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[New contract between Ford and UAW voted down over weekend]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/new-contract-between-ford-and-uaw-voted-down-over-weekend/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/new-contract-between-ford-and-uaw-voted-down-over-weekend/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/new-contract-between-ford-and-uaw-voted-down-over-weekend/#commentsFiled under: ,



What's good for the goose may be good for the gander, but what works for one country or automaker doesn't necessarily work for another. So while the Canadian Auto Workers union may have approved a new agreement with Ford, below the 49th parallel their compatriots apparently feel otherwise.

Up for ratification over the past week and into the weekend was a proposal that would essentially grant Ford the same measures that unionized auto workers extended to Chrysler and General Motors in the midst of their bankruptcy proceedings. The measures include limitations placed on the unionized workers' rights to strike for increased wages and benefits, as well as a reduction in paid vacation time, a broad wage freeze as well as one on cost-of-living adjustments and increased employee contributions towards insurance and pensions. The agreement would also allow the automaker more flexibility in shifting jobs around, and in exchange the workers expected more jobs to be created - or at least fewer to be lost.

Some union leaders pleaded with their constituents that ratification of the deal was essential to keeping all three of the Detroit automakers on an even keel, thereby maintaining a common ground on which to build negotiations for the future. However as voting drew to a close across the country this weekend, UAW members at three of Ford's largest U.S. plants - the Dearborn Truck Plant, Romeo Engine Plant and UAW Local 862 representing the Louisville Assembly Plant and Kentucky Truck Plant - all voted against the new contract, making its passage now virtually impossible.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]

New contract between Ford and UAW voted down over weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawcontractcontract negotiationsContractNegotiationsfo mo coFoMoCoFordford motor companyFordMotorCompanynegotiationratifyuawunionUnited Auto WorkersUnitedAutoWorkersMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: GM reaches deal with Canadian Auto Workers union]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/report-gm-reaches-deal-with-canadian-auto-workers-union/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/report-gm-reaches-deal-with-canadian-auto-workers-union/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/22/report-gm-reaches-deal-with-canadian-auto-workers-union/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After two weeks of intense negotiations, General Motors Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union have reached a deal that will help the automaker cut costs, allowing it to meet the terms for additional government loans. Ken Lewenza, head of the CAW, said it was "a struggle" to reach a deal with GM, but he added that the union had done the best it could under the circumstances, saying: "we have protected most of our core benefits."

Wages, pensions and most benefits were preserved, although restructured in some instances. The union's pension rates will be frozen until 2015, for instance. The deal also keeps GM's plants in Oshawa, St. Catharines and Woodstock open for the foreseeable future. In total, it is believed that the new deal will result in $15 to $16 hourly wage savings on average. The announcement comes a day after the UAW reached a deal of its own with GM.

Although a different agreement was signed with the CAW in March, it had been rejected by the provincial and federal governments who wanted more cost-cutting to avoid bankruptcy. Although GM now appears to be heading in the same direction as Chrysler, hopefully there will be enough progress before the June 1 deadline to keep Chapter 11 a viable option. All told, the recent deals mean that 16 GM factories will close and an additional 21,000 hourly workers will be out of a job.

[Source: CTV]

REPORT: GM reaches deal with Canadian Auto Workers union originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgm bailoutgm bankruptcyGmBailoutGmBankruptcyKen LewenzaKenLewenzauawFri, 22 May 2009 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[GM warns UAW and Treasury deals won't be done in time]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/gm-warns-uaw-and-treasury-deals-wont-be-done-in-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/gm-warns-uaw-and-treasury-deals-wont-be-done-in-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/gm-warns-uaw-and-treasury-deals-wont-be-done-in-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Not that it should come as a major shock to anyone paying attention over the last few weeks, but in a regulatory filing submitted by General Motors on Tuesday, the beleaguered automaker has admitted that it's unlikely to have acceptable deals negotiated with the either the United Auto Workers or Canadian Auto Workers unions before the previously announced deadline of May 27.

Equally as unsurprising are rumors that GM's plan to begin importing 50,000+ cars from China by 2014 is one of the major stumbling blocks in UAW negotiations. Other sticking points surely include how best to slash the desired $1 billion in annual labor costs that the two parties reportedly targeted and how to fund the Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association (VEBA) health care trust.

Furthermore, the Detroit Free Press is reporting that CAW union leaders are upset at the way they are being treated in negotiations. A flier passed out to Canadian union workers had this to say:
"Because the Canadian and U.S. governments are planning a joint effort to support GM's restructuring, we now face a dangerous attempt to enforce a 'cookie-cutter' approach on our bargaining. This philosophy is absolutely offensive to us as Canadians."
More than ever before, it seems almost a foregone conclusion that GM will file for bankruptcy on June 1st. Hold on tight, this promises to be a wild ride.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

GM warns UAW and Treasury deals won't be done in time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The April 30th deadline to reorganize looms larger by the second, and Chrysler is scrambling to make deals that could theoretically help it stave off a bankruptcy filing next week. For that to happen. Chrysler needs to get concessions from labor unions and lenders that make the financial situation palatable enough for Fiat to step in and make the automaker "financially viable" in the eyes of the President's auto industry task force. To that end, it appears that the contentious situation north of the border between the automaker and the Canadian Auto Workers union has ended in an agreement -- not that the CAW brass sounds particularly happy about it. Follow the jump for the rundown of what the proposed deal entails.

Continue reading Let's Make a Deal: Chrysler, Canadian Auto Workers agree on union concessions

Let's Make a Deal: Chrysler, Canadian Auto Workers agree on union concessions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankruptcybreakingcanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawchryslerconcessionsdealfiatreorganizationSat, 25 Apr 2009 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[CAW President Lewenza issues address responding to Nardelli/Lasorda letter]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/caw-president-lewenza-issues-address-responding-to-nardelli-laso/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/caw-president-lewenza-issues-address-responding-to-nardelli-laso/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/caw-president-lewenza-issues-address-responding-to-nardelli-laso/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The top dogs at Chrysler sent a letter to the Canadian Auto Workers union that essentially said that the automaker needed wage concessions of $19 per hour, or else it was Game Over. As a further way to apply pressure, Chrysler's letter frequently referenced the U.S. and Canadian governments as heavies, all of them now waiting for the CAW to provide the necessary "support."

In response, CAW members burned the letter, but not before making notes so it could pen a response of its own. In an official response, CAW President Ken Lewenza calls Chrysler's missive "the most offensive attempt yet" to undermine the CAW, then decries statements made by the Canadian government about the situation. He follows that with a point-by-point defense of the CAW's cost and efficiency, and accuses Chrysler of not only playing with the numbers, but of changing the rules every time a game is agreed upon.

He finishes by stating that instead of looking at the CAW, Chrysler should be speaking to its bondholders who, so far, appear to have been left out of game of sacrifice. You can read those and the rest of his thoughts in the full letter after the jump. Hat tip to Bob!

[Source: CAW]

Continue reading CAW President Lewenza issues address responding to Nardelli/Lasorda letter

CAW President Lewenza issues address responding to Nardelli/Lasorda letter originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutcanadaCanadian Auto WorkersCanadianAutoWorkerscawchryslerken lewenzaKenLewenzalewenzamanufacturingunionunionsMon, 20 Apr 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Tuesday deadline for Chrysler Canada to make CAW deal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/29/canadian-govt-sets-tuesday-deadline-for-chrysler-to-make-caw-de/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



After declaring that the deal GM struck with the Canadian Auto Workers union wasn't nearly good enough, Chrysler has threatened to pull out of Canada if cannot come to an agreement with the CAW by Tuesday, March 31. Making matters even more pressing is the fact that the Canadian government has set the same deadline for Chrysler's Canadian operations to receive government money. If the CAW and Chrysler don't agree on something, the Canadian treasury closes up the vault.

As of Friday, the two sides were still $12-per-hour away from a deal. Chrysler says it needs a $19-per-hour reduction in labor costs, the CAW says its workers are more efficient than their American counterparts at a $7-per-hour drop. The CAW also claims that Chrysler's negotiators would appear to agree to certain things, and then return to the table with a different set of demands. The theory is that chaperon Cerberus is overruling the negotiators' positions.

Chrysler's response is "Although we made progress toward 'closing the gap', significant issues related to the existing 'pattern' remain on the table. These are not normal business circumstances and all Chrysler constituents have been asked to 'break pattern.'" As for the Canadian government, it has said it "isn't married" to the Tuesday deadline, but it's obvious they don't plan to stand around with a bag of money indefinitely. Hat tip to Dan

[Source: CBC News]


Tuesday deadline for Chrysler Canada to make CAW deal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the worker standoff at Aradco, the Canadian supplier of engine mounts to Chrysler? The automaker had said that the dispute would need to be settled by the end of the week - that would be today, of course - and that's exactly what has happened. According to Canadian Driver, an agreement has been reached between the Canadian Auto Workers union employees and the automaker that sees the displaced employees repaid most of what they were owed, which they claim included a total of $1.7 million in severance, termination and vacation pay.

Even though this particular event had a mostly happy ending, union officials in Canada have scolded Chrysler for allowing it to happen in the first place. With a possible bankruptcy looming over two of America's major automakers, this is a salient point that could be revisited time and time again until things get back on track. In Canada's case, though, the country could just lose Chrysler's manufacturing presence altogether.

[Source: Canadian Driver]

Worker standoff at Chrysler supplier plant ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to The Canadian Press, Chrysler may elect to pull all manufacturing operations out of Canada if it cannot come to an agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers by month's end. The embattled automaker is looking negotiating with the CAW in part to reduce wages from an average of $76 to $57, and as part of a contingency plan/ bargaining chip, it is reportedly architecting a wholesale pullout from America's northern neighbors.

The pullout would jeopardize some 10,000 jobs at the company's two plants in Ontario and another facility in Toronto. It would also mean that production would have to shift (or end) for a number of key Chrysler products, including the company's minivans (and Volkswagen's Routan), as well as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger. The likely alternatives, say analysts, would be to push minivan production back to the St. Louis plant that produced them up until last year, and potentially move the LX-platform cars to facilities in Michigan or Mexico,

For its part, Chrysler is looking for more concessions from the CAW than was recently given to rival General Motors last week. That labor agreement reportedly cut labor costs by around $7 an hour - far short of what Chrysler says it needs to return to profitability. Part of those concessions could come in the form of benefit cuts, as in several areas CAW employees enjoy even better benefits than their UAW counterparts. According to The Canadian Press, CAW workers receive a maximum of six weeks paid vacation (versus five for UAW workers), as well as "substantially more break time per shift." Of course, the automaker's benefit costs are kept down because of Canada's socialized medicine.

If Chrysler does decide to pull its manufacturing base out of Canada, it could risk a countrywide consumer boycott, so watch for Auburn Hills to tread carefully as it negotiates with CAW officials. Either way, expect some sort of resolution by month's end, lest it risk passing deadlines for the further $2.3 billion in aid it expects. Top tip, LIP!

[Source: The Canadian Press via Wheels.ca | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

REPORT: Chrysler considering pulling out of Canada originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auburn HillsAuburnHillsCanadian Auto WorkersCanadianAutoWorkersCAWChryslerNegotiationsOntarioTorontoUAWUnionWed, 18 Mar 2009 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[GM Canada workers approve contract concessions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/gm-canada-workers-approve-contract-concessions/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/gm-canada-workers-approve-contract-concessions/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/gm-canada-workers-approve-contract-concessions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Canadian Auto Workers union has ratified a new contract with General Motors that should help substantially reduce the automaker's operating costs in Canada. The template of the agreement is very similar to the one reached here in the U.S. between Ford and the UAW recently.

CAW said 87% of its GM workers voted to accept frozen wages, paying more for health care and losing some paid time off, among other rollbacks. However, the cuts won't take effect until Canada's government finalizes and distributes aid money to General Motors. The U.S. automaker has asked the Canadian government and province of Ontario for up to C$7 billion ($5.4 billion) in loans.

UPDATE: GM's official statement included after the jump.

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

Continue reading GM Canada workers approve contract concessions

GM Canada workers approve contract concessions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawfinancialgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmunionsThu, 12 Mar 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[CAW concessions could pave way for Canadian GM bailout]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/08/caw-concessions-could-pave-way-for-canadian-gm-bailout/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/08/caw-concessions-could-pave-way-for-canadian-gm-bailout/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/08/caw-concessions-could-pave-way-for-canadian-gm-bailout/#commentsFiled under: ,

Reuters reports that the Canadian Auto Workers leadership and General Motors Canada have agreed on a set of union concessions that, if approved by CAW members, could clear the way for both the Canadian federal and Ontario local governments to furnish the cash-starved automaker with billions more in bailout dollars. According to Reuters, the union has agreed to swallow a wage freeze through 2012, reduced vacation time, and higher co-pays on their benefits plans. These changes would come on top of proposed pay reductions for both executives and regular salaried workers, plus benefits cuts for the latter.

GM hopes that the combined white-and blue-collar savings will be enough to convince Canadian officials to open up the coffers. For its part, the CAW says it'll use the GM negotiations as a model for how it'll deal with the other automakers seeking similar concessions. The Canadian developments come after a week in which the big story was GM's auditors' gloomy outlook on the company's ability to contintinue as a going concern. Stay tuned for another active news cycle this week as President Obama's auto industry task force heads to Detroit for powwows with automaker and union leaders. Everyone is in scramble mode right now because both GM and Chrysler need more money by the end of this month in order to keep the lights on. Thanks to Jarrett for the tip!

[Source: Reuters]

CAW concessions could pave way for Canadian GM bailout originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aidbailoutcanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawgm canadaGmCanadaontariorescueSun, 08 Mar 2009 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[GM and CAW reach deal over truck plant closure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-and-caw-reach-deal-over-truck-plant-closure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-and-caw-reach-deal-over-truck-plant-closure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/gm-and-caw-reach-deal-over-truck-plant-closure/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In a deal designed to assuage the tensions between General Motors and the Canadian Auto Workers union, GM's new car plant in Oshawa, Ontario will gain two additional models to build. The old truck plant in the same city, though, will still close sometime in 2009. Until then, the truck plant will continue to assemble hybrid versions of GM's full-size pickup trucks. The new Oshawa plant will begin building GM's long-anticipated Camaro revival and will also get some Chevrolet Impala production and an unnamed Buick model at some point in the future.

In addition to the extra work at the brand new Oshawa plant, displaced workers with at least 26 years of GM employment will get a percentage of their yearly salary, even after the plant has closed, until they have reached the necessary 30-year mark for retirement. Other qualifying ex-employees will get buyout packages of some sort. Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

[Source: CBC News]

GM and CAW reach deal over truck plant closure originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camarocanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawimpalaontariooshawaoshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantMon, 28 Jul 2008 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Buzz Hargrove will step down early]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/buzz-hargrove-will-step-down-early/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/buzz-hargrove-will-step-down-early/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/buzz-hargrove-will-step-down-early/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers, Canada's largest in the private sector, will step down earlier than anticipated. Hargrove wasn't expected to retire until he reached the CAW's mandatory age of 65 next year. It's tough to resist the allure of cuddling with Yorkies, Bingo every Monday night, and shuffleboard to fill in those long, wistful hours recalling the glory days of torquing valve covers in Windsor, so Hargrove has accelerated his departure to mid-September. No replacement candidate has been named yet, though an endorsee will be announced later today. Come this fall, keep an eye out on the golf courses of Florida for a relaxed looking guy drinking a Molson, eh?

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req, Photo: media.canada.com]

Buzz Hargrove will step down early originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buzz hargrovebuzz hargrove cawbuzz hargrove retirementbuzz hargrove unionBuzzHargroveBuzzHargroveCawBuzzHargroveRetirementBuzzHargroveUnioncanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawhargrove retirementHargroveRetirementTue, 08 Jul 2008 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[GM may add car line to closing Canadian truck plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-may-add-car-line-to-closing-canadian-truck-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-may-add-car-line-to-closing-canadian-truck-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/gm-may-add-car-line-to-closing-canadian-truck-plant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Despite rising tensions (and a lawsuit) between General Motors and the Canadian Auto Workers union, the automaker may be interested in adding a new car line at its soon-to-closed truck plant in Oshawa, Ontario. Though that plant was originally scheduled to stay open a few more years, slumping sales of full-size trucks built there have forced GM to announce its early closure along with three other pickup and SUV plants. Since that announcement, union workers have barricaded GM Canada's headquarters for the last eight days in protest, which we'd imagine might make it difficult for GM management to negotiate with union officials... but what do we know?

According to The Detroit News, however, GM has been talking with Ontario's Economic Development and Trade Minister, Sandra Pupatello, who says that the government is very interested in securing the new vehicle line as quickly as possible. Even if a decision is made in short order, it is likely the plant's 2,600 workers would be out of work for up to two years after the closes and before its ready again with new tooling for a passenger car line.

[Source: The Detroit News]

GM may add car line to closing Canadian truck plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacanadian auto workerscanadian unionCanadianAutoWorkersCanadianUnioncawgmontariooshawaoshawa ontariooshawa plantOshawaOntarioOshawaPlantunionWed, 11 Jun 2008 18:59:00 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<![CDATA[In the bag: CAW reaches deal with Big 3 four months early]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/in-the-bag-caw-reaches-deal-with-big-3-four-months-early/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/in-the-bag-caw-reaches-deal-with-big-3-four-months-early/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/in-the-bag-caw-reaches-deal-with-big-3-four-months-early/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Shortly after reaching an agreement with Ford, the Canadian Auto Workers union announced the rather surprising news that it had reached tentative agreements with both General Motors and Chrysler. These deals come about four months before the deadline for a deal was to be hit and stand in stark contrast to the protracted negotiations that recently took place between the Big Three and the CAW's American counterpart, the UAW. Under the new deal, GM promises to keep its Oshawa, Ontario plant open until 2012 and offers buyouts worth up to $125,000 to workers at the Windsor transmission plant, which will soon be shut down. Chrysler, for its part, agreed to continue producing minivans at its Windsor assembly site, continue producing the 300C in Brampton, Ontario and keep its Toronto casting plant open until 2011.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove calls the tentative deals "a win-win" for both the union workers and the automakers. Union workers in Canada will get the chance to vote on the contracts later this month. A GM vote is planned for Friday, May 16. Chrysler's contract vote will follow on Saturday, May 17.

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

In the bag: CAW reaches deal with Big 3 four months early originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buzz hargrovebuzz-hargroveBuzzHargrovecanadian auto workersCanadianAutoWorkerscawchryslergeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmunionFri, 16 May 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GM announces plan to close Windsor transmission plant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/gm-announces-plan-to-close-windsor-transmission-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/gm-announces-plan-to-close-windsor-transmission-plant/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/gm-announces-plan-to-close-windsor-transmission-plant/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When the second quarter of 2010 rolls along, 1,400 workers at General Motor's Windsor transmission factory will be out of work. The plant, which currently produces four-speed gearboxes for GM, will be phased out at the turn of the decade, with no plans to retool the facility to produce any other components. GM's Canada President, Arturo Elias, made it clear in the announcement that the decision was not a "reflection on our excellent Windsor workforce," but instead is due to a lack of available, "replacement products in the relevant timeframe for this location." Fortunately or unfortunately, today's announcement of the plant's closing takes place as the General negotiates a new contract with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union.

[Source: Detroit News]

GM announces plan to close Windsor transmission plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 May 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've been hearing for some time now that Buzz Hargrove and the CAW didn't want to have anything to do with the two-tier wage structure or health car plans that the UAW agreed to. Before the landmark labor contracts were ratified in the States, American auto manufacturers enjoyed the cheaper cost of building cars in Canada, and because that difference in manufacturing cost was no longer a factor, it appeared that the CAW and Detroit could be in for a long and messy fight. That may not be the case, though, as word comes from our unionized-friends up north that the CAW and Ford have already agreed in principle to the major points of their upcoming contract, a whopping five months ahead of schedule.

According to Automotive News, the union is expecting a deal to be done by the end of the week. We can surmise that the deal does not include a multi-tiered wage structure, though. "We were not going to do a tier-two and if Ford had insisted it would have resulted in a fight," says Hargrove. The CAW did, however, agree to give up 40 hours of vacation time per year, a supplemental health care fund and a reduced entry-wage for new-hires. Ford will compensate CAW workers with a single payment of $3,500 for the lost vacation time and a $2,200 bonus if the contract is ratified at the plant-level. Ford also promises to keep the St. Thomas plant open until at least 2011 as opposed to the current plan of 2010. See the press release after the break for all the juicy details.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req., CAW]

Continue reading CAW reaches deal with Ford five months early

CAW reaches deal with Ford five months early originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buzz hargrovebuzz-hargroveBuzzHargrovecanadian auto workerscanadian unioncanadian-auto-workerscanadian-unionCanadianAutoWorkersCanadianUnioncawfordWed, 30 Apr 2008 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/22/canadian-union-calls-chryslers-actions-stupid/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Buzz Hargrove isn't mincing words about his opinion of Chrysler LLC's strategy. Calling the decision to send the Magnum and Pacifica models out to pasture and cut shifts and jobs at the Brampton, Ontario plant "stupid," Hargrove has said the Canadian Auto Workers aren't interested in the type of concessions the UAW recently agreed to. While the UAW is allowing new hires to be given a lower pay level, as well as taking on a health care trust fund, the CAW will be having none of that, according to Hargrove.

Cuts were expected, but Chrysler's recent scaling back is more than necessary, according to Hargrove, who counters that what the company's really trying to do is reduce supply in order to drive up demand and keep prices higher. It sounds like a good way to make the automaker profitable, thinning the lineup and trimming overproduction. The problem, according to The Buzz, is that Chrysler's plan is anathema to the long union tradition of providing jobs that pay well enough to allow a solid middle class life for autoworkers. With the pay cuts, Hargrove says that autoworkers will no longer be able to afford to buy the cars they build. The recent fall of the dollar isn't helping matters, and will likely give Chrysler another point to argue when asking for concessions. The Canadian Auto Workers will begin duking it out with Detroit in July, so expect the rhetoric to become even more heated in the months to come.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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]

Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove responds to strike originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Things are not looking good for American automakers' plants in Windsor, Ontario. Canadian Auto Workers Union head Buzz Hargrove was upset when Ford shut down a plant in Windsor a while back, and now he's directing his frustration towards General Motors. Recently, St. Catherines, also in Canada and represented by the CAW, was awarded a new contract to build transmissions for GM. St. Catherines had never had a contract to build transmissions for GM before, and the CAW was expecting the Windsor plant to get that contract. The Windsor plant now has no product to build and nothing in the pipeline, and Hargrove is threatening more than just a strike: a total take-down of General Motors. The union would like to see a new product there, not something that will take another plant down in lieu of Windsor. Read more about that here. We'll give you a few choice phrases from Hargrove and Chris Buckley, president of Local 222, after the jump. They sound pretty serious about this, as you'll read.

[Source: The Windsor Star via Autospies]

Continue reading CAW Union head Buzz Hargrove threatens to take GM down in '08 if...

CAW Union head Buzz Hargrove threatens to take GM down in '08 if... originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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