One can understand why the Canadian Auto Workers union was miffed to learn GM plans to move production of the Camaro from an Oshawa, ON plant to the Lansing facility where the Cadillac CTS and ATS are built, but no one could have expected CAW responding as though Daniel Akerson slandered Anne Murray.
Windsor Star: “This decision by General Motors today quite frankly is a betrayal to Canada as a nation, to the Canadian taxpayers and to workers that need these jobs — not just in the assembly plant but spinoff jobs associated with it,” CAW president Ken Lewenza said at a hastily called news conference in Oshawa following GM’s announcement Wednesday.
Now, Canada did provide taxpayer support to GM during their bankruptcy and, in exchange for the assistance, GM did agree to keep 16% of its North American production in Canada until pretty much right now. This is pretty much like when your transmission dies about 15 miles after the powertrain warranty expired.
Ontario is hopefully, however, that GM will continue to build something in Oshawa after the Camaro moves to Lansing, likely in 2015 or 2016.
Windsor Star: Ontario Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said the province expects GM to quickly bring a new product to the Oshawa plant and stand by its commitment to add a third shift to the flexible assembly line that produces the Camaro and other vehicles.
“We will carefully review GM’s obligations and ensure they are accountable for those commitments,” he said.
-- JTW
