CAW Local 222 head can defend himself
Tue May 20, 2008

To the editor:

Re: Union head should push for more product for GM, Chris Topple letter, May 9.

Chris Buckley doesn't need me or anyone else to defend him from unfounded statements by members of the community. However, I am driven to his defence by comments made by Chris Topple.

What does Mr. Topple know about the current crisis in our manufacturing sector? Not much, by the sound of it. The manufacturing sector has lost more than 350,000 jobs since 2002 -- most of them in Ontario and BC. Like so many others, he just doesn't get it.

Tax cuts and aid for R and D are great incentives for domestic corporations to continue to do business here, but it is not enough. Detroit bases its decisions on other things such as the exchange rate and market share. Since we have seen our dollar rise to parity with the greenback, the cost advantage has dwindled. Many off-shore companies are protected on their turf by governments with trade barriers to imports yet they have open access to the Canadian market. Stew Low thinks that is just fine, which worries me as well, but Chris Topple's defence of government inaction and the blaming of Chris Buckley for not forcing GM to commit new product, is just plain ignorant!

The union does not get to choose what is built in Oshawa; the company does. And history shows that whatever we are given, we build it better than anyone. When you consider GM's guarantee, along with a trophy case full of quality and efficiency awards, the members of Local 222 have earned more product don't you think?

We need a level playing field and we need it now.

Steve Conway

Courtice