GM won't commit to Oshawa plant, Hargrove says

[fp115]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

I'm required to take a 60 minute lunch whenever possible. Sometimes issues happen that require me to leave my half eaten sandwich behind and get the line running again, however.

Lately I haven't been able to have lunch, I have no more than a mere 15-20 minutes around 11. I have been working 50-60 hour weeks and last week was close to 65-70. Worse part is I was supposed to be on vacation. I don't get paid for the additional hours I put in. But I do it because the work must be done and I believe in the company and the work I do does pay off in the end.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by fp115

Lately I haven't been able to have lunch, I have no more than a mere 15-20 minutes around 11. I have been working 50-60 hour weeks and last week was close to 65-70. Worse part is I was supposed to be on vacation. I don't get paid for the additional hours I put in. But I do it because the work must be done and I believe in the company and the work I do does pay off in the end.

I'm on contact and there's virtually no hope of me getting hired on permanently, after the lady I'm replacing comes back, and that raise that I was told I might get, never happened at the beginning of the year since there were layoffs, and the one that said I'd get it left for another company. So guess who charges for every bit of extra time he can. Otherwise it's a great place to work, but I'm not betting on it being for the long haul. It's good, but I can do better.

[K Dawg ONE]

Originally Posted by Vladimir1978

Perhaps if you moved out of the sticks, you'd read a bit more of it.

Um, since when is the 'Automotive Capital of Canada' (aka WINDSOR) the sticks?

[fp115]

Originally Posted by K Dawg ONE

Um, since when is the 'Automotive Capital of Canada' (aka WINDSOR) the sticks?

Sadly probably not so much anymore... But I wonder, wasn't Oshawa the automotive capital?

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by K Dawg ONE

Um, since when is the 'Automotive Capital of Canada' (aka WINDSOR) the sticks?

I thought he said he was out in the sticks. Oh well, w/e.

Originally Posted by fp115

Sadly probably not so much anymore... But I wonder, wasn't Oshawa the automotive capital?

Windsor was always the automotive capital of Canada. It could be argued that Oshawa is. Or maybe even Oakville. Hard to say these days (but it is traditionally Windsor and the proximity to Detroit helps). But GM and eventually Ford will have no production facilites here in the near future. Chrylser only has one assembly plant left (for now) and their Canadian Headquarters. There used to be more car factories than there are now Tim Horton's coffee shops, but that was a while ago now.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by Uzzy

Windsor was always the automotive capital of Canada. It could be argued that Oshawa is. Or maybe even Oakville. Hard to say these days (but it is traditionally Windsor and the proximity to Detroit helps). But GM and eventually Ford will have no production facilites here in the near future. Chrylser only has one assembly plant left (for now) and their Canadian Headquarters. There used to be more car factories than there are now Tim Horton's coffee shops, but that was a while ago now.

Well for the longest time Oshawa has been said to be "Motorcity". With several auto parts factories in the area, several auto plants and GM's 4 offices were there. It used to be that most of the 130k population at the time worked for GM or a company related. But yes I agree it may be debatable and it will not be one that will end with a definite answer, both of us would obvious vote for either one :P

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by K Dawg ONE

Um, since when is the 'Automotive Capital of Canada' (aka WINDSOR) the sticks?

When you apparently don't have access to any of the major newspapers in Ontario, including the Star and Sun.

Saying their hasn't been a serious PR hit to GM because of this situation is assinine and bordering on ignorance. It's been in the papers EVERY SINGLE DAY.

[gypsygirl5]

Yes, and the Ipsos-Reid talk show on CFRB during the blockade judged it the 'biggest PR disaster for a corporation' in sometime. You'd think a pollster would have some idea of public opinion!

I have family members in the Swamp, as well. Some fairly high up. Apparently, they think differently than fp115 and DO believe there was a PR hit.

Ironically, the hybrid is coming back to Oshawa. Apparently, the program would have had to be delayed had they moved production to Mexico as planned. Oshawa has worked on the prototype since day 1 and a new location would have to start from scratch.

[Joe in T.O.]

Very little is said about the future car platforms at Oshawa. I personally think the new Camaro will lead to increased employment and the laid off truck workers will be hired into the car plant. GM's contract clearly stated "as market demands". I think most people have fogotten that prior to the Equinox being built in Ingersoll, Ontario,Canada, GM made the Geo Metro- the most fuel efficient car in Canada but market demand wasn't there.

[gypsygirl5]

It looks like the new product for the car plant may be announced tomorrow: http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/448648 Seems like it will be a Cadillac model (rumors of that for some time) and an 'extended' Malibu. Seems we are still in the mid-size business. I don't think a tiny model like Geo would work on the same platform. 'Flex' has limits to its flexibility!

It will not make up for all the losses due to the closure of the truck plant. The Impala plant is also slated to go down when the model reaches the end of its run (2012 at this point). It would need massive retooling to remain open. We lose the Buick Allure/Lacrosse in 2009, which may eventually lead to the loss of the 3rd shift. (We did have some good news on that front: the 3rd shift was to be eliminated in Jan 2009, but will now be extended) We are running full-tilt in car, with every Saturday scheduled and talk of some Sunday shifts, but that will only last as long as market demand lasts. I have seen it turn on a dime before.

There were 20 000+ hourly employees in Oshawa when I started there (1983). We are down to way less than half of that (I am not sure of the exact figure). If the truck plant and present car plant close as scheduled, we will be down to roughly 3000. Attrition and buy-outs can create some jobs, but we are already in a situation where retirees outnumber active employees by a wide margin. Not a good position to be in going forward.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by gypsygirl5

The Impala plant is also slated to go down when the model reaches the end of its run (2012 at this point).

Luckily that coincides with the end of the world, so it's all good.

Originally Posted by gypsygirl5

We are running full-tilt in car, with every Saturday scheduled and talk of some Sunday shifts, but that will only last as long as market demand lasts. I have seen it turn on a dime before.

Impossible. The market doesn't change that fast and if it does a corporation like GM can't respond to it quickly...right? I mean isn't that what the whole blockade and court injunction and that whole rigamaroll was about?

[gypsygirl5]

Harhar. Saturday shifts are scheduled far in advance and I have seen them all cancelled quickly. Mind you, the bottom has never fallen out in the space of two weeks before. What happened with the contract was calculated to get concessions from the CAW, before dropping the bombshell.

[Tony_the_Tiger]

CAW acknowledges Oshawa plant to close "Automotive News - June 26 2008"

"We talked about putting together an incentive program that will help with the downsizing of the Oshawa operation over the next four or five years" said Hargrove.

The CAW said it would take a couple of weeks to look at the GM proposal on incentives before responding.

Because the company acted with "almost deceitful behavior" in the contract negotiations, these buyouts should be equal or better than the ones that were given to the Windsor employees for their plant shutdown.....

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by Tony_the_Tiger

Because the company acted with "almost deceitful behavior" in the contract negotiations, these buyouts should be equal or better than the ones that were given to the Windsor employees for their plant shutdown.....

Equal or better. Dream on.

[redvett01]

With GM close to bankruptcy and the stock today at $9.98 there certainly not going to commit on any truck programs only cars & efficient one at that.