Oshawa Consolidated Line Looks Set To Remain Closed As CAW Talks Drag On
The Windsor Star is reporting that the CAW “has all but given up” on trying to re-open the Oshawa Consolidated line that was closed earlier this year. The Star quotes CAW President Ken Lewenza as saying
“We’re going to keep raising it until the deal is done…But the reality is vehicle production is based on market and market is based on capacity and GM told us they don’t need the capacity.”
The Consolidated line, which built the Chevrolet Impala, and handled some Chevrolet Equinox production, was shuttered as GM sent production of the two vehicles to the United States, where labor costs are cheap (drastically so, in the case of the Tennessee plant which will now build the Equinox).
The CAW is hoping to secure “restructuring benefits”, such as buyouts, for the 2,000 workers on the line. GM apparently promised to abide by the terms of the 2009 bailout, which states that 16 percent of their North American production must remain in Canada – the closing of the Consolidated line means that GM would only be at 13 percent, leaving open the question of where the extra capacity will come from.
More by Derek Kreindler
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@28-Cars-Later As of right now, Oshawa consolidated runs 3 shifts Impala. With the Equinox gone, we lose third shift in October, afternoons is axed in mid January,an the plant closes June? Just to put into perspective. It looks like we may get a third on the flex line. That would put Oshawa hourly head count around 3200? I started in 1972 head count was 20,000.
The thing is that GM isn't selling these things, thankfully. It would be nice if they would pull the consolidated and put in a flexline. Oshawa's rep is second to none. We need to keep it going.
Not to worry Canada. GM can build it in China with the bailout money and keep the big shots here at home and overpay them.
The CAW, in its usual boneheaded fashion, is determined to have the auto industry's highest paid unemployed members. Ken Lewenza doesn't know or won't acknowledge his world has changed. He can't bully private sector employers anymore. They'll keep packing up their stuff and leaving. The money the taxpayers paid to save their butts will be lost. Watch for the American brand automakers to transfer more operations to U.S. and Mexican plants until there's nothing left. In ten years they'll all be gone. When the last unionista walks out of the last unionized Canadian auto plant the union bosses will still have their jobs and perks, and Lewenza will blame Prime Minister Harper.