Good Day

We are a group of trades people at General Motors, St. Catharines division, in Niagara. Our group is called the "Skilled Trades Association". We are here to ask you to consider intervening in our behalf. We have provided you with contact information if you feel sympathetic to our situation and would like to talk to the people who could make a difference.

GM is Niagara’s largest employer. GM’s employees are from all areas of Niagara. The St Catharines division of GM was considered one of the best foundries in the world, producing the finest castings. GM St. Catharines can boast numerous worldwide honours and awards. These are well documented and make the St. Catharines facility stand out as a respected leader in quality, safety and versatility.

We can all take pride in the fact that GM has attained this level of accomplishment at this facility. The problem is that GM seems to have forgotten how this was achieved. Before 1992, our management dealt with the employees as respected partners, but that, I’m afraid, is no longer true today. We were, and still are, asked to be team players and help GM St. Catharines be exceptional players in the world market, so that all our jobs will be secure. Well, we did our part. Production and skilled trades pulled together and achieved what GM needed to remain competitive with our products, in the market place. We pushed ourselves to do this while, we continually received layoffs and a constant bombardment of layoff notices. No matter how badly we were treated, we continued to help produce outstanding products, in a timely manner. Our own management was continuously complimenting our efforts with one hand and laying us off with the other. There was no thought given to our fiscal or mental welfare or that of our families or the community. Management had been taken over by bean counters. The GM Corporation was making record profits. GM St. Catharines was continually being upgraded and being awarded new products and was being constantly acclimated by Detroit. Through all of this the employees continually feared for their future because management showed no true respect for our combined efforts. Actions from management, such as ensuring our employment, did not follow any words of praise.  We have been laid off numerous times such as now with the excuse that there was no work to keep us employed. Each time including now we have seen us out and the people who are left in the plant are working seven days each week. They are being asked to work twelve-hour shifts. They are being forced in on weekends and being reprimanded if they don’t show. They are even working eight shifts in a week. This doesn’t sound like work shortage to us, how about you?

Well enough of this, I’m sure you get the picture. It is time for GM St. Catharines management to be respectful and show some true appreciation of the people who helped raise them to the elevated level, in the business world, they enjoy today. The employees in St. Catharines are a very close-knit family. Everyone knows everyone and we work together well. Management has enjoyed virtually, a hassle free atmosphere, where the employees have co-operated to help achieve, our highly sought after, world-class status.

An employer has disrespected each of you at one time or another. Each of you has not always been appreciated for your efforts. We know you will understand what we are experiencing. You may not have always been in a position to help yourself, but you may very well be in a position to help us today.

You may wonder how you can help? We would ask you to please contact: 

Mr. Michael Grimaldi (president of GM Canada)
905-644-6183
General Motors of Canada
1908 Col. Sam Drive  
Oshawa, ON
L1H 8T7

He is in a position to listen and do something about his managers in St. Catharines and their uncaring treatment of their employees.

Our union leadership in St. Catharines has many good ideas about how GM can utilize all the St. Catharines employees to everyone’s advantage including GM’s. If you would like to know how these ideas can be implemented or to find out more about our mistreatment you can contact our union leaders at GM St. Catharines; Gary Martin (trades) 905-322-3448 and Doug Orr (chairperson) 905-322-9496

We would conclude by saying that at General Motors, St. Catharines division, “the bottom line is always about money”. General Motors sells many good products and we take great pride in our part in that. It is the employees from the president down to the people on the lines who are the lifeblood of this great company. Each of us has helped make GM what it is today and we will continue to strive for excellence in the future. We would ask Mr. Grimaldi to help put the conscience back in GM Canada St. Catharines.  The true bottom line is,” It’s your loyal people who help you make the money”.

We thank you for your consideration in this matter. We are looking forward to receiving your reply and respectfully request that you intervene in our behalf.

With Kindest Regards,

Papa Dez