Topic: GM closing Oshawa truck plant

[barrie1]

Its funny how just a month ago it was proven on here that GM Canada had a cost advantage of slightly over $5.00 per hour versus the worker in the US. UNtil just recently it was more then $15.00 per hour but due to the rising dollar the no.s have changed. They have too many plants producing p/u trucks at the moment even tho Canada does build the best quality builds of them. Buzz has done nothing wrong at all but some folks are just jealous as he has made other folks good money in the trades but they don't earn the same amounts at all. 

[rrocket]

^^^^You have that backwards my friend.  A month ago it was proven that Canada is $5 MORE per hour than in the US to build cars.  That was according to the CAWs economist.  And that was before the new contract in the US and before the continue rising dollar.  So it's much worse now. And once the healthcare costs are completely unloaded....things won't be rosy for our autoworkers....

[JBrill]

Ottawa wants to help GM build new car in Oshawa

Ok, I didn't count on the Feds to step up (Ford in Windsor being the precedent) but I'm sure GM knows Ontario is desperate to keep jobs and more money/concessions will come their way by playing the "I'm moving the plant" card.  Expecting the CAW announcement in the next 7-10 days.

[EV Dan]

"willing to use the government's $250-million Automotive Innovation Fund...to help start production of a third car at the plant"

Thats putting out fire with gas. "innovative" means featuring new methods and original ideas. There is nothing new or original in making a GM car to substitute some truck production. When gas reaches over 2 bucks that car will need to go as well. So its a big tax money waste.
What would be innovative is say getting a contract with Th!nk (no pun intended) to make the car in Oshawa and investing the rest into building a new battery plant together with A123 or whoever else GM finds worthy in that field.
..but they will do as always, having along the road Zenn survive on their own, being not allowed to even sell the EVs here.

[UmroAyyar]

Use the incentives to entice some company wanting to build cars here. Won't that be better with future in mind?

GM is doing what it needs to do to survive, the high volumes aren't there, they're scaling back production.

[tpl]

The govs were trying to get VW to build here and they did not succeed. I wonder if a ready made factory and available workforce would make it worth trying again.

My preference would be having  Citroen/Peugeot  or Renault(with Nissan)  come back into our NA market and start building cars here..... or even Fiat. 

[UmroAyyar]

The govs were trying to get VW to build here and they did not succeed. I wonder if a ready made factory and available workforce would make it worth trying again.

My preference would be having  Citroen/Peugeot  or Renault(with Nissan)  come back into our NA market and start building cars here..... or even Fiat. 

There were some murmurs about Fiat and the ontario premier flew to Italy to meet Fiat officials.

Fiat 500 and the luscious Alfa Romeo should be built here. 

Our workforce is the only one entrusted to build Lexus vehicles outside of Japan. GM's highest quality production is here.

[ktm525]

Buzzzzzzzz was just on the radio doing an interview with a local talk show host. He didn't seem to comprehend that it was GM 's plant and they can do as they choose. He kept saying "no compromise" and that they will "force" GM to keep the plant open.  

[Wetson]

Use the incentives to entice some company wanting to build cars here. Won't that be better with future in mind?

GM is doing what it needs to do to survive, the high volumes aren't there, they're scaling back production.

I couldn't have said it better myself.   

[initial_D]

Buzzzzzzzz was just on the radio doing an interview with a local talk show host. He didn't seem to comprehend that it was GM 's plant and they can do as they choose. He kept saying "no compromise" and that they will "force" GM to keep the plant open.  

Chain themselves on the floor, preventing the doors to close?

[ghost]

Use the incentives to entice some company wanting to build cars here. Won't that be better with future in mind?

GM is doing what it needs to do to survive, the high volumes aren't there, they're scaling back production.

I couldn't have said it better myself.   

Bring in TATA!

[Rupert]

Is it the wage levels and pension incentives here that is causing the trouble. If it is how do remunerations compare here and in Mexico. Surely it takes a long time to transfer production to another company let alone another country, which must mean that this move has been in the cards for years.

[dougjp]

Is it the wage levels and pension incentives here that is causing the trouble. If it is how do remunerations compare here and in Mexico. Surely it takes a long time to transfer production to another company let alone another country, which must mean that this move has been in the cards for years.

No it isn't a transfer of production. Its a change in the type of vehicles produced that nets out to being a country move.

[safristi]

why does everyone get their TRANNYs inna twist when  a BIG RICH company hits a BRICK WALL..........didn't we all hear that MOST new Jobbies come from small companies...NOBODY (sorry Mel adjusted Mayor shrimp!!!)....cares about the engine of commerce ...then ??

[mrthompson]

I was watching the local news last night, and a reporter interviewed some GM employees at the headquarters blockade.  One employee interviewed has been there 20 years and makes $32/hour.  He only has a Grade 12 level education.  This guy will be screwed when looking for another job.  There's no way he'll get a non-union/non-Big 3 job that will pay anywhere near that amount.

I've been working for 8 years and have a college education.  I do not make as much as this dude. 

[safristi]

..Do I have an Yob fer U.......only wan emission control to captain Tom per diem...did ya go to HARD_YARD?/....call us............an are ya prepared ta BUZZ it OFF....

[Rupert]

How much does a Mexican worker earn doing this job. If the difference is $24/hr. then the payroll drops by almost $100,000,000 per year for 2000 employees. Maybe there is more to it.

[tenpenny]

Considering the various things that were said in Ontario over the years about Maritimers, and the Newfoundland Cod Fishery, then I guess all I can say is, you lazy GM workers have to get over your culture of entitlement, get out of these cyclical businesses, and move to where the jobs are.  The rest of the country shouldn't have to subsidize you just because you donn't want to change when the world economy changes.

There's work in Alberta, get out on the road.

[safristi]

..Alberta !!!   COD awful weffer!!!!!...aye casted a beaut....an it woz nowhere near a smackerall......buts i hauled inna nice pair O' knickers off tha neighbours....

[Ex-airbalancer]

Considering the various things that were said in Ontario over the years about Maritimers, and the Newfoundland Cod Fishery, then I guess all I can say is, you lazy GM workers have to get over your culture of entitlement, get out of these cyclical businesses, and move to where the jobs are.  The rest of the country shouldn't have to subsidize you just because you donn't want to change when the world economy changes.

There's work in Alberta, get out on the road.

I do not think you heard people from Ontario bad mouth the people from the Maritimers ( I think there probably more Newfoundlander's in the GTA then St John's)
I have work will a lot of hard working Maritimers.