GM rebuffs union call to keep plant alive

[Shawn Wuan]

I think GM did bargan in bad faith i dont care what they say. I hope they come up with a solution

[YupYupYup]

Originally Posted by VibenPontiac

You know GM really should offer a solution (ex. temporary shutdown for re-tooling the plant for car production). Its a no-brainer - keep the employees happy, have one of the best plants they have produce a volume seller car etc...

If GM were conducting research into the market conditions while the CAW negotiations were going on they should have at least provided for an alternative to truck/SUV production if the results of the research proved out they way it did.

The union is never "happy." There are always more demands from them...Finally GM got the balls to stand up and say "no."

[YupYupYup]

Originally Posted by steverino

Watch out. GM might realize that they don't really need a Headquarters building or staff in Canada either. With technology today everything can be run from the employees homes, remote locals around Oshawa or Detroit

They really don't have a massive HQ in Canada...Basically a branch office. And if they do not need it, then get rid of it. The only way the compnay will survive in this competititve of a market.

[doh]

Originally Posted by roteague

And what kind of loyalty has the union members shown to the company over the years? None at all.

I have watched video of workers crossing the picket line, to get to Oshawa Head Quarters, in Dodge Caravans.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by doh

I have watched video of workers crossing the picket line, to get to Oshawa Head Quarters, in Dodge Caravans.

Those are workers from Minacs, they are not allowing anyone with a GM badge to go through.

[SwampFoxZ71]

"The meeting came on the third day of protests at GM's Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. Union local president Chris Buckley, who had warned the protest would escalate if the outcome isn't satisfactory, said Friday it will continue."

What??? Escalate??? What are they going to do? Strike? They're going to close it anyways! For GM, a strike would be a godsend right now.

Instead of fighting for the plant, I agree they should work on trying to get additional shifts added at the other Oshawa plants. My '95 Monte Carlo was built up there and I was very pleased w/ the quality of it. I have no complaints w/ those plants (from a product build quality standpoint).

[fp115]

Originally Posted by SwampFoxZ71

"The meeting came on the third day of protests at GM's Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. Union local president Chris Buckley, who had warned the protest would escalate if the outcome isn't satisfactory, said Friday it will continue."

What??? Escalate??? What are they going to do? Strike? They're going to close it anyways! For GM, a strike would be a godsend right now.

Instead of fighting for the plant, I agree they should work on trying to get additional shifts added at the other Oshawa plants. My '95 Monte Carlo was built up there and I was very pleased w/ the quality of it. I have no complaints w/ those plants (from a product build quality standpoint).

Striking is not what they are going to do and to be honest what they are going to do next is even more childish than what they are doing currently.

[GMCdriver]

Originally Posted by SwampFoxZ71

"The meeting came on the third day of protests at GM's Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. Union local president Chris Buckley, who had warned the protest would escalate if the outcome isn't satisfactory, said Friday it will continue."

What??? Escalate??? What are they going to do? Strike? They're going to close it anyways! For GM, a strike would be a godsend right now.

Instead of fighting for the plant, I agree they should work on trying to get additional shifts added at the other Oshawa plants. My '95 Monte Carlo was built up there and I was very pleased w/ the quality of it. I have no complaints w/ those plants (from a product build quality standpoint).

Not strike, I think they are indirectly threatening acts of vandalism and perhaps violence.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by GMCdriver

Not strike, I think they are indirectly threatening acts of vandalism and perhaps violence.

Those have already been done. Several people have been threatened personally so far. But the next phase on Monday will not be pretty.

[mpsrent]

Reality is that this is a public relations nightmare for GM. It is far more than just a plant closure. The recent transition away from large SUV's and trucks is proof of how fickle the general public can be. If enough sources suggest that something is bad, the public believe it. Yes, trucks and SUV's burn more fuel than most cars, but the public has turned against all large SUV's/trucks, even the most efficient ones.

Only 2 years ago a well appointed large SUV or truck was viewed as a luxury vehicle. Today, many people view the same vehicles with distain. They laugh at their owners and now woulnd't even consider buying one at any price.

My point, for much of my life GM cars have been viewed as a good investment with better than average depreciation. All of this is quickly fading, just as the public's love for large SUV's is fading. GM's constant negative media coverage, from declining sales to recent plant closures is having a strong impact on public perception. Today, mention the fact you own a GM product and now many people look at you with pity. Simply put, in a meeting today a colleague made the comment "we have a strong and positive future...not like General Motors". Worse yet, the audience laughed. They understood the message.

GM management would have better off not signing the agreement with the Oshawa workers a few weeks ago. At least GM management could have saved some dignity by being honest.

[AndrewGS]

It was really a shock to hear of the closings tuesday, especially of Oshawa Truck as so many trucks come out of there. I sympathize with the workers, but no job is guaranteed.

I'm sure we'll see sabotage from here on out.

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by YupYupYup

The union is never "happy." There are always more demands from them...Finally GM got the balls to stand up and say "no."

Actually, GM got the 'balls' to say 'yes' and then back off of their aggreement. Such balls!

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by Vladimir1978

Actually, GM got the 'balls' to say 'yes' and then back off of their aggreement. Such balls!

What do you think would be better for GM? Honor an agreement with their unions and continue to build vehicles the market is/consumers are shunning in droves (despite their 'cash cow' status).......or actually facing up to the reality of the market and building cars that people want and more importantly, will buy??

[SwampFoxZ71]

Originally Posted by fp115

Those have already been done. Several people have been threatened personally so far. But the next phase on Monday will not be pretty.

I was thinking strike. If that's the case, that's wholly worse than what I was thinking. If they do worse than that, any sympathy I had will be gone. Ridiculous.

[gypsygirl5]

I have my doubts about anyone being threatened personally...unless it was the beligerent woman in the Mercedes that first day. Anyway, the action that is taking place now is merely blocking deliveries with a convoy (the car plant and , ironically, the truck plant are both working this Saturday). Hardly dangerous.

If fp115 has some further inside info, perhaps he would care to share it?