CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
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CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Indu...173.A8909.html
It seems as if organized labor is just as "in touch with reality" as ever.
Originally Posted by TheCarConnection
CAW Outlines New Demands
The Canadian Auto Workers union is looking for more time off for its members in its next contracts with General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler Corp.
Buzz Hargrove, CAW president, rolled out the demand for additional holidays as he opened the union's collective bargaining and political action convention inToronto. All three automakers are hoping to limit or reduce the size of the benefit packages given to CAW workers, and Hargrove's new demands are certain to unsettle the negotiations, which begin next week.
All three automakers have been reducing the number of hours required to build a vehicle and the size of their workforce in recent years. However, the CAW clearly believes that some of the productivity improvements that triggered new efficiencies should be shared with workers in the form of additional holidays.
Hargrove predicted the upcoming negotiations will be difficult but that General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and DaimlerChrysler should not underestimate the union's determination. The CAW has no intention seeing its wages, benefits, or work rules gutted because the world trading system is stacked against workers, Hargrove said. The union recognizes that the auto industry faces challenges but contract concessions won't help improve the current situation, he insisted.
Hargrove also noted that vehicle imports in the NAFTA region doubled between 1996 and 2004. Much of the growth has been in the form of South Korean and Japanese exports to the U.S., he said. Meanwhile, only 30,000 NAFTA-made vehicles were exported to Japan, he added. Hargrove expects the upcoming contract talks with the old Big Three to be about contract improvements, not takeaways.
"Factors such as the rising impact of imports on the North American auto market, the rising value of the Canadian dollar and the design and marketing of new vehicles aren't within the control of the union," added Hargrove, who has led the union through five rounds of bargaining with Detroit's automakers since 1992.
Hargrove also emphasized that union is after pension improvements in this year's negotiations. The CAW bargains for pension improvements every six years and in 2005, time has come to address the pension issue, which was set aside back in 2002 when the CAW last bargained for a new contract with the Big Three. -Joseph Szczesny
The Canadian Auto Workers union is looking for more time off for its members in its next contracts with General Motors, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler Corp.
Buzz Hargrove, CAW president, rolled out the demand for additional holidays as he opened the union's collective bargaining and political action convention inToronto. All three automakers are hoping to limit or reduce the size of the benefit packages given to CAW workers, and Hargrove's new demands are certain to unsettle the negotiations, which begin next week.
All three automakers have been reducing the number of hours required to build a vehicle and the size of their workforce in recent years. However, the CAW clearly believes that some of the productivity improvements that triggered new efficiencies should be shared with workers in the form of additional holidays.
Hargrove predicted the upcoming negotiations will be difficult but that General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and DaimlerChrysler should not underestimate the union's determination. The CAW has no intention seeing its wages, benefits, or work rules gutted because the world trading system is stacked against workers, Hargrove said. The union recognizes that the auto industry faces challenges but contract concessions won't help improve the current situation, he insisted.
Hargrove also noted that vehicle imports in the NAFTA region doubled between 1996 and 2004. Much of the growth has been in the form of South Korean and Japanese exports to the U.S., he said. Meanwhile, only 30,000 NAFTA-made vehicles were exported to Japan, he added. Hargrove expects the upcoming contract talks with the old Big Three to be about contract improvements, not takeaways.
"Factors such as the rising impact of imports on the North American auto market, the rising value of the Canadian dollar and the design and marketing of new vehicles aren't within the control of the union," added Hargrove, who has led the union through five rounds of bargaining with Detroit's automakers since 1992.
Hargrove also emphasized that union is after pension improvements in this year's negotiations. The CAW bargains for pension improvements every six years and in 2005, time has come to address the pension issue, which was set aside back in 2002 when the CAW last bargained for a new contract with the Big Three. -Joseph Szczesny
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Joined: May 2004
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Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
They have to stand for whats in the best interest of the worker. Its what they are paid to do. There is alot of "give and take" but the "take" is all that is highlighted.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Ohio
Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Originally Posted by guesswhoo
They have to stand for whats in the best interest of the worker. Its what they are paid to do. There is alot of "give and take" but the "take" is all that is highlighted.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
But trying to say that union workers deserve more holidays because GM has streamlined production is just plain stupid.
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Originally Posted by guesswhoo
They have to stand for whats in the best interest of the worker. Its what they are paid to do. There is alot of "give and take" but the "take" is all that is highlighted.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
The union is not as stupid as some may think. No rocket science going on. Then again, Who says the Big 3 makes all the right choices? Pfft! We can sit here all day and talk about some of the stupid stuff GM has done.
Now, if the CAW is willing to trade a few plants and maybe ten thousand full time jobs for some extra vacation days, sure. Thats a give and take. But I dont see them doing that this side of a chilly day in hell.
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Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Short of convincing the Canadian consumer making $8.00 an hour, getting 2 weeks annual vacation and paying all of their medical costs not covered by our "universal" system out of their own pocket not to buy Korean or Japanese cars, Mr. Hargrove's minions will get a good taste of reality sooner than they wish. Mr. Hargrove of course will sail off into the sunset with his generous pension package intact. 
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Originally Posted by poSSum
Mr. Hargrove of course will sail off into the sunset with his generous pension package intact.
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From: Ontario, Canada
Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
This is just tough talk a week before negotiations. There isn't a union leader in the world who would come out one week before negotiations and say 'we're willing to make concessions'.
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Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Originally Posted by ckt101
This is just tough talk a week before negotiations. There isn't a union leader in the world who would come out one week before negotiations and say 'we're willing to make concessions'.
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Re: CAW Demands "More Time Off." How about "Forever?"
Originally Posted by poSSum
From my experience in negotiations, from the management side, the average union member can't tell the difference between pre-negotiations rhetoric and "this is what we are going to get for you". So at this point, even rolling over the current agreement will come across as a "concession" to the membership and they'll be unhappy.
Not true.