General Motors To Keep Oshawa Consolidated Line Open Past 2014

by TTAC Staff

October 17th, 2013 10:38 AM

general motors to keep oshawa consolidated line open past 2014

A brief memo from General Motors Canada confirmed that the Oshawa consolidated line, scheduled to close in 2014, will stay open until 2016. GM is citing strong market demand for the Chevrolet Equinox and the outgoing, Chevrolet Impala (sold as a fleet-only model) as a reason for the decision, but cautioned that ” All scheduling adjustments are subject to market demand”.

Under the terms of the bailout, GM must keep 16 percent of its production in Canada until it has repaid its loan obligations to the Canadian government, or until December 31, 2016. After that date, the future of Oshawa is uncertain.

#Canada #Chevrolet #ChevroletEquinox #ChevroletImpala #Factory #GeneralMotors #GM #Oshawa #Production

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Big Al from Oz on Oct 17, 2013

Judging by the way GM Canada, CAW and even the UAW have influenced and managed themselves the factory will have to close in the medium term. Massive retirement funds are needed to be paid out to the Canadian workers very soon. Like I stated the cost of labour in Canada is higher than the US. The original $4 billion dollars has dwindled down to nearly nothing and is expected to run out in 2014. This money was part of the Ontario governments handout, of course at the tax payers expense. To cover the projected $800 million dollar pension bill debt in 2014 the manufacturer will have to raid its own money. I just hope GM foots the bill and doesn't expect hard working Canadians to pay extra tax to support them. This only lowers the standard of living for many. Maybe other unions should help their 'friends' and pay their pension not society and their taxes.

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Mikey on Oct 17, 2013

@BAFO....With all due respect. I was born and raised in Canada. I also spent 36 plus years at GM Canada. I was a member of the UAW and CAW. I watch and read the news daily. I take great pride in the fact that I stay informed. You sir, havnt got fuckin clue what your talking about.

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- El scotto on Oct 17, 2013
  
  + 1 BAFO makes me wonder how many post-college grads are living in their mom's basement. A Canadian who is a retired CAW worker as my source? Or a spurious four month old newspaper article that is supposed to be treated as automotive gospel? Newspapers are piss-pour sources of data; their job isn't to really report the news, but to sell newspapers. Anyone who doesn't understand that is a dumbass.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Oct 17, 2013
  
  @el scotto How many newspaper articles and links do you want? The cost issues of the CAW pensions has been around for a while. The government will again be needed to pay out the CAW pensions. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/09/with-liabilities-looming-gm-and-uaw-agree-to-pension-buyouts-but-what-about-the-workers/ Here's a cut and paste from the CAW site, with the link below. So the CAW is being bailed out. What a dumba$$ you are sunshine. "Update To GM Members - Pension Plan Funding Letter August 1, 2012 GM must put out an annual update on the funded status of the pension plan because they have special funding relief under the Ontario regulations." http://www.caw199.com/pension.html
  
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- Mikey on Oct 17, 2013
  
  @Big Al from Oz BAFO... I have that letter in front of me."Special funding relief"? That dates back to the early 90s. At that time GM asked the Ontario govt, if they could waive their mandatory pension fund contributions. The Ontario government at the time granted GMs request. After all GM was too big to fail. It came back to bite Ontario on the butt. BTW are you aware that both the CAW represented people,and the salary folks were impacted by that deal?
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Oct 17, 2013
  
  @DiM/Mikey That's from 1992. The CAW expects the Ontario government to provide more. Why? Because the CAW have made ridiculous demands that aren't affordable. Like I've always stated the unions make demands that are lacking in foresight and when the wheels fall of the cart who do they expect to pick up the pieces? The taxpayer. What about the other articles? Hmmmmm, Mikey, you kind of are in a corner, again.
  
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- Mikey on Oct 17, 2013
  
  @ BAFO ....forget it Dude...I'm not playing your game. I'm going to follow the lead of everybody else here, and just going to ignore you.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Oct 17, 2013
  
  @Mikey I'm sorry to here that. The people who have problems with me only provide opinion based on their bias. I provide opinion based on data and fact. I'm neither left or right. I assess accordingly. UAW/CAW tend to distort and reduce their involvement and those to the far right do the same. You guys always have the 'it the other guys fault, they made me do it'. Never accountable for you actions. I'm down the middle and independent. I make up my mind and not be lead.
  
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Big Al from Oz on Oct 17, 2013

@Mikey or DiM Here's the link, all you give is bull$hit, lie and spin. Typical auto worker tactic, deflect, distort and create ambiguity. Respect? If you guys had respect you wouldn't have made the past decisions you had. Or did you become sincere and learn integrity yesterday? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/angst-in-oshawa-the-foggy-road-ahead-for-gm-canada/article12755206/?page=all

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- Wmba on Oct 18, 2013
  
  Well, I read that Globe and Mail link, mate. Did you? It hardly backs up your white as a lily "I'm unbiased" proclamation. Quite the opposite: it shows that GM didn't pay its pension obligations at the time, finagled $4 billion out of the provincial government, and is now in a deep sulk that its obligations are coming due, because it doesn't want to pay them. GM Canada never went bankrupt, but apparently feels it shouldn't really have to pay pension obligations, and that Canada should have forgiven them like the US did. What this has to do with lying cheating unions is beyond me, but I'm sure you have the answer, lying there in NT with perpetual heat stroke and chiggers Disingenuousness - you are the very definition of it. Look it up, and read this time. Next time, provide links that bolster your viewpoint, not argue against it.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Oct 18, 2013
  
  @wmba 1. I did not state GM Canada went bankrupt. GM removed money from Canada and Australian operations to Detroit. Even now GM Australia wants the government to 'give' them 500 million to remain in Australia. Our government had strings attached and GM Detroit doesn't like the strings. Why? Because our new government expect results in return for the investment of taxpayer dollars. 2. If you read other links and articles you will see how the CAW has taken on the Ontario government to payout the pensions because the CAW don't think the 1992 changes to pension law are 'fair'. 3. wmba, I've had other discussions with you regarding the unions, you are pro union. You are a one of the left wingers. I'm not left or right. 4. Google this particular issue and read up on it, as I've stated there are a number of article pertaining to it. Read the article. Don't put your slant on it, read other related articles so you can a more balanced picture of what is going on. As I've stated this has been quite extensively covered by the media and even TTAC previously. Even if stories are a year old the situation is the CAW pension fund for GM Canada will run dry by 2014. The fund should be 'self' generating. GM Canada only contributes $200 million a year, it needs $800 million next year alone. Who will end up paying the $600 million. So who has been funding the $600 million per year shortfall? The CAW, doubt it. This also doesn't include the $170 million the Ontario government just gave GM to 'renovate' the Oshawa plant. How much taxpayer money is needed to keep these unviable operation going and to save how many jobs?
  
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Austin Greene on Oct 24, 2013

I wonder if the W body Impala will get a rear camera and nav?

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