the forklift in the middle of the loading dock when they came back

finding the key for the forklift might prove more difficult though ....being droped on the floor under the forklift

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

Canada does not care about workers or retires. Remember Dominion Foods or Massy Ferguson or lately as Stelco Steel? People like Conrad Black closed business up or moved them to the US and pocketing the pension funds. The Canadian government sits back quietly but they did come to Oshawa last month for the announcement of the 750 new engineering jobs that GM is going to hire. But they did not mention that they are contract and not permanent. They did the exact same thing about 12 years ago if you remember. It is called smoke and mirrors.

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

As a retired C.A.W. National Representative [ now Unifor] who serviced the G. M. Canada chain from 1987 to 1993 I could write a book on this topic. Smokin Joe and Petebil are pretty close in their statements. Its probably to late. The Union should have taken a stand years ago before 3/4 of Oshawa and St. Catherines were shut down as well as the closures of Windsor Trans , Windsor Trim , London Diesiel , Scarborough Van. and St. Therese assembly.In 1987 there were over 36,000 hourly. Now less than 4,000.

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

Bob T wrote:
As a retired C.A.W. National Representative [ now Unifor] who serviced the G. M. Canada chain from 1987 to 1993 I could write a book on this topic. Smokin Joe and Petebil are pretty close in their statements. Its probably to late. The Union should have taken a stand years ago before 3/4 of Oshawa and St. Catherines were shut down as well as the closures of Windsor Trans , Windsor Trim , London Diesiel , Scarborough Van. and St. Therese assembly.In 1987 there were over 36,000 hourly. Now less than 4,000.

Plus Oshawa North Fabrication, Battery and Trilink that were Delphi under the GM umbrella.

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

The Fab plant , Battery plant and Trilink were included when I said 3/4 of Oshawa was gone.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Bob T wrote:
The Fab plant , Battery plant and Trilink were included when I said 3/4 of Oshawa was gone.

The contamination left behind is "yet" another issue.

shag766 · FOXBORO, ONT

Ground Pounder wrote:
Bob T wrote:
The Fab plant , Battery plant and Trilink were included when I said 3/4 of Oshawa was gone.
The contamination left behind is "yet" another issue.

that there is another nail on the head statement. it probably won't be so much in any of the building expansions of the last 20-30 years but it will be an issue with any prior to that. it is somewhat similar to the g.e. plant in peterborough. in the hay day's maybe 5-6000 people and today maybe 7-800 but they have to do something in that place because they can't tear down 5-6 maybe 7 city blocks that is completely contaminated from the hay days making diesel electric engines cooled by p.c.b's. today a cup of that stuff spilled would shut the whole plant down and a hazmat crew involved. in the 50's it would of been watch yourself it's slippery over there. g.m. would of had their own forms of sins in the day with different chemicals. its bigger than that but this isn't the place.

john's manville is a classic one though. i drove truck for them for 2 or 3 years way back when and i was into all their plant's in canada. that west hill plant was basically a walking morgue. the mine in asbestos p.q. wasn't far behind. here's the kicker, the quebec government of the time went after j-m to build plants there to manufacture products instead of just shipping the raw product around the world in containers. it was the biggest or second biggest producer of raw asbestos in the world at the time and the government figured ship it further processed rather than raw and the fight began. the gov offered to buy the place and j-m said no. then the gov threatened to expropriate the place and that fight went on for awhile, couple of years??. when it got to the point where they were doing it j-m let all the info out that they had suppressed for years pertaining to how lethal the product was and walked away. the product got listed lethal shortly after that and good luck with your very enormous hole in the ground. that was a hell of a play on j-m's part.

i think the biggest hurdle for the big 3 is the pension fund thingy. it has to get under control somehow or they will be gone or a shadow of their former selves. new plant's in canada, honda, toyota etc don't have a grand or so, i think more, tied up in a new car just to cover pensions for former employee's. who's at fault or how it got this way is irrelevant now but it will have to be addressed if we want them to expand or just hold steady. trade with the rest of the world is a given now. when 70 to 80% of every dollar coming from manufacturing is exported you can't just shut the tap off. i don't know what the fix is but times are changing and we better learn to go with it or were pooched.

lol- i just got some bacon in to have a look at from all places, poland. it was a very good looking product and very reasonably priced but it tasted like crap. their recipe's are different than ours. but that will change and it will happen. i can imagine the jokes now about the polock who worked on a line making bacon for canada, eh. lol

-- Edited by shag766 on Saturday 20th of August 2016 07:27:33 AM

Livetodrive · MARKHAM, ONT

:but times are changing and we better learn to go with it or were pooched".

I think you pretty much summed it up! Between driver less cars, a generation that does not want to buy anything and the signals that unions are dying I think its apparant that times will change. Might be better, the pessimist in me says its gonna be a mess. Have you notice a trend towards "make work projects that don't make profit" in the last 10 years? I saw the same thing in Cuba and that did not seem to be working well.

DJD · SCARBOROUGH, ONT

I believe it was $1000 per unit sold to cover the health care of 1 former (retired) employie

but as a friends father pointed out years ago

how many cavaliers did they need to sell just to cover the million dollar wages , sorry , salary of their big wigs

answer , a hell of a lot

-- Edited by DJD on Saturday 20th of August 2016 12:49:05 PM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

shag766 wrote:
Ground Pounder wrote:
Bob T wrote:
The Fab plant , Battery plant and Trilink were included when I said 3/4 of Oshawa was gone.
The contamination left behind is "yet" another issue.
that there is another nail on the head statement. it probably won't be so much in any of the building expansions of the last 20-30 years but it will be an issue with any prior to that. it is somewhat similar to the g.e. plant in peterborough. in the hay day's maybe 5-6000 people and today maybe 7-800 but they have to do something in that place because they can't tear down 5-6 maybe 7 city blocks that is completely contaminated from the hay days making diesel electric engines cooled by p.c.b's. today a cup of that stuff spilled would shut the whole plant down and a hazmat crew involved. in the 50's it would of been watch yourself it's slippery over there. g.m. would of had their own forms of sins in the day with different chemicals. its bigger than that but this isn't the place.
john's manville is a classic one though. i drove truck for them for 2 or 3 years way back when and i was into all their plant's in canada. that west hill plant was basically a walking morgue. the mine in asbestos p.q. wasn't far behind. here's the kicker, the quebec government of the time went after j-m to build plants there to manufacture products instead of just shipping the raw product around the world in containers. it was the biggest or second biggest producer of raw asbestos in the world at the time and the government figured ship it further processed rather than raw and the fight began. the gov offered to buy the place and j-m said no. then the gov threatened to expropriate the place and that fight went on for awhile, couple of years??. when it got to the point where they were doing it j-m let all the info out that they had suppressed for years pertaining to how lethal the product was and walked away. the product got listed lethal shortly after that and good luck with your very enormous hole in the ground. that was a hell of a play on j-m's part.
i think the biggest hurdle for the big 3 is the pension fund thingy. it has to get under control somehow or they will be gone or a shadow of their former selves. new plant's in canada, honda, toyota etc don't have a grand or so, i think more, tied up in a new car just to cover pensions for former employee's. who's at fault or how it got this way is irrelevant now but it will have to be addressed if we want them to expand or just hold steady. trade with the rest of the world is a given now. when 70 to 80% of every dollar coming from manufacturing is exported you can't just shut the tap off. i don't know what the fix is but times are changing and we better learn to go with it or were pooched.
lol- i just got some bacon in to have a look at from all places, poland. it was a very good looking product and very reasonably priced but it tasted like crap. their recipe's are different than ours. but that will change and it will happen. i can imagine the jokes now about the polock who worked on a line making bacon for canada, eh. lol

-- Edited by shag766 on Saturday 20th of August 2016 07:27:33 AM

Shagg I was raised by A Polock=Vietnam vet.Raised on both sides of the line...Created on the Canadian side of said line.

Spent time In Queens/Silo/Buffalo/Syracuse/Albany when i was young.

They still produce Asbestos An ship it over seas for building products...

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Sunday 21st of August 2016 10:53:52 AM

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Sunday 21st of August 2016 10:54:20 AM

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

I hear that GM was picked as the strike target this coming Sept. The union is demanding a new product line where as of next year GM has no work in Canada scheduled. Watch GM take that opportunity to close their doors in Canada blaming the union going on strike.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

THIS STATEMENT IS A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM:":but times are changing and we better learn to go with it or were pooched"."

Dont even get me started.

Kinda like follow the rest of em to the Train.

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Tuesday 23rd of August 2016 08:57:59 AM

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Tuesday 23rd of August 2016 09:12:09 AM

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

bye bye GM too bad wonder what the Union leaders do now? hmm maybe dumb ass Trudeau will "save the day" lol lol

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

427CARL wrote:
bye bye GM too bad wonder what the Union leaders do now? hmm maybe dumb ass Trudeau will "save the day" lol lol

Well Carl at first I brushed your comment off but then I came back to answer your question. The union called Unifor I believe is an amalgamation of several unions and they do not loose their jobs as they are elected from different companies if I read it right. As for the bye bye GM LOL is very offensive to the 50,000 people that were affiliated with GM in different cites in Canada on pensions. People in their 70s, 80s and 90s that are at a very low pension rate as there is no cost of living to speak of in pesions. Then you mock them when their pension is about to be cut in half because of what the NDP did in 1992. Are you also bashing city, hydro, construction trades, elevator trades, teacher unions. As they also make a middle class wage to support their family and able to put their kids through college. I do not understand if unions do not help the workers standard of living why do companies fight so hard to keep then out. Because the workers wages and benefits take away from the company's profit margin. That is poor taste Carl. You should really keep up with the news to what is happening to our country. No further comments on this subject.

Petebil · ONTARIO

Carl will be disappointed to find out that the only plant with a questionable future is located in Oshawa, and that the 50000 retirees will continue to receive their pensions even f it closes because GM will still have a footprint in Canada (Ingersol, St Catherines)

Livetodrive · MARKHAM, ONT

It looks to me like we will end up with a sequel to "Roger and Me" in Ontario. The union wants to fight so they will take a tough stand and force the business right out of Canada. If I were making the decisions I'd probably do the same thing, its a gong show at best.

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

Smoking Joe.. Thank you.....Petebil We have to add the Woodstock Parts Depot to your list even though the workforce there has been reduced drastically through automation. Livetodrive The Union doesn't want to fight BUT sees no future product for Oshawa so is trying to secure a commitment from G.M. that a new product is coming that will keep Oshawa open. They also better be concerned about St. Catherines. Hope its not to late.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

ca.news.yahoo.com/couple-oshawa-gm-plant-facing-153000728.html

Couple who work at Oshawa GM plant facing uncertain future
[Canadian Press Videos]
Canadian Press VideosSeptember 5, 2016

Joe Colacicco says "it's hard to even fathom" the Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors plant where he and his wife work closing up shop. The plant faces an uncertain future with one of two production lines slated for closure next year.

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

Most people do not realise that GM Cami is not part of the same GM. As they did with Delphi separated it and the people pensions were reduced in Canada as TriLink in Oshawa for the salary personnel. A lot of these plants are no longer linked under one umbrella. When GM was in trouble it was only US and Canada but they were negotiated with separately. Was GM Mexico, Korea, Japan or China in trouble or even mentioned in the news? No they are all different companies so they can ditch what they want with no collateral damage. Screw any pensioners after Bob opened the doors for GM before he bailed from the NDP. I wonder if Bob is on a 50% pension cut seeing he caused all this.

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

Smoking Joe.. Who is this Bob your referring to ? White, Rae, certainly not me LOL. Cami was never part of the CAW/ GM master Agreement because it was originally a joint venture between G.M. and Suzuki. Now that Suzuki is gone the membership don't want to be part of the master agreement because if there is a strike they will still be working or laid off and when its settled they will get the same deal handed to them [or so they think ] .I personly disagree with that strategy and during their last contract they made further concessions rather than strike. Please explain the 50% pension cuts.

2drpost · KETTLEBY, ONT

it isn't too hard to figure out their futures in canada...$30/hr in cda...$4.25/hr in mexico...bowl of rice a day in china

Bob T · BRANTFORD, ONT

Yep Goodbye middle class in North America. Hope you enjoy fish heads with your rice. The sad part is the people most affected just seem to accept it.

teejay99 · BELLE RIVER, ONT

Actually , what the auto workers were getting on the old system was about $62 / hour to be more accurate ........gotta count company contributions to pension , medical , dental , glasses , legal costs are paid , some tuition assistance , not to mention vehicles bought below what I would pay as a dealer employee , coupons for vehicles for retirees . They had it good !

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Canada auto union up against costs it cannot control
Reuters
By By Susan Taylor | Reuters – 5 hours ago
ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/canada-auto-union-against-costs-cannot-control-040648215--finance.html

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's autoworkers' union, which steps up pressure in contract talks by naming a strike target on Tuesday, may see its ability to win concessions undermined by outside factors, ranging from high power rates to manufacturers' increased reliance on more costly imported parts, industry experts say.

The top priority for the union, named Unifor, is to persuade Fiat Chrysler Automobiles , Ford Motor and General Motors to pledge to produce new vehicle models in Canada. It will also seek a modest pay raise and shorter pay progression for new hires.

A four-year contract covering some 20,000 Canadian workers at the three companies expires Sept. 19.

"All of those other issues, combined, overwhelm the effect of Unifor," said Tony Faria, a University of Windsor professor who studies the industry, referring to labor costs.

Unifor estimates that, on average, labor represents about 4 percent of the cost of each vehicle its workers produce, versus 55 percent for parts and supplies.

Approximately 50 percent of the parts in Canadian-made vehicles are produced in the country, said Flavio Volpe, Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada president.

Many Canadian-based parts suppliers did not survive the 2008 financial crisis and resulting recession, he said.

High electricity rates in the province of Ontario are another thorn.

The Canadian Automotive Partnership Council, an industry group that advises government, cites a 2013 survey from Hydro Quebec that shows large power users in Toronto pay 123 percent more than Chicago customers, 50 percent more than Nashville and 37 percent more than Detroit.

Canada's market size poses another problem. About 10 percent of all vehicles sold in North America are purchased in Canada, versus 80 percent in the United States, said Faria.

New government programs, such as Ontario's cap-and-trade climate plan, and higher federal pension contribution could add further costs to automakers' operations.

GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler declined to comment.

Unifor says any challenges are outweighed by Canada's currency advantage, with the Canadian dollar worth just 77 U.S. cents.

"The companies are making money hand-over-fist, including in their Canadian operations, where they're dealing with hydro costs, they're dealing with our social programs," said Unifor President Jerry Dias.

The union and industry are pushing the Canadian government to change how it funds incentives for automative production to grants from loans.

"We have to make sure our incentives are competitive to attract interest," said Ray Tanguay, appointed auto industry czar last year to advise Ontario and Canadian governments. "If manufacturing of automobiles is important, then we have to commit and play to win."

Canada should focus on developing skilled labor and advanced manufacturing to distinguish itself, rather than costs, he said.

In 2012, the union came up empty-handed in a push for new vehicle production. Their contract froze wages for existing workers for three out of four years and cut pay and pension benefits for new employees.

(Reporting by Susan Taylor; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
@YahooFinanceCA on Twitter

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

teejay99 wrote:
Actually , what the auto workers were getting on the old system was about $62 / hour to be more accurate ........gotta count company contributions to pension , medical , dental , glasses , legal costs are paid , some tuition assistance , not to mention vehicles bought below what I would pay as a dealer employee , coupons for vehicles for retirees . They had it good !

The employee vehicle sales is not union negotiated. It is a company incentive that the company offers to its employee's. As for legal cost being covered - $300. that is not even an Hr. worth of time. One more- Every one in Canada has medical paid by the government.

Petebil · ONTARIO

I find it kinda funny how people in general always want others to fail if those people have it a bit better in their lives. Do you really think that the good wages in the big 3 are the reason they want to pull out of Canada? Give your head a shake ! Even if the workers worked for free, this would only reduce the price of a car about $1000.
Your anger should be aimed at the Government and it's thousands upon thousands of workers making way more than auto workers off of your tax dollars, but yet I rarely hear anyone complain about them. How do you expect your Kids and Grand-kids to be able to afford a house making minimum wage? Do you think the spiking house prices is caused by average Canadians? Foreign investment is driving everything so expensive so fast that I see a big collapse in about 5 years, and most of the Sheeple in this Country will just let it happen because they are too damn busy chasing Pokemon or worrying about who the next Bachelor will be. Once everyone takes their blinders off, they'll see that we are already at war, and to be honest, I think we don't stand a chance.

dualquadpete · BLACKSTOCK, ONT

Joe, I have to "pay" for my meds, but I see GM guys in the drug store pay some 'stupid" amount [$2.oo] & walk out the door, while I'm paying $ 125+?? So how is that "medical" paid by the Gov. Yes my Doctor's appt. is covered but not the medication!!! That deal is made by the union in benefit pkg. or am I wrong???Buzz Hargrove was on the radio yesterday, & he must be a "Liberal" as he danced around the question of "high" hydro rates, & cap & trade, saying these wouldn't affect manufacturing in this province?? A few auto workers called in after, & said "Ol" Buzz has his head up his A$$ if he believes Wynn is not shutting down this Province's Manufacturing base & unemployment figures are rising daily

-- Edited by dualquadpete on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 07:39:20 AM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

The One Trillion Dollar Consumer Auto Loan Bubble Is Beginning To Burst

September 6, 2016
Michael Snyder

Do you remember the subprime mortgage meltdown from the last financial crisis? Well, this time around we are facing a subprime auto loan meltdown. In recent years, auto lenders have become more and more aggressive, and they have been increasingly willing to lend money to people that should not be borrowing money to buy a new vehicle under any circumstances. Just like with subprime mortgages, this strategy seemed to pay off at first, but now economic reality is beginning to be felt in a major way. Delinquency rates are up by double digit percentages, and major auto lenders are bracing for hundreds of millions of dollars of losses. We are a nation that is absolutely drowning in debt, and we are most definitely going to reap what we have sown.

The size of this market is larger than you may imagine. Earlier this year, the auto loan bubble surpassed the one trillion dollar mark for the first time ever…
www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/0...rates-rise/89911210/

Americans are borrowing more than ever for new and used vehicles, and 30- and 60-day delinquency rates rose in the second quarter, according to the automotive arm of one of the nation’s largest credit bureaus.

The total balance of all outstanding auto loans reached $1.027 trillion between April 1 and June 30, the second consecutive quarter that it surpassed the $1-trillion mark, reports Experian Automotive.

The average size of an auto loan is also at a record high. At $29,880, it is now just a shade under $30,000.

In order to try to help people afford the payments, auto lenders are now stretching loans out for six or even seven years. At this point it is almost like getting a mortgage.

But even with those stretched-out loans, the average monthly auto loan payment is now up to a record 499 dollars.

That is the average loan size. To me, this is absolutely infuriating, because only a very small percentage of wealthy Americans are able to afford a $499 monthly payment on a single vehicle.

Many middle-class American families are only bringing in three or four thousand dollars a month (before taxes). How in the world do they think that they can afford a five hundred dollar monthly auto loan payment on just one vehicle?

Just like with subprime mortgages, people are being taken advantage of severely, and the end result is going to be catastrophic for the U.S. financial system.

Already, auto loan delinquencies are rising to very frightening levels. In July, 60-day subprime loan delinquencies were up 13 percent on a month-over-month basis and were up 17 percent compared to the same month last year.

Prime delinquencies were up 12 percent on a month-over-month basis and were up 21 percent compared to the same month last year.

We have a huge crisis on our hands, and major auto lenders are setting aside massive amounts of cash in order to try to cover these losses. The following comes from USA Today…

In a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ford reported in the first half of this year it allowed $449 million for credit losses, a 34% increase from the first half of 2015.

General Motors reported in a similar filing that it set aside $864 million for credit losses in that same period of 2016, up 14% from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, other big corporations are also alarmed about the economic health of average U.S. consumers. Just check out what Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos had to say about this just the other day…
www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-25/things...mers-are-dire-strait

I know that when we look at globally the overall U.S. population, it seems like things are getting better. But when you really start breaking it down and you look at that core consumer that we serve on the lower economic scale that’s out there, that demographic, things have not gotten any better for her, and arguably, they’re worse. And they’re worse, because rents are accelerating, healthcare is accelerating on her at a very, very rapid clip.

The stock market may seem to be saying that everything is fine (for the moment), but the hard economic numbers are telling a completely different story. What we are experiencing right now looks so similar to 2008, and this includes big institutions just dropping dead seemingly out of the blue. On Tuesday, we learned that ITT Technical Institute is immediately shutting down and permanently closing all locations. This is from a Los Angeles Times report…
www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-itt-tech-...0906-snap-story.html

The company that operates the for-profit chain, one of the country’s largest, announced that it was permanently closing all its campuses nationwide. It blamed the shutdown on the recent move by the U.S. Education Department to ban ITT from enrolling new students who use federal financial aid.

“Two quarters ago there were rumors about the school having problems, but they told us that anyone who was already a student would be allowed to finish,” said Wiggins, who works as the assistant manager for a family-run auto parts business and went to ITT to open new opportunities.

“Am I angry?” he said. “I’m like angry times 10 million.”

As a result of this shutdown, 35,000 students are suddenly left out in the cold and approximately 8,000 employees have lost their jobs.

This is what happens during a major economic downturn. Large institutions that may have been struggling under the surface for quite a while suddenly give up and drop a bomb on those that were depending on them. In the months ahead, there will be a lot more examples of this.

Already, some of the biggest corporate names in America have been laying off thousands of workers in 2016. Mass layoffs are usually an early warning sign that big trouble is ahead, so keep a close eye on those companies.

The pace of the economic decline has been a bit slower than many (including myself) originally anticipated, but without a doubt it has continued.

And it is undeniable that the stage is set for a crisis that will absolutely dwarf 2008. Our national debt has nearly doubled since the beginning of the last crisis, corporate debt has doubled, student loan debt has crossed the trillion dollar mark, auto loan debt has crossed the trillion dollar mark, and total household debt has crossed the 12 trillion dollar mark.

We are living in the greatest debt bubble in world history, and there are signs that this giant bubble is now starting to burst. And when it does, the pain is going to be greater than most people would dare to imagine.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

exactly why we purchase our rides from auction's...
100 dollar to 300 dollars will buy a decent ride that most will get 5 years out of..
2000-2016's can be bought between 8000 an 20'000 a far cry from dealer [door] rates on auto's.
Also my mother worked at chysler for years an can save anyone between 10'000 -15'000 off the price of any chysler product..thats right it includes friends an family...we're all friends here correct?

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 07:54:41 AM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

Please watch the video at this link:
www.cbc.ca/news/business/rocco-galati-challenges-bank-of-canada-to-offer-interest-free-loans-1.3065650

This is why we are where we are...we need to reinstate the boc=period if our offspring are to have a chance.

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

dualquadpete wrote:
Joe, I have to "pay" for my meds, but I see GM guys in the drug store pay some 'stupid" amount [$2.oo] & walk out the door, while I'm paying $ 125+?? So how is that "medical" paid by the Gov. Yes my Doctor's appt. is covered but not the medication!!! That deal is made by the union in benefit pkg. or am I wrong???Buzz Hargrove was on the radio yesterday, & he must be a "Liberal" as he danced around the question of "high" hydro rates, & cap & trade, saying these wouldn't affect manufacturing in this province?? A few auto workers called in after, & said "Ol" Buzz has his head up his A$$ if he believes Wynn is not shutting down this Province's Manufacturing base & unemployment figures are rising daily

-- Edited by dualquadpete on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 07:39:20 AM

The mention of high hydro rates is DECEPTION.

look at you're hydro statement it's actually not a bill theres no legal contract it's based off tacit agreement.[does not meet the definition of a bill per the bill's of exchange act]

Now look at the statement you will see it states that it's low density residential engery being supplied...low density is the waste hydro the garbage left over...

an in fact when anything is turned on with in ,its creates a major draw spiking the load on the meter therefore costing you more..[thus the real reason why new Appliances including t/v's do not last,kind of like a wore out engine drinking up all the fuel to the point it no longer makes power]

Now commercial hydro is way cheaper then res....anyone who has run an automotive commercial[220] business will know this these facts.

Now for industrial hydro it's the cheapest out there due to 550...althrough rates have gone up these folk's do pay much more,..an they also get to write such off as operating cost's therefore paying next to H@@k all.

This video will show you what the government is really been up too for a while now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmp56vnwxtA

This one will tell you how they control most.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME7K6P7hlko

An here's a side note

Hungary Becomes First European Nation To Ban Rothschild Banks

September 6, 2016
Amanda Froelich

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

The name Rothschild is literally associated with wealth. This is because for over 200 years, the family has remained the most powerful and wealthy family in the world. Most of the Rothschild fortune has been made in the world of banking, but investments in other industries, such as coal, estates, and construction, have helped secure the family’s wealth and immense power.

One of the banks owned by the Rothschild group (the biggest banking group in the world) is the International Monetary Fund (IMF), AKA ’Imposing Misery and Famine’. Not only does the group make money off usurious interest rates at the misfortune of crumbling economies, it literally owns governments and people of power. Because it’s nearly impossible to escape the clutches of the banking group, news of IMF being booted from Hungary is being heralded as a victorious happening.

TapNewsWire reports that in 2008, Hungary survived economic turmoil by relying on a €20 billion ($26 billion) loan from IMF and aid from the EU. This was before Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was elected into office.

In 2013, however, the former economy minister and current central bank governor, Gyorgy Matolcsy, wrote a letter to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde calling for the fund to close its representative office in Budapest. Matolcsy noted that it was “not necessary to maintain” it any longer. In addition, he said in July of 2016 that Hungary would repay the 2008 loan in full by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Orbán hasn’t had a good relationship with IMF since taking office, and this latest move has taken it to a new low. However, many are hailing Hungary’s decision to boot the IMF from the country as an intelligent decision.

NeonNettle reports:
Paying the loan back early has meant Hungary have saved €11.7 million worth of interest expenses, but Gordan Bajnai, leader of the electoral alliance E14-PM, claimed that they had actually lost €44.86 million by March 2014 because of the early repayment as all they did was replace the loan from the [IMF] with a more expensive one, labelling the stunt as Propaganda.

And what made further nonsense; another loan at high interest rates was signed to finance a nuclear upgrade, which will mean not only higher repayments but also high electricity costs. But they do have economic sovereignty now.

The central bank governor says that the government succeeded in pushing its budget deficit below the EU ceiling of 3% in GDP and reduced government debt. Though the EU Commission expected it to return to weak growth shortly after the decision, the unorthodox system of imposing heavy special taxes on large companies seems to be working for the country.

YourNewsWire relays that Iceland joined Hungary in 2014 when it paid back its $400 million loan ahead of schedule after the collapse of the banking sector in 2008. In addition, Russia has refused to bow down to any Western puppeteer and gained financial independence in 2005. Reportedly, this is the FIRST time a European country has stood up to the international fund, since Germany did so in the 1930s.

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 08:33:08 AM

-- Edited by Ground Pounder on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 09:02:50 AM

Smokin Joe · ONTARIO

If GM pulls out of Canada prescription drug plan is still there as the union controls the finance end of it not GM. By the way I repeated medical not meds-medication or prescription from the previous post as there is a difference in the meanings.
What surprises me is the number of people that had the same chance as any union worker for a better living and did not go for it. Than later in life bitch and complain how the next guy has it so much better than them. Are we going to attack the hydro workers or the city workers or even the teachers union next. Seeing they have a much better wage and benefit plan than the guys bitching here. Seeing how they have it so tough in life. Have to blame someone else for there choice in life for not looking ahead. Suck it up and stop complaining sounding like kids fighting over candy.

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 09:45:52 AM

Ground Pounder · Senior Member

www.cbc.ca/news/business/unifor-automaker-bargaining-1.3749427

video at link.

Canadian commitment sought 4:35

Experts disagree on strength of Unifor's position in GM contract talks
GM workers in Oshawa brace for 'fight of our lives'
Labour calls Canadian auto negotiations 'most important' in generation
'Stars are aligned' for Unifor as Detroit Three contract talks set to begin, Dias says

General Motors will be the target company in upcoming negotiations for a new collective agreement, Unifor has announced, with the union saying investment in Canada will be the top priority.

Unifor national president Jerry Dias said Tuesday that the union won't sign a deal without a firm commitment from GM to plants in Oshawa, Ont., and St. Catharines, Ont.

"That may be considered a line in the sand — so be it," Dias told reporters gathered at a downtown hotel in Toronto.

GM workers in Oshawa brace for 'fight of our lives'
Canadian negotiations called most important in generation
Unifor as Detroit Three contract talks set to begin

Talks so far have been contentious, especially with GM. The company wants a contract that's more cost-competitive with the United Auto Workers union in the U.S.

GM has indicated that it won't talk about new investments in Canada or allocating new products to Oshawa until a collective agreement is ratified, but the union said the company's stance must change.
jerry-dias-unifor-target

Unifor national president Jerry Dias speaks at a news conference on Tuesday in Toronto, where the union announced that General Motors would be the target company for collective bargaining. (CBC)

"If we are going to have a dust-up, we might as well have it immediately," Dias said.

He said he doesn't expect the "economic package," such as wages and benefits, will hold up agreement on a new collective agreement, leaving investment as the big hurdle.
CAMI agreement separate

The future of the GM plant in Oshawa has been uncertain since the company shifted production of the Camaro to a plant in Michigan. The plant, which employs 2,400 hourly workers, has no guaranteed product after 2019. Its consolidated line builds the Chevrolet Equinox and is slated to close next year. The facility's flex line produces the Chevrolet Impala, Cadillac XTS and Buick Regal, which have been slow sellers.

GM employs 6,600 Unifor members in Oshawa, St. Catharines and Ingersoll, Ont. That figure includes about 2,600 people working at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll who are covered under a separate collective agreement

GM's plant in St. Catharines builds engines and transmissions, and Dias said new investment is needed there too.

The union, which says it represents more than 23,000 Canadians workers at the Big Three Detroit automakers, typically names a target company to set the pattern for bargaining with the rest of the industry.

Unifor says it has received a strong strike mandate from its members as it prepares to negotiate contracts.

The union has threatened job action if it doesn't get an agreement before midnight on Sept. 19.

Dennis DesRosiers, the president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, said Dias could have selected Ford, which the union gets along with quite well, but ultimately "he has to face the music, and General Motors is going to be war."

"Probably a smart move on his part, in that the markets are holding up really well," DesRosiers told CBC News. "General Motors is obviously not wanting to take a strike given how healthy the markets are."

A work stoppage at GM plants in Canada would halt operations here and at some plants in the United States, because engines produced here go south, DesRosiers said. "So he's in a fairly powerful position with General Motors."

Petebil · ONTARIO

dualquadpete wrote:
Joe, I have to "pay" for my meds, but I see GM guys in the drug store pay some 'stupid" amount [$2.oo] & walk out the door, while I'm paying $ 125+?? So how is that "medical" paid by the Gov.

-- Edited by dualquadpete on Wednesday 7th of September 2016 07:39:20 AM

I guess early in life you shouldn't have made the stupid decision of becoming a truck driver with no benefits. Don't blame others for the mistakes you made. You also may want to ask your Doctor to increase the strength of your meds. wink