CTVNews reports that the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) has reached deals with both GM and Chrysler for its Ontario members. The agreements mirror those that the CAW obtained from Ford. According to the official story: "Workers will see their wages frozen for three years in exchange for improvements in other areas." "Other areas?" Such as not getting fired in the first place? The crux of the deal: Buzz Hargrove successfully delayed the inevitable. GM-Oshawa's planned shift reduction is put off until 2009, and Chrysler's Etobicoke plant, on death row for over a decade, will have its life extended to 2011. Hargrove is spinning the wage freeze as a victory, noting that he's "done the very best to protect as many jobs as we could and protect and support people who won't have a job"-- despite failing to secuire long-term plans for either of the two plants. We now return you to our regular discussion of American Axle's ongoing strike.User comment: By: 50mercmikey, I read the comments on the CTV story. Lots of rage, but at least they kept the expletives out. Every day I'm thankful for TTAC's anti-flaming policy. From the CTV article: "Thursday's agreements will: * Freeze wages at $34 per hour this year * Cut annual vacations by one week for a one-time payment of $3,500 * Eliminate a $25,000 retirement allowance * Include a prescription drug co-pay of 10% The new GM contract deal postpones the planned closure of a shift at GM's Oshawa plant until 2009." [How does that compare with other industries? Still at or near the top, I'm sure. Do G/F/C lose lots of workers to make more money elsewhere?] "The CAW was also able to postpone the closure of a plant in Etobicoke which Chrysler had been trying to shut down for the past 15 years, Hargrove said. 'We weren't able to get it into the agreement but we did extend its life until mid-2011,' he said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. He noted that it was much cheaper for Chrysler to purchase the parts rather than have them manufactured." "But some experts fear that by not giving up more, the Canadian Auto Workers may be making it too expensive to build cars in Canada for the long term." 'At the end of the day, the Canadian operations are $20 an hour more costly than any other operation in the world for GM, Ford and Chrysler. Why would they put up with that longer term, when they have a choice,'auto analyst Dennis Desrosiers told CTV News." Indeed, why would G/F/C put up with that? Because for them, the CAW is a monopoly. So the choice becomes, either pay up or bug out. A prosperous Big 3 could afford to placate the union. But the Big 3 are no longer prosperous.
User comment: By: Landcrushermikey, just ignore the troll. I am not sure if I am what you are looking for, but I am a union detractor who used socialized medicine while living in Canada. They put my life at severe risk for nearly 24 hours trying to avoid giving me a test that any US hospital would have given me as fast as they could squeeze me in. Certainly in less than 3 hours. Once they did give me the test, they then had to give me emergency surgery immediately. The whole system just stank. I know that GM and the UAW are lobbying for socialized medicine in this country, and I can tell you that it's a much bigger burden on your grandchildren than CO2 or deficit spending are. The system will sap this country until everything is like GM and Detroit.
User comment: By: mikeyTroonbop:line apes?Come on down to the ratification at 3:PM today and expand on you opinion at the open mic.I will personally escort you in.
User comment: By: troonbopGM manages to continue its steady circling of the bowl, extracting my tax dollars to feed its gang of line apes.
Visit here to subscribe to these commentsUser comment: By: mikeyHey for a laugh read the comments after the CTV reports.Never thought I say this but it makes me appreciate the anti flaming policy here at TTAC. I just wonder if any of our detracters{and there is a few}ever use are socialized health care.Or our generous welfare programs,police,fire,schools. You name it,it all comes with a price. The auto companys, and thier employees,union and non union all pay hefty taxes.The Ontario government is correct in thier support of the domestic car industry.
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