Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CAW ends blockade of GM Canada headquarters]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/caw-ends-blockade-of-gm-canada-headquarters/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/caw-ends-blockade-of-gm-canada-headquarters/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/caw-ends-blockade-of-gm-canada-headquarters/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Canadian Auto Workers union and General Motors have been less than friendly with one another since the automaker announced it would be closing its Oshawa Truck plant, and the union promises to "fight on" despite ending a 13-day protest/blockade that prevented some 900 GM employees from going to work at the company's Canadian headquarters. It took a court injunction to end the blockade, but union representatives say they are planning their next move to stop GM from closing Oshawa Truck, which employs around 2,600 workers. But with truck sales tanking on account of high gas prices and less new home construction in the U.S., it seems unlikely the General will change its mind to scuttle the plant. There is talk of converting it to produce passenger cars in the near future, but even if the decision were made to do so today, the plant would still be closed for one to two years before it reopened. For now, however, GM's white collar workers in Canada can get back to work without enduring the rank and file gauntlet.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Photo by Simon Hayter/Getty]

CAW ends blockade of GM Canada headquarters originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockadeCAWCAW blockadeCawBlockadeGMOshawa TruckOshawaTruckstrikeUnionMon, 16 Jun 2008 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[GM Canada suing CAW for C$1.5 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-canada-suing-caw-for-c-1-5-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-canada-suing-caw-for-c-1-5-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-canada-suing-caw-for-c-1-5-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hold on to your britches folks. General Motors dealings with the Canadian Auto Workers union just took another turn for the worse. GM, like every other full-line automaker selling vehicles in the United States, has been unable to move as many pickup trucks as it had hoped since the price of gas has spiked. In response to the shifting tide of vehicle sales and to slow the huge financial hemorrhaging, GM announced about eight days ago that it would be closing four plants that build trucks and SUVs, including one in Oshawa, Ontario. Unfortunately, the General had recently promised to keep that particular plant open for a few more years, so the announcement more than irked the Union officials from up north.

Here's where things get real ugly. In retaliation, the CAW has blockaded the entrance to the GM headquarters in Canada for the last eight days. As you might imagine, GM has a slight problem with this and has taken the matter to court, where documents reveal that the automaker wants C$250,000 from the local union and five of its members for a total of $1.5 million in damages. We're not sure if this impending lawsuit will impact the Union's plans for a rally this Thursday in the parking lot of the Oshawa headquarters, but it's probably safe to say that this situation won't have a happy ending.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

GM Canada suing CAW for C$1.5 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockadecanadacanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawgmontariooshawaoshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantunionWed, 11 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST