CAW Approves Strike Mandate As Talks Resume Today
Updated: September 12th, 2012
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Members of the Canadian Auto Workers union have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike mandate as talks between the union and the Big Three resumed today.
Workers at Chrysler, General Motors and Ford were 99, 98 and 97 percent in favor of striking respectively. The CAW hasn’t gone on strike since 1996, but President Ken Lewenza’s stated promise of no further worker concessions, along with a strong desire to cut costs by the auto makers, will inevitably lead to tough negotiations.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Relax dudes, this is a mandate for a strike not an actual strike. I have no love for the CAW but what's the point of sending in a negotiating team into contract talks without some leverage even if you hope like hell that you don't actually have to use it. It's what unions do. The real issue is what the union feels it can recommend to the membership to accept if anything, and then whether the membership accept it or not. Only then will we know if the CAW really has their finger on the pulse of the industry. Intersting times.
When the last unionista walks out of the last unionized Canadian auto plant the union bosses will still have their jobs and perks. Mexico is smiling today.
My union always votes to authorize a strike, and it has never striked (stricken? stroke? striciceed?) in its history. This is necessary posturing. It is too early to say if it will ever be more than that.
Don't take this wrong, everybody; but Unions have had their day, IMHO. Plus I truly love Canada. But let's be honest; with the Auto Pact (1965) and later NAFTA, the Canadians really did well over the prior 47 years - and now they've got to step up and share the pain. Or they will be in even more pain if they don't. Sergio; does Chrysler still 'possess' the rights to corporate structure which once was American Motors Corporation? AMC has obviously not had a union contract since 1987. I think the UAW has nothing to go on in terms of claiming it should have one. Here's a thought: re-establish AMC as a wholly owned contract auto manufacturing company in work-to-right states with a new factory, and simply move minivan and Chrysler 300 + Dodge Challenger production to the new facility. If Packard could build a brand new plant for the Rolls-Royce Merlin in a matter of a few months, you could do it too. But given the rush, you might have to forego 'perks' from the various states vying for the jobs. A great place to start would be the 'not chosen' sites which Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, etc., didn't take as their 1st choices.