Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Trends
CAW mulls closing plant to secure Camaro rights
The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union will vote this week to transform its two Oshawa plants into one in the hopes to secure the rights to build all GM “Zeta” vehicles in the future. “Zeta” is the code-name for the platform that includes the replacements for the Impala, Monte Carlo, and—if given the green-light-- the wildly popular Camaro concept.
The union feels it has few alternatives. GM plans to close the Oshawa No. 2 plant in 2008 and No. 1 in 2009. Only the fact that the plants did well in quality surveys led the automaker to extend the offer to the CAW.
“It was bargaining with a gun to your head,” said Chris Buckley of CAW local 222 of the Oshawa plants. The union has also recapitulated to GM’s demand to outsource its janitorial services and remove a construction crew that works in-house.
GM could not be reached for comment when the article was written.
[Source: Globe and Mail]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matt 7:21PM (3/06/2006)
that would be devistating for oshawa... aka DIRTYshwa
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John B 10:12PM (3/06/2006)
Not only did the Oshawa plant do well in quality, it may be the best GM has and one of the best in North America.
"General Motors Corporation sweeps the North/South America plant quality awards. General Motors Oshawa #2, Ontario, Canada, plant, which produces the Buick Century, Buick LaCrosse and Pontiac Grand Prix, earns the Gold Plant Quality Award. The Oshawa #1, Ontario, and Hamtramck, Mich., plants earn the Silver and Bronze Plant Quality awards, respectively."
http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2005069
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Dustin Blanchard 10:23PM (3/06/2006)
It is about time they decided to bring the true american classic back. The Camaro look glorious.
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Al Sahin 12:11AM (3/07/2006)
Vote Yes! All those cars listed will help G.M plus the zeta platform is rear-wheel drive, i would love to have a rear-wheel drive Monte Carlo. But I think that if the Camaro was to come out the Monte Carlo would be discontinued. I would rather have the Monte Carlo!
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dave 12:13AM (3/07/2006)
Closing down another union controlled plant? FANTASTIC NEWS for GM.
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Drew 9:17AM (3/07/2006)
They have to make the Camaro. My name will be one of the first on the waiting list for this car. I'll put my deposit down on the first day I hear about it.
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sirAQUAMAN64 9:29AM (3/07/2006)
Haha, nice to see another person from da 'Shwa on Autoblog :)
I would imagine enough people with brains realize that this plant will have to produce the new Zeta architecture to survive, as the current product produced there will be RWD once redesigned.
Hopefully we get the plant, if needed the government helps a bit (not that the Tories want to, but I can still cross my fingers - and if they don't they're complete fools and I can shake my head to those who elected 'em to parliment), and Oshawa can continue making quality product for GM and consumers.
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Mike 9:54AM (3/07/2006)
I don't see the big deal surrounding the Camaro concept... it is just the Pontiac GTO concept car painted another color.....
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jamie 12:37PM (3/07/2006)
Retrenchment back to the rust belt is what GM should be all about now. The farther away from Detroit HQ a plant is; the more likely it should be axed. Costs are going up dramatically, and this is an obvious way of curtailing unneccesary expenses.
However because of their proximity, OSHAWA 1 and 2 should remain viable for the forseeable future. OSHAWA is the logical choice for the Zeta platform: Impala, Monte Carlo, GTO and Camaro. The Canadian dollar is rising, but fluctuations are forever present. So that should not even be present in the discussions, because the exchange rate often helps reduce expenses.
It would be a bad move to close these assembly plants with the number of options they present.
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Matt Keegan 1:36PM (3/07/2006)
Yes, the Camaro is one mighty fine concept. If Oshawa lands the rights to build the car, then its future should be secured so long as the plant remains competitive and the product built is outstanding.
I agree with #4: Build it and we will buy it:
http://thearticlewriter.com/autowriter/8/
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Zack 2:14PM (3/16/2006)
I think Oshawa should get the Zeta contract, since they're both slated to close because of the platform's inception. Oshawa has been building high quality cars for quite some time now, it's only right to give them the chance to continue.
And yes, the Camaro is awesomebeautiful. I've got a bit over 20K saved up for my new SS right now.
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James .V. 11:36AM (4/20/2006)
All I gat to say is the new camaro is good. And iI love camaro and this one is next to the 1969 Z28.
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