GM “overzealous with their proposals,” CAW says

EDITORIAL NOTE: They say cutback -- We say Fightback!

_____________________________________________________________________
GM “overzealous with their proposals,” CAW says.
By Grace Macaluso, Canwest News Service May 16, 2009 12:03 AM


Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza speaks to members of the CAW local 444 Chrysler workers at a ratification vote April 26, 2009, in Windsor, ON.
Photograph by: Dan Janisse, Windsor Star

General Motors is being "overzealous" with its contract demands and the two sides "aren’t even close to a collective agreement," Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza said Friday evening.

"General Motors has indicated that the sacrifices made by Chrysler workers duplicated by General Motors is not enough," Lewenza said hours before a midnight deadline set by the federal and provincial governments to reach an agreement that brings hourly labour costs in line with those of Toyota’s Canadian operations.

The two sides must reach an agreement that meets cost-cutting conditions set by government in order for GM to qualify for billions in additional financial aid, or risk liquidation.

Last March, union and management struck a deal that cut costs by about $7 an hour, whereas the Chrysler deal negotiated last month cut labour costs by $19 an hour.

"They’re being overzealous with their proposals," said Lewenza.

"They constantly talk about the Toyota benchmark and that’s not comparing apples to apples. The reality is General Motors has 25,000 retirees that the CAW has a responsibility to represent. Toyota, because they’re a new manufacturing facility in comparison with GM doesn’t have those kinds of costs."

Lewenza said the two sides are "are pushing each other. We’re meeting, it’s frustrating, quite frankly. It’s disturbing to be in a third set of bargaining with GM in 12 months and the company is giving little recognition to the work that’s been done in the last three rounds of bargaining."

He said the union refuses to give in to the company’s demands for cuts in wages, benefits and pensions.

"Those are the issues that seem to be outstanding," said Lewenza.

Windsor Star
__________________________________________________________________