CAW working to minimize impact of devastating DaimlerChrysler layoffs

    TORONTO, Jan. 29 - The announcement by DaimlerChrysler of
cuts to the Canadian operations will leave thousands of workers and family
members as well as their communities of Windsor, Brampton, Ajax and Etobicoke
in shock today, said CAW president Buzz Hargrove.
    "After several years of record production levels, hiring and expanding
workforce levels, the industry is experiencing a major reduction in the U.S.
market. DaimlerChrysler in addition to problems with inventory has suffered a
significant loss of market share," Hargrove said.
    "What makes it even more difficult to accept about these layoffs is that
DaimlerChrysler's Canadian operations have some of the highest quality,
greatest productivity and lowest cost of any auto assembly operations in the
world."
    "We're going to do everything possible to convince DaimlerChrysler to
look at ways of minimizing the impact on members and their families."
    Hargrove summarized a series of meetings with top corporate officials
where efforts were made to deal with the company's production cutbacks.
    Hargrove along with top leadership from the DaimlerChrysler section of
the CAW were able to convince company executives on Saturday not to eliminate
a third shift in the Windsor assembly plant. As a result hundreds of jobs were
saved.
    Discussions with senior DaimlerChrysler officials on minimizing the
impact of the layoffs will continue this week. Hargrove said the union was
proposing early retirement incentives to allow senior workers to retire and
avoid as much as possible laying off the more junior workforce.
    Hargrove said the earlier production cutbacks announced last summer and
into the fall galvanized union leadership into persuading DaimlerChrysler at
that time to maintain employment levels by cutting production weeks out of the
schedule rather than immediately laying off the second shift at the Pillette
Road plant in Windsor and the third shift at the Brampton assembly facility.
    Hargrove noted that a higher percentage of Canadian workers were targeted
in the current layoff than in the United States, because of higher levels of
assembly production in Canada.
    Hargrove and CAW DaimlerChrysler Chairperson, Ken Lewenza stated
categorically there would be no concessions or opening of contracts. On the
contrary, Canadian workers contributed significantly to record billion dollar
profits in recent years, they said, and the company had no argument for
concessions from CAW members.
    The government has a role to play, the CAW emphasized.
    "We've made the case over and over again about the importance of the Auto
Pact to ensure new investment and to protect jobs in Canada but the government
and analysts were on the so-called free trade 'escalator' to prosperity,
ignoring what would happen when times got tough."
    "We'll be arguing for strong government action to protect the jobs of
Canadian autoworkers for the future in the wake of these announcements," added
Hargrove.
    The CAW represents 14,000 workers in Canadian DaimlerChrysler operations.