Hybrid trucks to be built in Oshawa, CAW says

[doh]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

The Canadian Auto Workers union says General Motors has reversed its decision not to build any hybrid pickups in Oshawa, Ont., and will start assembling a hybrid truck this fall.

The company made the decision despite plans to close the truck plant there next year, CAW local 222 president Chris Buckley told CTV Newsnet on Saturday.

"It's a small win," Buckley said. "We need to take some larger steps to secure the jobs of our 2,600 members that will be affected (by the closure)."

The decision came out of a meeting between CAW officials and GM management on Friday, but the company has not commented on the reversal and the reasons for it.

Buckley said adding the hybrid at the truck plant shows "a glimmer of hope" that the plant can remain open, especially if hybrid truck sales take off.

Earlier this month, GM announced it was closing the Oshawa truck plant because of slumping demand for large vehicles. The plant employs 2,600 workers.

The decision was announced just two weeks after GM reached a tentative agreement with the union, promising to continue production at the plant through 2011.

[gardnet1]

This is dumb. They should make those trucks at existing truck plants in Ft. Wayne, Pontiac or Flint. They should convert the Oshawa truck factory to making cars such as the Astra or some other Euro-make to get around the exchange rate woes.

[Uzzy]

This is going to help GM, how?

[fp115]

This is misleading. Plus GM never confirmed it.

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by gardnet1

This is dumb. They should make those trucks at existing truck plants in Ft. Wayne, Pontiac or Flint. They should convert the Oshawa truck factory to making cars such as the Astra or some other Euro-make to get around the exchange rate woes.

How does converting a truck plant to a car plant make more sense than converting to it a very similar pickup?

And this seems fair to me, the union may be evil, but GM doesn't fix anything by lying, which is what they did. You can't promise a contract than pretend the whole world changed 2 weeks later...

[fp115]

Originally Posted by logansowner

How does converting a truck plant to a car plant make more sense than converting to it a very similar pickup?

And this seems fair to me, the union may be evil, but GM doesn't fix anything by lying, which is what they did. You can't promise a contract than pretend the whole world changed 2 weeks later...

Again when and where did GM lie? Its been discussed many times in other threads that GM did not lie in the negotiations.

[logansowner]

Originally Posted by fp115

Again when and where did GM lie? Its been discussed many times in other threads that GM did not lie in the negotiations.

My understanding was that they negotiated a new contract and were told they were going to be shut down 2 weeks later. Sounds pretty low down to me.

[DemonKnightDK]

I wonder if a 2 mode coloardo would do better with milage than the 2 mode Silverado... if the S-10 could get 30MPG hwy with a 5 speed and 4cyl a 2mode Colardo should be able to get 35-40mpg I would think. (perhaps an I5 wasent the best engine option, I still maintain the 3800 (in series one form, not series 2) would have been an excelent truck engine. Even a slightly revised (heavy duty, truck cam) series 2 would be a decent stump puller and return decent fule economy.

But I digress, 2 mode trucks, at another plant? or was this the plant that has always built them? I think GM though the 2 mode would create a bigger help than it really did. (didnt they collaborate with BMW and Mercedes on that tech? are those companies even using it now?)

[fp115]

Originally Posted by logansowner

My understanding was that they negotiated a new contract and were told they were going to be shut down 2 weeks later. Sounds pretty low down to me.

Here is exactly what the judge said:

If any of the GM Canada negotiators knew the truck market information that was known by GM Corp, the deceit-like behaviour would be compounded. However, I do not find that any of the GM Canada negotiators had such knowledge. Without the advance notice and discussion provisions, it is impossible to know whether the parties would have come to an agreement or the eventual terms of the agreement.

GM Canada did not lie during negotiations.

[gardnet1]

Originally Posted by logansowner

How does converting a truck plant to a car plant make more sense than converting to it a very similar pickup?

And this seems fair to me, the union may be evil, but GM doesn't fix anything by lying, which is what they did. You can't promise a contract than pretend the whole world changed 2 weeks later...

Because they already have enough/surplus capacity to build the hybrids at the existing GM truck plants. Why have four truck plants operation on one shift each. This is potentially enough work to put 1 or 2 truck plants in Michigan back to two shifts, thus making them more efficient/profitable.

Besides Oshawa would be more stable building cars, especially some European/Oz designed cars and this would help GM out on the exchange rate that is sapping their profits. This is especially true for the Saturn lineup which is composed almost entirely of Opel/Vauxhall derviatives.

[DemonKnightDK]

I concur with gardent1.

[hunchman]

Originally Posted by fp115

Here is exactly what the judge said:

GM Canada did not lie during negotiations.

Of course that's what the judge would say. Did anyone expect the judge to rule in favor of the CAW and open a can of worms that could potentially plague all industries. Think about it.
GM knows ithad to keep that truck plant open because of what it did. People that were anti_union were even against GM on this one. Like i said in another post if they close this plant you won't be able to give GM's away around here.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by hunchman

Of course that's what the judge would say. Did anyone expect the judge to rule in favor of the CAW and open a can of worms that could potentially plague all industries. Think about it.
GM knows ithad to keep that truck plant open because of what it did. People that were anti_union were even against GM on this one. Like i said in another post if they close this plant you won't be able to give GM's away around here.

This same judge is a part of a union as well. He was siding for the union during the case. The case was based on facts, read the case. Regardless if the judge at the supreme court says there was no lying and the ruling was based on this fact, then this is what you should be believing.

[hunchman]

Originally Posted by fp115

This same judge is a part of a union as well. He was siding for the union during the case. The case was based on facts, read the case. Regardless if the judge at the supreme court says there was no lying and the ruling was based on this fact, then this is what you should be believing.

You just don't get it. Problem is you need to look at the whole picture. I have not heard anyone around here say GM lied. I have not said they lied. It's called dirty pool in light of the events that led up to this. Look at ALL the facts.

[redimpss5]

Send them to Arlington!!