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Skilled Trades Association May - June 2005 Archive June 2005 June 30, 2005 - Detroit's automakers are making major gains in long-term vehicle durability with General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. finishing best in a record number of product segments. In "Trades News Articles"
June 29, 2005 - A new Toyota plant might jump-start even more investment in Ontario's auto sector from Hyundai, Kia and others, the province's economic development minister said Tuesday. In "Trades News Articles"
Chrysler may match GM deals in the U.S. The program that gives employee discounts to all could prompt rebate war. In "Trades News Articles"
June 28, 2005 - High productivity levels in Oshawa suggest those factories will be protected from GM's coming restructuring, which calls for the elimination of 25,000 jobs. You will find the article here and in "Trades News Articles"
June 27, 2005 - It's a hell of a time to be in the US automotive business. The price of oil is hitting record highs, Americans have to be bribed to buy vehicles, Detroit's biggest automakers are losing money, the supplier industry is wracked with problems and China's amazing rise may leave us all in the dust. In "Trades News Articles"
Doug Orr's Chair report for June 27th has been posted today on the CAW199 web site. Find a link to the report in "Trades News Articles"
June 26, 2005 - GM, UAW health care benefit fight may alter U.S. auto industry as the retirees worry lifelong health care will vanish. Read about these two related stories sent by Dan Murray in "Trades News Articles"
June 25, 2005 - On Monday the 27th, two of the Tinsmiths that were laid off from St. Catharines will return to work. Two that have been working in Oshawa on production have chosen not to return to our city and have relinquished their recall rights here. We would like to take this opportunity to wish them well in all of their future endevours.
June 24, 2005 - Various pundits occasionally slap GM for selling pushrod engines. You have to understand and respect GM's use of OHV designs, and the critics should stop and think about it for a few minutes. In "Trades News Articles"
June 23, 2005 - Automakers are set to report their June U.S. sales results next week. "GM's 'Employee Discount for Everyone' promotion is lifting retail sales by as much as 30%," said Lehman Bros. analyst Darren Kimball. In "Trades News Articles"
June 22, 2005 - General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are not updating their model lineups as fast as their competitors and likely will continue to lose U.S. market share as a result. In "Trades News Articles"
June 21, 2005 - There's a Toyota ad running currently that brags about the fact that they have eight manufacturing plants in the U.S. building more than a million vehicles a year. The ad then finishes with some patriotic music and the statement "Toyota - a company that has created over 200,000 U.S. jobs - a company proud to do its small part to add to the landscape of America." Pass the barf bag please. In "Trades News Articles"
There is an editorial on the site called "The Truth About Cars" that is entitled "GM Death Watch XVII: Forgive and forget?" I am not a big fan of this site, but the author makes some valid points about what GM has to do to win back customers. You will find the article here and in "Trades News Articles"
June 20, 2005 - Five large family passenger cars including the Buick LaCrosse (Allure in Canada) and three large luxury models earned top ratings Sunday in frontal crash tests by the insurance industry. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors has demonstrated its newfound allegiance to value pricing by cutting base prices on 85 percent to 90 percent of its 2006 Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Saturn models. In "Trades News Articles"
June 19, 2005 - Despite its troubles Detroit, the Motor City isn't run by clueless buffoons. Fashions come and go, but hating Detroit appears to be timeless. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
June 17, 2005 - The Oshawa CAW local 222 newsletter, the Oshaworker for June 2005 is posted today on their web site.
Let's face it. General Motors is not necessarily good for the country these days. In fact, GM isn't really very good for itself or its stockholders. In "Trades News Articles"
June 16, 2005 - Finally some good news: GM may have a hit on its hands. But the automaker warns its dealers that raising the Pontiac Solstice price above sticker could hurt sales. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
The General Motors Corp. promotion in the U.S. offering employee discounts to everyone has boosted the number of shoppers in showrooms across the country by nearly 30% over May, and increased sales, too. In "Trades News Articles"
June 15, 2005 - Japan's automotive trade surplus with North America is the reason Detroit automakers are struggling, not the cost of union workers, says Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union. In "Trades News Articles"
Four times a day for two weeks, General Motors designers and engineers are guiding market analysts, journalists and select groups of employees through a dimly lit dome at the carmaker's sprawling technical centre in suburban Detroit. In "Trades News Articles"
June 14, 2005 - United Auto Workers officials are delivering a tough message at union halls around the country -- hourly workers with General Motors Corp. should prepare to pay significantly more for health care coverage. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors is betting its future on its new full-size GMT900 pickups and sport-utility vehicles, which start hitting the market in early 2006. Find a link to it here and in the "Trades News Articles"
June 13, 2005 - Great news today for the Tinsmiths that have been laid off. Today, the phone calls came from personnel to tell them that they are returning to work on the 27th of June. Congratulations guys and let's not ever forget the hard work of our union that made this possible.
June 12, 2005 - GM seeks a comeback in big-city markets. Nagged by lack of sales on both coasts, ailing carmaker refines strategy to build customer base. In "Trades News Articles"
June 10, 2005 - DETROIT -- Local United Auto Workers officials voted Thursday to support negotiations with General Motors Corp. to help the automaker reduce spiralling employee health care costs. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors Corp. shares rallied up to 11% Friday after United Auto Workers officials agreed to discuss spiraling health-care costs with the struggling company. Find a link to it here and in the "Trades News Articles"
June 9, 2005 - In a St. Catharines Standard editorial today they wrote "General Motors’ announcement of 25,000 job cuts in the U.S. has St. Catharines GM workers anxiously wondering how long it will be before the axe falls here." In "Trades News Articles"
Cutting more jobs won't fix what ails GM. Since its troubles started in 1980, GM has eliminated 489,000 jobs. Now, facing a financial crisis despite a modest economic expansion, the leadership of the world's largest automaker has decided to take a bold step: cut 25,000 more jobs. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors of Canada Ltd. can trim its work force by 4,000 people or 20 per cent over the next nine years and still receive all $435-million in financial assistance pledged by the Ontario and federal governments for the auto maker's $2.5-billion investment in Canada. You can read these comforting facts in the "Trades News Articles"
June 8, 2005 - Kirk Kerkorian's ballyhooed bid to more than double his stake in General Motors came up short, and that, along with GM's job-lopping plan for recovery, pushed shares of the ailing Detroit giant into rally mode Wednesday. In "Trades News Articles"
The St. Catharines Standard today has an article regarding the fate of the St. Catharines Components plant entitled, "Writing on wall for GM plant: union". Find a link to it here and in the "Trades News Articles"
GM's plan to slash its U.S. manufacturing work force by more than 20 percent is expected to lead to the closure of at least half a dozen North American auto parts and assembly plants, manufacturing experts say. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors Corp.'s plan to close plants and cut 25,000 jobs means Canadian GM workers will almost certainly be made to share the pain, analysts and others warn. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
June 7, 2005 - A decision by auto giant General Motors Corp. to cut thousands of U.S. jobs in a massive restructuring may lead to hundreds of layoffs in Ontario, including possible job losses at a St. Catharines auto parts plant that could eventually close, Doug Orr predicted today. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
Doug Orr's Chair report for June 8th has been posted today on the CAW199 web site. Find a link to the report in "Trades News Articles"
CAW members must rein in their expectations when auto talks start next month because gains made in recent labour deals would be "unacceptable" today, says the president of General Motors of Canada Ltd. In "Trades News Articles"
June 6, 2005 - The Electro-Motive plant in London, formerly GM Diesel, reached an agreement with Local 27 of the CAW that was ratified on Sunday by 96% of the membership. Read the outline that was given to the members at the ratification meeting in "Trades News Articles"
The Chevrolet Malibu and Audi A4 sedans equipped with side air bags earned the highest score in the most recent round of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash testing. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
June 5, 2005 - He won't be there, but corporate raider Kirk Kerkorian and his offer to more than double his stake in General Motors Corp. will hang over the proceedings at the automaker's annual shareholders meeting Tuesday. In "Trades News Articles"
June 4, 2005 - GM Oshawa was the most productive assembly plant in North America last year, but the automaker is losing ground to Toyota on overall cost efficiency and profits, according to an industry study released Thursday. In "Trades News Articles"
The CAW has reached a tentative deal for workers at a locomotive manufacturing plant in London, Ont., which the union says gives workers a chance to keep working for General Motors despite the automaker's sale of the division. In "Trades News Articles"
June 2, 2005 - A summary of the 2005 Harbour Report released today by Ron Harbour can be found here. If this link no longer works, email us and we will send the report to you via email. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors today posted a press release that trumpets their accomplishments in the 2005 Harbour Report. Looks a lot better than it has in years past. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
General Motors said on Thursday that, along with its local partners in China, it would invest 3.2 billion yuan ($387 million) in an engine factory in the southwestern city of Liuzhou, part of an original $3 billion investment blueprint. In "Trades News Articles"
June 1, 2005 - New vehicle sales slid in May on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, forcing hard-hit General Motors and Ford to warn of third-quarter production cuts that could impact jobs and Ontario's overall economy. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors' new strategy for its six vehicle lines sandwiched between Chevrolet and Cadillac makes sense: narrowly focused lineups and fewer copycat models in each division. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 2005 May 31, 2005 - Parts suppliers in agreement, it's hard to trust GM. Auto suppliers' trust in General Motors Corp. is at its lowest level in 15 years, according to a survey being released today by a Michigan consulting firm. In "Trades News Articles"
Doug Orr's latest Chair report is posted on the CAW199 web site. Find a link to the report in "Trades News Articles"
May 29, 2005 - The Canadian Auto Workers couldn't ask for a gloomier bargaining environment as it prepares to sit down with Detroit automakers this summer and hammer out a new wage and benefit agreement. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 28, 2005 - In this article today in the Globe and Mail, they talk about the Oshawa GM worker. St. Catharines and Oshawa couldn't be more different. "GM workers are the highest-paid blue collar workers in North America," the article says. "They have job security, so they're not afraid to spend. And they're not afraid to borrow." Yeah right... In "Trades News Articles"
GMs flagship China venture opened a new plant in Shanghai on Saturday that brought its nationwide production capacity to almost half a million units, doubling GM China's capacity, in an increasingly competitive market. In "Trades News Articles"
May 27, 2005 - If runaway medical bills are truly threatening the survival of General Motors Corp., as the automakers' executives have said, could GM simply eliminate UAW retiree health benefits? And CAW? In "Trades News Articles"
May 26, 2005 - The Canadian dollar fell for a third straight day as lower interest rates in Canada make the country's assets less attractive than investments in the U.S. This should be good news for Canada's economy and our exports to the U.S. In "Trades News Articles"
May 24, 2005 - The Oshawa CAW local 222 newsletter, the Oshaworker for May 2005 is posted today on their web site.
GM debt was cut to junk by Fitch Ratings, the second time in three weeks the world's biggest automaker lost an investment-grade credit rating on concern about a drop in market share. Jumping on the bandwagon... Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 23, 2005 - Toyota and GM's lead in quality survey says it all. At a time when GM is taking one body blow after another, it was interesting to see that at least the company's efforts to produce high quality vehicles are being recognized. In "Trades News Articles"
General Motors will offer a removable hardtop on the Pontiac Solstice roadster in the first quarter of 2007, supplier and GM sources say. SWEET! In "Trades News Articles"
May 22, 2005 - We know GM plans to bring its new big trucks and SUVs to market sooner to get itself out of a deep hole. And we know it has radical plans to realign its eight divisions because its top marketing guy can't stop talking about it. There is more that we don't know, yet. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 21, 2005 - As profits fall and sales slump at General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., thousands of autoworkers gathered in Montgomery, Ala., yesterday to celebrate the opening of a $1.1 billion factory to build Hyundais. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 20, 2005 - Ontario's hopes of landing a new Toyota assembly plant shifted into higher gear Thursday after Ottawa committed $55 million in funding to secure the proposed factory, according to a senior federal official. In "Trades News Articles"
You and I both know these are tough times at General Motors, and I'm a bit weary with all the recounts of why. Cars and trucks: Not selling so well. Expenses: High. Gas prices: Higher. How to fix it all before the next shareholders' meeting: Can't. In "Trades News Articles"
May 19, 2005 - Only two of GM's eight brands, Chevrolet and Cadillac, will remain full-line marques while the others will offer more limited product lines under a new strategy aimed at building sales, cutting costs and bolstering brand identity. In "Trades News Articles"
As I am sure you are aware, the foundation of any web site worth it's weight is a privacy policy. I have created one for the Skilled Trades Association that you will find in the left sidebar.
May 18, 2005 - Oshawa comes out on top again as GM manufacturing facilities led a successful list of award recipients in the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. In addition to taking the top three spots for manufacturing plants in North/South America, GM’s brands such as Buick, Cadillac and HUMMER performed extremely well. In "Trades News Articles"
May 17, 2005 - While China is now the sum of all fears among many in the West on trade matters, in the early 1990s it was Japan, particularly its auto industry, that inspired fear and loathing. Indeed, in 1995, the U.S. and Japan almost slipped into an acrimonious trade war over Japanese auto exports and parts purchases. In "Trades News Articles"
May 16, 2005 - Les Bartley is no longer with us. Les passed away early Sunday morning of colon cancer. A cremation and a private family service was held today. Rest in peace...
General Motors Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. were the top performers in a new survey of vehicle quality, with satisfied owners praising power and styling. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 15, 2005 - The Oshawa-built Chevrolet Impala mid-size sedan has been a huge hit for General Motors in recent years against stiff Japanese competition. Good news for GM and the 2006 model when good news is at times hard to come by. In "Trades News Articles"
With the heads of GM and Toyota meeting this weekend in Japan, their concerns couldn't be more different: GM is losing money and market share, while its Japanese rival is worried about doing too well and sparking a protectionist backlash in the U.S. In "Trades News Articles"
May 14, 2005 - The last Astro and Safari van rolled off the assembly line at 11:05 a.m. Friday at the Broening Highway General Motors plant, one of 2.3 million vehicles built there over seven decades. In "Trades News Articles"
May 13, 2005 - It's been two decades since General Motors halted production of its infamous trio of passenger-car diesel engines. And the smoke still hasn't cleared. GM is dragging its feet on developing diesels for the U.S. market. In "Trades News Articles"
The rear-wheel drive program for General Motors in North America is not dead and nor is Holden’s role in it. So says Holden chairman and managing director, Denny Mooney, and executive director of engineering Tony Hyde. In "Trades News Articles"
May 12, 2005 - Buzz Hargrove, president of the CAW says his almost 42,000 union members have no intention of making any concessions to Detroit's automakers on wages, pensions or health care when we begin contract negotiations this summer. In "Trades News Articles"
Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp. are discussing ways to boost their cooperation in developing environmentally friendly vehicles, including setting up a joint venture on fuel-cell vehicles and possibly a future factory in the U.S., company sources said Wednesday. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 11, 2005 - GM is recalling more than 300,000 sport utility vehicles because of problems with the turn signal on some vehicles. The recall involves the 2003-2004 model years of the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the GMC Envoy, the Isuzu Ascender, the Oldsmobile Bravada and the 2004 Buick Rainier. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 10, 2005 - Toyota Motor Corp. is open to supplying its hybrid technology to General Motors Corp. to help its ailing U.S. rival regain competitiveness, the Japanese auto maker's chairman said on Monday. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 9, 2005 - Chinese car companies are coming to the U.S. (and Europe as well) in some fashion, likely sooner rather than later. In fact, they're already here; they just entered quietly through the back door. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 8, 2005 - Cadillac kid: "Gotta compete". Marketing czar wants to give customers what they want, not what committees of executives say they want. In "Trades News Articles"
GM puts brakes on the economy and the nation feels the pinch even as the ailing automaker's influence diminishes. In "Trades News Articles"
May 7, 2005 - GM chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner has little time to formulate solutions for the company's perfect storm of problems: mounting losses, rising competition, shrinking market share and increasing health and pension costs. In "Trades News Articles"
May 5, 2005 - General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., the two biggest U.S. automakers, had their credit ratings reduced to junk-bond status by Standard & Poor's, slashing the value of $375 billion in debt and causing their shares drop. In "Trades News Articles"
Even some of the people who are presiding over a descent in GM's credit rating to "junk" say the company will be able keep turning out cars and writing loans, while the world's largest auto maker is doing what it can to ease the financial pain of any fall. In "Trades News Articles"
Only one thing can lead GM out of the wilderness. Enough already with the "GM is Doomed" stories multiplying in the media. In "Trades News Articles"
May 4, 2005 - Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian said today he intends to increase his company's stake in GM to about 9 percent of the financially stressed automaker. Now there's a hell of a quick way to increase the value of your companies stock! In "Trades News Articles"
May 3, 2005 - General Motors dealers in the U.S. sold 385,939 new cars and trucks in April. Overall, GM sales were down 7 percent on a selling days adjusted basis. Sales are up 2.1% in Canada for the same period. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
General Motors Corp. will begin adding 900 jobs at its Orion Assembly plant this month to staff a second production shift and boost output of the Pontiac G6. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 2, 2005 - High gasoline prices and changing consumer tastes have stalled sales of big sport utility vehicles, a critical source of profits for Detroit since the early 1990s but GM is forging ahead with a parade of all-new and redesigned SUVs. In "Trades News Articles"
Hopes for GM rest on new products but analysts question automaker's strategy. Read the full story in "Trades News Articles"
May 1, 2005 - American Axle has sharply lowered its production forecast, fuelling expectations that the General Motors will soon announce further output cuts in North America. What will that mean for the Gen III engine in St. Kitts? In "Trades News Articles"
GM chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner received a compensation package valued at roughly $10 million for 2004, about 22 percent lower than 2003, GM reported Friday. If you have any spare change to send his way... In "Trades News Articles"
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