Who Is Too Blame

The company's side:

GM confirms 1,200 jobs to be cut at Ontario plant

Updated Thu. Aug. 30 2007 1:51 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

General Motors of Canada Ltd. has confirmed that it is cutting 1,200 jobs this January at a truck plant in Oshawa due to slumping pickup sales.

The company will axe one shift of production of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

GM Canada spokesman Stew Low said the layoffs were part of the company's plan to keep its inventory in line with production.

"The Oshawa plant is the only one that's currently running on three shifts, and given that we want to tightly control inventories to market demand and we want to ensure that all plants are running at or near 100 per cent capacity, that's the rationale behind removing the third shift at Oshawa,'' Low told The Canadian Press Thursday.

According to the CAW, about 10,000 jobs in the auto assembly industry have been lost in the auto manufacturing sector since the industry's peak in the late 1990s, with 13,000 more job cuts in the auto parts industry since 2001. The union estimates $100-million of annual family income in the region will be lost as a result of the layoffs, which could have a punishing effect on the local economy.

The Unions side:

According to the CAW, about 10,000 jobs in the auto assembly industry have been lost in the auto manufacturing sector since the industry's peak in the late 1990s, with 13,000 more job cuts in the auto parts industry since 2001. The union estimates $100-million of annual family income in the region will be lost as a result of the layoffs, which could have a punishing effect on the local economy.

The Consumer's Side:

Terry Quinn from Canada writes: Two things... Flatulent Flaherty has spoken. That means another lie is in play.

Buzzie the union thug has spoken, once again, about the nonsense of governments doing him and his overpaid workers more favors.

Hey, Buzzie how about reducing the $1500 per car it takes to keep the pension plans and health packages going. And how about simply letting the market place determine the wages your members should get instead of using the strong arm tactics you are so familiar with.

alex just a canadian from montreal, Canada writes: when an auto working on the assembly line screwing in a bolt and is getting twice as much as teachers and nurses who just happened to be overworked. Sorry i don't feel any simpathy for the lost jobs. Its time we as a nation grow up and put our tax dollars where they are most needed, and the assembly line is not it. Sorry buzz but you blew it with your greed.

Garrett Deyne from mississauga, Canada writes: Shut up Buzz. The industry is fine it's your union thats in trouble. Toyota is opening a plant next year that will employ 2000 people but of course you don't care because there not part of your union. Real surprise that union shops are closing as non-union shops expand. Keep trying to blame someone else everyone else can see whats going on.

dean spence from bright old city, ontario, Canada writes: Just heard plenty of analysts state the "auto industry" is doing just fine in Canada with toyota and honda expanding; it's brain dead buzz's pals that are having trouble. Flaherty doesn't have to defend anything; there's nothing he should be doing.
BTW, why the heck does hargrove think the Asian markets want to buy GM if north america doesn't? Or is he even stupider than i think he is? And is he liberal or ndp this week?

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