Skilled Trades Association, CAW Local 199 St. Catharines (General Motors Unit) | ||||||
| ||||||
THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD, THE WELLAND TRIBUNE AND THE NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW. IT WAS SENT OUT IN RESPONSE TO THE HIGH FEATURE V6 PUBLICITY DAY WHICH BOASTED THE FASTEST RAMP UP IN WORLD HISTORY FOR A PROJECT OF THIS TYPE. IT WAS A BITTER SWEET DAY FOR THOSE OF US SITTING AT HOME. IT WAS WRITTEN BY YOURS TRULY BUT APPROVED BY ALL MEMBERS WHO RESPONDED AND YOUR STEERING COMMITTEE. Good Day I am writing you on behalf of the laid off trades people from the General Motors St. Catharines plant. Your story last week about the High Feature V6 work at our plant was interesting but for many of us it represented good and bad news. This is the second time your neighbors (G.M. employees) have ramped up a new major project for General Motors St. Catharines in world record time, only to have many of us laid off after the job was completed. We are once again unemployed while GM receives acclamations from Detroit. General Motors is a large employer in Niagara and has a responsibility to its work force and this community. Most of industry today seems to support the bottom line by cutting employees first and employing other cost savings measures later. Our union leadership is very supportive and are knowledgeable people who are in touch with the world market and has offered G.M. many unique cost cutting measures and ways to continue full employment without sacrificing the bottom line. Our managers don’t know, or seem to have forgotten what it feels like to be out of work. Everyone suffers during layoffs, from the employee, to their families, to the coffers of the community, right down to GM itself. The operation has lost highly skilled people who have serviced equipment for fifteen years or more. Ideas for improvement are not shared, animosity is created, insecurity is flourishing among the people remaining but worst of all the trust is gone that made GM St. Catharines great. At one time management and employees worked cooperatively to create a superior product in a timely manner. Today being a team player means, giving 110% so that management can slash manpower at the first opportunity. G.M. has cut the heart out of its loyal work force. Today it seems our managers show no respect or compassion for their employees’ financial or mental well-being. We are ready to cooperate in whatever way necessary, to do whatever is asked of us, to continue to make General Motors St. Catharines division the “Best Of The Best”. All we ask in return is to stop this disrespectful lay off roller coaster that shows a total lack of respect and responsibility towards the people in this community who have supported sales and employees, who have helped make General Motors what it is today. “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” | ||||||
| ||||||
