Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
[Canadian Auto workers News Release] – CAW Members at Caterpillar in London have voted 97.8 per cent in favour of a strike, if necessary, at a meeting held this morning. Approximately 90 per cent of members participated in the vote.
Negotiations between CAW Local 27 and Caterpillar have been ongoing since November in an effort to reach a new collective agreement to replace the current six-month extension. The contract deadline is set for tomorrow, December 31 at 11:59 p.m.
The company tabled a final offer that would slash wages in half, bring drastic cuts to benefits and eliminate the pension plan, at a time when sales, profits and executive compensation have soared, hitting all-time highs.
The union has voiced the concern that Caterpillar may attempt to unilaterally change the terms and conditions of employment once the collective agreement expires.
CAW National President Ken Lewenza said that if the terms and conditions of employment remain the same, the union will not go on strike.
“We believe Caterpillar is trying to provoke a labour dispute so they can pull out of this country,” said Lewenza. “Since purchasing Electro-Motive last year, Caterpillar has shown very little desire to continue production in Canada and now they’re looking for an excuse to shut down operations and leave, despite being highly profitable.”
“This is an unprecedented final offer that would have a terrible impact on our members’ livelihoods and their families.”
Lewenza recently called on the federal government to review the purchase of the Electro-Motive Canada by U.S.-based Caterpillar through the lens of the Investment Canada Act, and intervene to ensure Caterpillar does not end production in Canada. To read the full letter, please visit: http://www.caw.ca/en/10811.htm
3 Comments
mike
The union is not facing reality when it comes to being competitive.Just like the rest of the unions in Ontario,especially the public sector unions.Just keep asking for more and eventually more and more of the members will be with out work because of your stupid demands.These employees of electro motive from what i hear dont do a couple of hours worth of work a day,they sleep on the job they play cards and f u c k the dog.Lets see them find another job that pays 35 bucks to do that.
Wmarion
It baffles me as to how the public has turned against each other. The negative comments written everywhere, “example” get paid 35.00 dollars an hour to put 2 bolts on a car. This is a perfect example of people who don’t have a clue about working on the line and are purely just jealous. You can surely believe that if they did work there, they would all sing different tunes. Not forgetting that the workers, pay , benefits, all add up to only 7% of the price of a car. 97 % of that money is never questioned by the public. Why do management get double digit raises and we have to take cuts. Chrysler exec Mr Marchione just gave himself a 3 million dollar a year raise. And here we have joe public defending him and all the while telling their neighbor he makes too much money. If these people got off the couch and defended these jobs and the laws that were removed to pave the way for the destruction of the auto sector in Canada as well as the USA, maybe they would be working there, making a good wage and leaving the possibility for their children to have a job and make a decent wage with some security. Canada has lost some 75 plants since free trade was introduced.Lost to countries with no environmental laws and the worker makes $5.00 a day. Then they can ship back home to Canada tariff free. Can you tell by price when you walk in a showroom, which car was built where. Can you say i want a car built in South Korea because they don’t pay their workers a decent wage so the car is cheaper.Nooooo..! So where is the money going. Please answer this for me. Have you ever heard of shareholders. They are becoming multi- millionaires while demanding we cut our wages. When will they be satisfied.
To all of you who sit back in your chair and run the auto worker into the ground. I have actual statistical proof of my information. Do have a picture of someone putting in 2 bolts on a car for a living. Have you seen the inside of the car factory, or tried one of the jobs.
Wake up public, your futures are being sold to the rest of the world. You are being asked to live on less while the top 1 % live higher and higher. How can you with a clear conscience, support this and the politicians who make this possible. This is so much deeper than our wages and benefits which we work hard for. This is an attack on labor of all levels. Union or not.
Wayne M.
Winndsor, Ont
Wmarion
Sorry just saw the error… 93 % of the price of a car never questioned by public…
WMarion