Canadian Auto Workers

Ford announced today that it has sealed a deal for a new four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union that covers approximately 41,000 employees.According to the new labor contract, Ford will add 12,000 hourly jobs over the next four years in its US facilities, bringing home production from overseas operations in Mexico, China and Japan. Ford will also add production shifts that will account for 5,000 of the 12,000 new jobs at four of its US factories: the Michigan Assembly Plant...Read Full Story

Chrysler Canada has canceled plans to end the third shift at its minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, a decision that will save more than 1,200 jobs, the head of the Canadian Auto Workers union said Friday.After months of bad news for the Canadian auto industry, Ken Lewenza said the announcement was a good news story for the hard-hit industrial border city in southwestern Ontario.Windsor has been battered by the auto sector's restructuring, losing thousands of jobs from earlier streamlining at...Read Full Story

Nearly two-thirds of union workers at a Canadian auto plant jointly owned by General Motors and Suzuki have approved a new contract that would freeze wages and pensions, trim benefits, introduce a monthly health care contribution and reduce break times.However, the new contract at the CAMI Automotive Inc. assembly plant puts base wages on par with General Motors for the first time ever. The agreement also provides for the production of a new model to replace the Chevrolet Equinox and the GMC...Read Full Story

The Canadian Auto Workers say they reached a tentative agreement on a new labor deal with Chrysler.CAW President Ken Lewenza says the deal was reached Friday evening.Chrysler has until April 30 to reach deals with its unions in Canada and the U.S. to cement a technology-sharing alliance with Fiat. It also needs to provide a restructuring plan to governments in both countries that will enable it to qualify for government loans to keep it afloat.Chrysler told the CAW that it wanted concessions...Read Full Story

An overwhelming majority of workers at Chrysler Canada voted to accept a labor concession deal reached between their union and the beleaguered automaker, a union official said Sunday.The deal was approved by 87 percent of those who voted over the weekend.Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza said his members understand better than anyone the current turmoil of the auto industry.Chrysler and the Canadian government told the CAW that it wanted concessions from the union that would make...Read Full Story

Canadian officials said Monday they agree with President Barack Obama that neither General Motors nor Chrysler has proposed changes comprehensive enough to justify further long-term bailouts.But Canada will go ahead with up to 4 billion Canadian dollars ($3.2 billion) in interim loans to keep the companies afloat temporarily. Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement said that without the interim funding Chrysler would not have been able to meet payroll demands."That was the stark choice we...Read Full Story

I think that there is a certain head of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union that requires a healthy dose of reality and a smack up side his head.Ken Lewenza apparently continually cites previous ‘mega-million dollar concessions’ the CAW and its membership has made to Chrysler, Ford and of course, General Motors. Mr. Lewenza is reluctant to talk with Chrysler and its President, Tom LaSorda who has stated that for Chrysler to remain viable, CAW workers must reduce their hourly compensation...Read Full Story

Workers are voting on another cost-cutting deal that the Canadian Auto Workers union has reached with General Motors Canada in the automaker's bid to qualify for more government loans and stave off liquidation.Union leader Ken Lewenza said Friday the CAW was pressured to reach an agreement after the United Auto Workers agreed to a tentative deal with the U.S. government and General Motors Canada's parent company, GM Corp, on Thursday."There was a sense of urgency after the UAW reached a deal...Read Full Story

A new General Motors emerged from bankruptcy Friday under a government-backed plan to rescue the troubled US auto giant, the company announced.The automaker transferred its main assets to a new government-supported car company, under a plan financed by the administration of President Barack Obama and the Canadian government.Under the plan, the US government will own about 61 percent of the new auto company, while the Canadian government and a United Auto Workers union health care trust and...Read Full Story

Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement on Thursday urged the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union to negotiate dramatic labor cost cuts with Chrysler or risk the car company losing government aid."The CAW has to recognize that in order for Chrysler to survive in this country, Chrysler has to be competitive with the rest of the Canadian market," Clement told a press conference.The union, which has rejected further cuts to auto workers' wages and benefits, is to resume negotiations with Chrysler...Read Full Story