quote:

---

Under the changes, GM will be able to "outsource" 388 maintenance, housekeeping and custodial jobs to outside contractors starting as early as 2008, according to the union.

The union said GM would also be able to reduce paid relief time for workers by three minutes to 50 minutes a shift in the car plants and by two minutes to 40 minutes in the nearby truck assembly operation.

Although the cut might seem insignificant, workers have vigorously defended any reductions in paid relief time, which includes lunch breaks, for years.

In major contract bargaining last year, GM's push to contract out more work and reduce relief time almost led to a strike.

---

I'm willing to accept that these concessions are needed to save jobs. However, after years of sanctim onious posturing where the hell does Buzz get off? Where's the "principled leader" who used to say things like this?

quote:

---

We've learned the hard way what happens when workers attempt to save their jobs with concessions. The effect is dramatic, not just for the workers who make the concessions, but for all workers. Demands for concessions leads to more demands for concessions. Workers end up competing to see who can give away the most.

---

You may note that I linked to a "google cache" of that page. The original, it seems, is no longer online.

I hope it's a temporary error.

EDITED TO ADD: It looks like it is a temporary error. Original is back up.

[ 06 March 2006: Message edited by: Kenehan ]

I hope that some of these maintenance, housekeeping and custodial workers (CAW Local 222) will complain (Duty of Fair Representation) to the Ontario Labour Relations Board and the CAW Public Review Board. Internal UAW Appeals - A Practice Manual For Members

[ 03 June 2006: Message edited by: CUPE_Reformer ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by scooter:
Isn't this all a bit of a paper pushing exercise as GM will be filing for bankruptcy next year?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fidel:
If the Yanks would adopt socialized medicine like Japan, Korea, Germany and whichever other country whose car companies GM can't compete with, the big three might be more competitive. And pare down some of those ridiculous CEO and upper management salaries while they're at it. Writing's on the wall.

---

Or possibly try responding to changes in the auto market

quote:

---

For example, when a flood of automobile buyers began to demand fuel-efficient cars during the first oil crisis in the early 1970s, the American automobile industry did not have the capacity to produce such vehicles. Instead of investing vast resources in developing that capacity, it tried to use its superior marketing skills to win Americans back to luxurious gas guzzlers. That is, the Big Three "went to war with the army they had" and convinced themselves that they were facing a marketing problem. The results: a permanent crisis at General Motors (during which it lost world leadership in the industry), a fundamental restructuring of Ford, and the demise of Chrysler.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by rasmus raven:
They could also try producing cars of comparable quality to Japanese cars.

---

Fire the designers. And why is GM still paying dividends to shareholders ?. If they wanna be competitive with Asian car companies, then cut Wall Street off the worker's dole and accept lower profit margins.

[ 09 March 2006: Message edited by: Fidel ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by rasmus raven:
They could also try producing cars of comparable quality to Japanese cars.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by unionist:
The CAW's retired chief economist Sam Gindin raises troubling questions about the direction the CAW and other Canadian unions are taking:

Concessions in Oshawa: The End of an Era?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by robbie_dee:
Discussion from this other thread is to be redirected here.

---