CAW Says GM Letter Insults Workers

10/01/96

Canada NewsWire has reported that Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has said that a letter GM sent to employees insults workers and their families. Hargrove said the letter, dated September, 24 and delivered to workers' homes, assumes that workers and their families understand neither economics, the Canadian auto industry, nor the differences between GM in Canada and the US, in terms of productivity, quality, costs, and profits.

Hargrove said that "GM Canada turned in an all-time record profit for any Canadian company in 1995 of $1.39 billion. To suggest the closure or outsourcing of plants by this highly profitable company is in the best interests of workers or their families is both insulting and demeaning."

Hargrove said the letter will make union members more determined than ever to fight to keep the jobs threatened by outsourcing, indicating the Oshawa Fabrication plant, the Windsor Trim plant, the St. Catharines Axle plant, Oshawa assembly operations, and facilities at London, Woodstock Boisbriand--all of which are under the CAW's master agreement with General Motors.

Hargrove also said the letter will encourage CAW members to fight harder than ever to get GM to sign a contract that meets the pattern established in the union's new three-year agreement with Chrysler Canada.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel