Chrysler threatens to pull out of Canada

[Northlands]

The story here:

http://money.canoe.ca/News/Sectors/Industrials/2009/03/12/8721666-ap.html

?Chrysler LLC cannot afford to manufacture products in a jurisdiction that is uncompetitive, relative to other jurisdictions,? president Tom LaSorda told a Parliamentary committee Wednesday night.

Chrysler?s labor costs in Canada work out to about $20 an hour more than automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., LaSorda told the committee.

?Currently Chrysler CAW (Canadian Auto Workers) are not competitive,? he said.

The automaker also asked for roughly $2.3 billion from the Canadian and Ontario governments and demanded relief in a tax dispute with Ottawa.


So the CAW recently make a concession to GM by accepting a wage freeze. I believe UAW took paycuts did they not? Not sure what is going on with Chrysler, but I figure the CAW would be looking to do something similar as they did with GM.. unless Chrysler asked for deeper cuts.

[2o6]

Well, for starters Canadians typically like more small cars; something Chrysler is really lacking in.

[Laconian]

Didn't Payman just say that Chrysler sales are going gangbusters at the moment???

[Northlands]

I'm not sure. They're sure advertising like hell where I live. But sales wise, they're at the bottom rung of the Big Three up here it seems.

[Laconian]

I'm not sure. They're sure advertising like hell where I live. But sales wise, they're at the bottom rung of the Big Three up here it seems.

That's what I had thought, but he (or some other Canadian) said something completely contradictory and credited it to the deep incentive programs. Ugh, I do not want to use that Search function, so I am going to drop it.

[SVT666]

Chrysler is 1st in sales in Canada right now because you can buy a Grand Caravan for $18K, or a Sebring for a $1.50, or a Ram for $23K.  The prices are unreal.

[Soup DeVille]

Didn't Payman just say that Chrysler sales are going gangbusters at the moment???

They're not talking about refusing to sell to Canadians, just that they won't produce in Canada.

From my experiences with the CAW, I can't really blame them.

[NomisR]

They're not talking about refusing to sell to Canadians, just that they won't produce in Canada.

From my experiences with the CAW, I can't really blame them.

Worse than UAW?  That's really sad..

[MaxPower]

Chrysler is 1st in sales in Canada right now because you can buy a Grand Caravan for $18K, or a Sebring for a $1.50, or a Ram for $23K.  The prices are unreal.

And you get a free Caliber for coming in the door.

[SVT666]

And you get a free Caliber for coming in the door.

Yeah I know.  I went into a Chrysler dealer in Kelowna here to take a look at the Challenger that was in their showroom, and they shoved a set of keys at me.  I thought they were giving me the Challenger to test drive, but it was actually the keys to a brand new Caliber that they were giving me just for walking in the door.  I refused it and they started to beg me to take it.  I had to leave because I was starting to get a little embarrassed.

[Northlands]

They're not talking about refusing to sell to Canadians, just that they won't produce in Canada.

From my experiences with the CAW, I can't really blame them.

Listening to the media rep. for the CAW a month or so back was just surreal. This was when they were in premliminary talks with GM about working out a deal in Canada. It's as if they had no clue what state the entire auto industry was experiencing in North America. While the UAW made concessions, these idiots were still posting demands. During the outset of talks, it really sounded like they'd rather lose their jobs than take a cut to be able to continue working. Even with GM saying that they may have to close up in Canada never daunted them. 

[Northlands]

Yeah I know.  I went into a Chrysler dealer in Kelowna here to take a look at the Challenger that was in their showroom, and they shoved a set of keys at me.  I thought they were giving me the Challenger to test drive, but it was actually the keys to a brand new Caliber that they were giving me just for walking in the door.  I refused it and they started to beg me to take it.  I had to leave because I was starting to get a little embarrassed.

Wow.. I had no idea that was going on. Locally Ford and Chrysler have the majority of the ad campaigns happening, with a Ford dealership offering either a free Ranger with the purchase of a non discounted high option F-150 or a free focus. ( I think the Ranger or Focus was either a never driven '08 or a real low mileage variant. )

Chrysler handing out Calibers... jeezus.

[SVT666]

Wow.. I had no idea that was going on. Locally Ford and Chrysler have the majority of the ad campaigns happening, with a Ford dealership offering either a free Ranger with the purchase of a non discounted high option F-150 or a free focus. ( I think the Ranger or Focus was either a never driven '08 or a real low mileage variant. )

Chrysler handing out Calibers... jeezus.

I was being sarcastic.

[NomisR]

Chrysler handing out Calibers... jeezus.

And people still won't take it.. it's THAT BAD..

[Northlands]

I was being sarcastic.

Ahhh..  <phew>

However I was serious about the ford dealer. 

[Soup DeVille]

Listening to the media rep. for the CAW a month or so back was just surreal. This was when they were in premliminary talks with GM about working out a deal in Canada. It's as if they had no clue what state the entire auto industry was experiencing in North America. While the UAW made concessions, these idiots were still posting demands. During the outset of talks, it really sounded like they'd rather lose their jobs than take a cut to be able to continue working. Even with GM saying that they may have to close up in Canada never daunted them. 

When I worked comissioning some of the equipment for the Oshawa paint shop (GM, not Chrysler, but still), I was not allowed to do so much as open a panel door, that was the electrician's job. The electrician would refuse to secure so much as a piece of unistrut, even if it was there to support conduit, because that was the millwright's job. If you needed to use a ladder, you had to put in a written request, and have it approved by the safety manager. Every time.

[NomisR]

When I worked comissioning some of the equipment for the Oshawa paint shop (GM, not Chrysler, but still), I was not allowed to do so much as open a panel door, that was the electrician's job. The electrician would refuse to secure so much as a piece of unistrut, even if it was there to support conduit, because that was the millwright's job. If you needed to use a ladder, you had to put in a written request, and have it approved by the safety manager. Every time.

And how is the company expected to be efficient when crap works like this?

[sportyaccordy]

THREATENS?????

[SVT666]

THREATENS?????

They're a big employer.

[JWC]

When I worked comissioning some of the equipment for the Oshawa paint shop (GM, not Chrysler, but still), I was not allowed to do so much as open a panel door, that was the electrician's job. The electrician would refuse to secure so much as a piece of unistrut, even if it was there to support conduit, because that was the millwright's job. If you needed to use a ladder, you had to put in a written request, and have it approved by the safety manager. Every time.

I used to have a drinking buddy that worked for PacBell.  He had to go to a customer's house to rewire a phone line to another location in the same room.  Problem was, there was not an existing hole in the wall for the new line to run through.  Union required that a "specialist" from construction perform that task.  Rhett called it in, two hours later a huge utility bucket truck pulls up in the driveway.  Rhett tells the guy where the line needs to come through, the specialist takes a screwdriver, pokes a hole in the wall and leaves. Fifteen minutes later, Rhett had the new line wired up and working. 

Rhett loved the union, but still considered the rules stupid.

[AutobahnSHO]

HA
The only place I approve of unions is in the Elevator Mechanic's business.
(No they're NOT "repairmen." Repairmen only repair stuff. Mechanics can repair, inspect, install, too.  )

Seriously though, I don't want amateurs working on elevators.
(I had to 'escort' some mechanics around NSA a few months when I was working there. Kinda fun, compared to 'escorting' the bricklayers. (They just laid brick.)) 

[Tave]

Everytime I read the thread title, the 14-year old in me snickers, "that's what she said."

[SVT666]

I'll take the cheque, mate
Posted 3/16/2009 12:00:00 AM

I'll take the cheque, mate
Hear me now government, these are my demands, and -- like the car companies -- I want cash

By Lorrie Goldstein, Toronto Sun
Last Updated: 15th March 2009, 4:00am

Inspired by Chrysler LLC President Thomas LaSorda's remarks to a parliamentary committee last week, asking taxpayers for billions of dollars in loans to help save his near-bankrupt company, or it may cease Canadian operations, I have decided to follow his example:

Dear: Prime Minister

Stephen Harper,

Ontario Premier

Dalton McGuinty,

Toronto Mayor

David Miller

From: Lorrie Goldstein

Gentlemen:

It costs me too !@@$%%# much to live in this @$$^%% country, this @$$%^$ province and this $%^$^k city!!!!!

Lorrie Goldstein LEG cannot afford to write columns in a jurisdiction that is uncompetitive relative to other column-writing jurisdictions.

Indeed, if the financial needs of Lorrie Goldstein LEG are not met, I will be forced to pull up stakes and move to another country.

In order to survive, Lorrie Goldstein LEG (by the way, my middle name is "Edward," hence Lorrie Goldstein "LEG," like Chrysler LLC whatever the @#@@#%%$ the LLC stands for) needs three things.

First, a loan from the taxpayers of Canada and Ontario. A BIG one. Pronto.

Second, I paid too much in the past year to have my washing machine fixed, my roof reshingled and my toilet repaired.

I need all these workers to reduce their labour costs charged to Lorrie Goldstein LEG from $75 an hour to $55 an hour, pronto, and if they don't, I'm pulling up stakes and moving out of Canada.

So, why am I complaining to you that my labour costs are too high, you ask?

Isn't it my fault if my labour costs are too high -- after all I'm in charge of Lorrie Goldstein LEG and I agreed to pay them, right?

Indeed, how can it possibly be the fault of the taxpayers of Canada, from whom I am seeking a BIG, BIG, loan, that my labour costs are too high, I can just hear you saying?

Well, I haven't figured that out yet, either.

But I will and trust me when I do, you're going to regret it if you don't do exactly what I say.

Now, I know you may think this sounds like a threat, but it's not.

The bottom line is I needed to be very, very clear, because ambiguity doesn't help the process.

So, where was I?

Oh, yeah ... I almost forgot.

And the third thing I need is for Revenue Canada to stop bugging me about paying my taxes.

I'll decide what taxes Lorrie Goldstein LEG owes, thank you very much, and when I do, you'll get your #$^%* money ... Eventually.

What do you think I'm going to do if I don't get my way, shut down my operations in Canada and move them to another country?

Do you think I'm saying Lorrie Goldstein LEG is on the verge of bankruptcy if I don't get a BIG, BIG, BIG loan from the taxpayers of Canada?

Do you think I'm saying that ... that ... oh ... wait a minute.

That is what I'm saying, isn't it?

OK, never mind that.

In closing, I want to emphasize that it is vital that Lorrie Goldstein LEG gets a BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG loan from the taxpayers of Canada, so that Lorrie Goldstein LEG can survive and continue to pay taxes (well, OK, maybe not all the taxes) and contribute to the Canadian economy.

After all, doesn't that make a lot more sense than just leaving those taxes in the pockets of taxpayers in the first place, so they can survive and contribute to the Canadian economy?

Well, doesn't it?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see my bank manager about taking out a second mortgage on my house.

And, trust me, I'm going to make three things very clear to him up front, first ... oh ... wait, you've already heard all this, haven't you?

OK, fine then. Just let me know when the cheque is in the mail.

Sincerely,

Lorrie Goldstein

President

Lorrie Goldstein LEG