Skilled Trades Association, CAW Local 199 St. Catharines (General Motors Unit) | ||||||
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January 2008 Letter to the editors of Niagara Falls, Welland and St. Catharines papers Blame General Motors The Skilled Trades Association has felt confident all along that this new transmission work would be announced soon. We are, however, feeling like Rodney Dangerfield in that as a workforce, we get no respect from the company. GM feels as though it has to make the situation sound as bad as it can so it can get as much help from government as possible. We have done, and our union has certainly done, what we can to ensure we have plenty of work in the future. The new C.A.F.E. rules recently passed in the U.S. will require more use of six and eight speed transmissions in future vehicles. There is a lot of anxiety on the shop floor. Without the transmission project, we know much of the work will dry up soon. Last summer, our union officials did what GM requested of them when they negotiated the competitive operating agreement to attract new work. The blame for the delay in the transmission line announcement lies squarely on the shoulders of the corporation. Without an announcement of more work at this facility our communities will certainly endure more unemployment and hardship. We have done what we can to ensure that GM has a long and prosperous future in Niagara, not only for ourselves, but for our children and for the communities in which we live. Nothing less is acceptable. It is now time for GM to step up to the plate. | ||||||
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