Alternate Route

Nov 2, 2009 - What A Difference A Bridge Makes

In just two days of voting, the Canadian Auto Workers pulled off what the UAW was unable to do in weeks -- convince its membership to vote for yet another set of contract changes with Ford Motor Co.

Not only did they agree to the changes in the contract that put them in line with the deals with GM and Chrysler, they did so by voting 83% in favor as opposed to roughly the same percentage in opposition at the UAW plants.

Will Ford start to migrate work to Canadian plants?

It's not that long a trip over the Peace Bridge to the competetive side of the falls.

Read the entire article at freep.com

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Jun 8, 2008 - Caught In The Squeeze

Inbetween the proverbial rock and a hard place is where some GM workers find themselves.

Asian automakers outsold Detroit’s Big Three in the U.S. for the first time last month as fuel-conscious consumers shunned General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. trucks for Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas.

GM announced it will close its four North American truck plants by the end of 2010, possibly earlier if sales worsen, and also said it may drop its Hummer unit.

General Motors employees yesterday ramped up their protest efforts outside the automaker's truck and car plants in Oshawa, but union representatives say it's only the beginning.

"We've got all kinds of things up our sleeves," said Keith Osborne, union chair for GM's Oshawa complex, though he wouldn't comment on future plans for fear of tipping off the company.

I'm not sure what the union expects from GM here. Is the company supposed to continue making trucks that nobody wants? Or maybe they want GM to switch those plants over to building cars that they already have and don't need any more of.

There's a seismic change in the North American auto industry, and I'm not sure you can fight an earthquake.

Read more at TheStar.com and the Nashville City Paper

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Dec 10, 2007 - Woe Canada

Declining union membership is not limited to the United States. It's happening north of the border as well.

At Canadian automotive assembly plants, 100 per cent of workers 20 years ago belonged to unions. The number has dropped to 71 per cent and the opening of the Toyota plant in Woodstock will see it drop to 66 per cent.

In the parts industry, the CAW represents 25 per cent of workers, compared with 50 per cent in the 1990s.

In the 1990s, 30 per cent of private-sector workers belonged to unions compared with 17 per cent now.

In an effort to get more union membership, the CAW has struck a deal with parts supplier Magna.

The CAW and Magna reached a deal called a "framework of fairness" last month whereby about 18,000 workers at 45 company plants will have the chance to vote on first contracts. If they approve them, it would signify acceptance of the union.

In exchange, the sides agreed there would be no strikes or lockouts. They would resolve any disputes through binding arbitration.

The broader labour movement has condemned the controversial deal between the Canadian Auto Workers and Magna International Inc. that removes the right to strike from the union.

If we were talking sweatshops and meager wages, union membership would not be declining.

Read more in the London Free Press, TheStar.com Business, and TheStar.com News

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