Hargrove calls on automakers to honour defunct Auto Pact
Jun 09, 2008 - 05:01 AM
Tony Van Alphen
OSHAWA -- The Canadian Auto Workers union has asked the federal opposition
parties to press the minority Conservative government for a trade
action that would force General Motors to keep a truck plant open in
Oshawa next year.
Union president Buzz Hargrove told about 1,000
workers and supporters yesterday at a blockade of GM's Canadian
headquarters in Oshawa that the government should make the company
abide by the terms of the defunct Auto Pact.
The 1965 pact laid
the foundation for Canada's modern auto industry by calling on
manufacturers to produce one vehicle here for every one they sold in
the country or face stiff duties.
"It's as simple as that,"
Hargrove said in a later interview. "We're asking the opposition
parties to present a motion in the House of Commons that would force GM
to meet the principles of the Auto Pact. They would have to build a
truck in Canada for every one they sold here. That would keep the truck
plant open."
The pact, which also contained minimum Canadian
content levels for domestic auto production, disappeared in 2001 when
the World Trade Organization ruled some provisions broke global
regulations for the fair movement of goods between all countries.
GM announced last week that it would close the plant in the second half
of next year. The company is also closing three other assembly
operations on the continent.
But the union argues GM misled the
CAW by agreeing in a recent contract to long-term production
commitments in exchange for labour cost savings including a wage freeze.
The
product commitments depend on demand but the CAW said GM knew it would
close the plant in talks less than a month ago. Workers would have also
never ratified the contract without the production commitments, the
union says.
Hargrove said he will send letters to the opposition
parties this week in the union's continuing fight to save the
43-year-old plant.
The closing of the Oshawa truck plant would
eliminate more than 2,000 jobs as well as employment for thousands of
others who provide parts and services.
Meanwhile, a blockade of
GM's headquarters in east Oshawa by CAW Local 222 protesting the
company's move enters its sixth day today. At a barbecue yesterday in
front of the headquarters, Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian
Labour Congress, joined Hargrove in assuring the workers the union
movement is behind them.
-- Tony Van Alphen is a reporter for the Toronto Star
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