Election 2008 – Day 23
President Ken Lewenza of the CAW, Canada’s largest private sector union, asked his members to vote strategically to stop a Harper majority from becoming a reality.
“Stopping a Stephen Harper majority is one of the most important challenges progressive Canadians have ever faced” — Ken Lewenza
In this story, it is obvious he blames the Tory Government, rather than the fact that people do not want trucks and SUVs anymore, for closures in the Ford plants, GM plants and numerous auto parts plants.
He wants his members to vote Liberal or NDP depending on your riding. Hmm.. Liberals want to put a carbon tax on every auto plant out there, making cars more expensive (read: layoffs). The NDP wants to tax “big corporations”, like, say, GM and Ford (read: layoffs). The Conservatives are the only ones proposing tax cuts for corporations, so I don’t really see his motivation here.
I said it before, the closure of those plants has nothing to do with government: it has to do with the lack of foresight and market research by the ‘big three’: Ford, GM and Chrysler. They did not realise people were switching to smaller, more fuel efficient cars until it was too late. Toyota and Honda, on the other hand, clued in a long time ago, and are actually building new plants in Ontario.
Copyright 2010 ERWIN GERRITS. All Rights Reserved.
7 COMMENTS
1 Simeon
The CAW best register itself as a political party.
2 Dave Hodson
It’s really quite facinating to watch. Without a doubt, a Conservative government is the best possible outcome for the auto industry, and they go out of their way to try to prevent one. CAW members are sure getting great value for their union dues! They’re actually paying to fund an organization that lobbies to make their jobs disappear. What a bunch of idiots!
3 Jim Harder
What the CAW must also realize is that they have negotiated some incredible contracts for their members over the years and in so doing might have seriously impaired the automakers’ ability to compete. The big three have definately contributed to their own demise…but have the union members done themselves in by way of sustained greed at the bargaining tables of years past?
4 admin
Jim Harder: yes, you’re right. One of the reasons the auto industry (and other unionised trades) have priced themselves out of the market is with their huge wages. I heard a mechanic at OC Transpo, the Ottawa public transport, makes over $100,000/yr because he’s been there for 25+ years.
5 Paul
Different day…different idiot running the CAW!!!
6 x2para
“progressive Canadians” what is that exactly anyway, all those people who suck at the public teet or does it also include those who have been bamboozled by socialist-liberal tricks?
7 Kursk
How is it that every time i hear the words ‘progressive Canadians’ uttered, it is by some under educated socialist half wit like Ken Lewenza?
His time could be better spent in helping retrain the workers down at the traktor faktory for future, lower paid, small auto assembly jobs.
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