CAW says GM Canada concession expectations too high

[CHIMO]

Source: REUTERS

TORONTO, May 15 (Reuters) - The president of the Canadian Auto Workers said on Friday the union cannot possibly meet General Motors Corp's (GM.N) expectations for union concessions, but that the two sides would continue bargaining.

Ken Lewenza, speaking to CBC News, said GM was looking for more concessions than the union recently made to Chrysler, and that the number of pensioners at GM compounds the problem.

The government of Canada has set a midnight Friday deadline for the CAW and GM Canada to reach a cost savings deal to help the company qualify for taxpayer-funded loans.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSTOD00407720090515

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Whose side are you on, whose side are you on....

Both sides must dig deep as GM, CAW face deadline: Harper, McGuinty
"Our message has been clear throughout this entire period to all stakeholders," said Harper, "and we're not just talking about unions. We're talking about management, we're talking about bondholders and financial institutions."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/15/gm-canada-caw-talks497.html


Again: Whose side are you on...

One whole load of crap. The politicans know it is going down the drain. They hide behind the high wages of the unions.

They should realizes that the Mac jobs will make them into Mac clients. No servive, no perks, no nothing. Period.

[Oerdin]

1. Here's a sad but unavoidable fact.

If bankruptcy happens then the CAW is last on this list. Basically they have a gun to their head and they have no bargaining position. I don't like it but that's the hard fact of the matter.

[CHIMO]

2. Yep

And so then is NAFTA. The Auto Pact is gone and they were relying on NAFTA. With this nail in the coffin it looks to me that Canada will start rebuilding its manufacturing capabilities.

The interim will be hard though.

[florida08]

3. this is about union pay

reducing pay to Walmart size. Fiat wants Chrysler to cut more labor cuts too. I wish they'd tell them to take a hike.

[TaxCollector]

4. Canadian Auto Plants

It does not really make much sense to manufacture automobiles in Canada. It is more effective to do that on our side of the border. There is too much messing around with customs, backups for auto parts haulers waiting to cross the bridges, etc. Canada should stick to lumber, mining, wheat, fishing, and stuff like that which plays to their strengths.