At 1:30PM today, Canadian Auto Workers (the Canadian counterpart to the UAW) president Buzz Hargrove gave a press conference responding to the UAW strike today against General Motors. In Hargrove's mind, a worst case scenario could see anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 Canadian workers unemployed as a result of the strike. Hargrove seemed to blame General Motors for shifting the hardships caused by what he called "unfair imports" onto its workers, and he surmised the automaker will use the same strategy when it begins talks with the CAW to renegotiate its contracts next year.
As for the near term effect of the strike, Hargrove said the impact on Canadian plants will be immediate. GM Canada's No. 1 plant in Oshawa will stop making the Chevy Impala at 3AM EST Tuesday. The No. 2 Oshawa plant will stop making the Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick Allure (LaCrosse) at the end of the business day on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the highly profitable Oshawa truck plant that makes the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra has enough inventory to last about three days. Unfortunately, the GM Transmission plant in Windsor has already shut down, and another powertrain component plant in St. Catherine's, Ontario will stop altogether shortly, as well.
As for whether or not the strike is a "token strike" or will have the legs to last a significant amount of time, Hargrove said, "I think this thing's going to drag on for a while."
[Source: Canadian Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John @ Sep 24th 2007 3:42PM
Given the supply of some of GM's cars, it might be cheaper to have GM let the UAW strike. It will be cheaper than the jobs bank.
Greg @ Sep 24th 2007 3:47PM
It's St. Catharines.
RicardoHead @ Sep 24th 2007 3:48PM
I say shut it all down and bring over the imports. I'm sick of the extortion-monkey UnitedA~~Wipes trying to act like they have any leverage, or even common business sense. They are like a spoiled brat banging his head on the wall each time crying louder in pain, not realizing that they themselves (via unsustainable demands) are responsible for their plight and the Big 3's need to break them, but screw them.
In the future I will buy ONLY non-UAW/CAW built cars. That takes about half the cars off my list, but at least I'm not buying into the extortion game these maggots play.
Seminole @ Sep 24th 2007 3:49PM
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
I guess the union leaders have never heard that saying before.
Gardiner Westbound @ Sep 24th 2007 4:36PM
General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are near financial collapse because their executives made short-sighted decisions. They built uninteresting automobiles, did not develop new engines and transmissions, worried more about Wall Street than design and engineering, allowed quality standards to lapse, mistreated customers and made woeful union concessions.
The Big-3 kept Wall Street happy by inflating profits and deferring costs. When the unions demanded large pay increases the companies instead increased pensions and retiree health benefits knowing the bill would not come due for decades. Now the piper has to be paid.
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mercedes and BMW operate nonunion North American plants. Their labor costs are much lower than the Detroit companies, $42 an hour including benefits at Nissan versus $70 at Ford. The newcomers have negligible pension costs because their workforce is younger, and hardly any retiree health care outlay. All are profitable because they design and build quality products consumers want to buy.
Vivek @ Sep 24th 2007 4:40PM
Just move the entire production to other countries GM. We will then see who these idiots union workers will bitch and moan on when they have to stand in the unemployement line for 4 hours or flip hamburgers at McDonalds.
Chris @ Sep 24th 2007 5:14PM
I'm not sensing much sympathy for the UAW / CAW.....
Vivek @ Sep 24th 2007 5:17PM
Because they deserve no sympathy at all. Why are they complaining? They are the top of the food chain for their jobs. Yet every contract year it's more more more. Half these guys won't even be interviewed for another job if GM goes under.
Punchy @ Sep 24th 2007 7:30PM
Buzz is buzzed...as usual.
Same ole', same ole'.
When will GM and the other two figure it out. It's time for the unions to pack it in. The only thing they have ever done for me is raise the price of my car and cause me to receive a recall notice.
They just don't get it at all.
Punchy
steveo391 @ Sep 24th 2007 11:17PM
The UAW isn't helping matters at all, but Toyota isn't much better. They aren't unionized and they had more recall's last year than the big 3. Plus their car's and trucks aren't cheaper than the big 3's.
robert @ Sep 25th 2007 8:48AM
Oh Buzzz.... listen Mr. Hargrove,
I think your "imports" comment is irrelevant.. Corolla, Matrix, Camry, Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, Civic, Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe... ALL NOT IMPORTS!!! They are made RIGHT HERE!!!
oh wait, I bet if they were ALL UAW/CAW plants, we would NEVER hear you complain about "unfair imports" ever again!!!
Buzz... you need to change your perspective, DRIVE one of these imports, and THEN make your comments.. dumb ass.. I bet you probably drive a Toyota, don't you... hehehe...
I do drive a GM product, made at NUMMI (UAW), thankfully, it's all full of Toyota parts and engineering!!! (I drive a Vibe!)
Brian @ Sep 25th 2007 3:12PM
Unfair imports, Please what company in the usa or in the world for that matter has Pensions and health care for life still? And these union slobs believe they are entitled to it much less do hit them with a co-pay. How many jobs do we have to lose in this country before the union members actually relize that the union is just causing companies to go away.