Posted on 03/10/2009 3:43:07 AM PDT by Loyalist
Every night, before going to bed, every auto worker in Canada who relies on a union-negotiated paycheque should get down on his knees and thank God or some other deity for Buzz Hargrove.
And if this year's calendar says it's April 13 or May 15 or Sept. 4, he or she should say an extra prayer or two of gratitude. Why those days? Because they are, in order, the Monday after Easter, the Friday before Victoria Day and the Friday before Labour Day – regular working days for most people in the private sector, but paid holidays for members of the Canadian Auto Workers who toil at General Motors' operations in Ontario. They're also paid not to work between Christmas and New Year's (though, in turn, they give up a few days, such as the public holiday in early August).
The extra holidays remain intact in the new, cheaper version of GM Canada's deal with the CAW, negotiated over the weekend. So does the child care subsidy (up to $2,400 per kid per year) and the car purchase discount (up to $2,600), which GM Canada – despite being on the brink of crisis – generously extended last spring to some 30,000 retired workers. Of course, current GM workers who think their jobs might vanish will want to hold off on buying that new GMC Sierra, to take advantage of the $35,000 vehicle voucher they would receive as part of their $100,000 restructuring allowance.
Then there's the pension plan, GM's Achilles heel. The pensioners won't get any increase between now and at least 2012. But the old “30-and-out” system stays; production workers with three decades of service can retire well before 65 and draw $3,500 a month, or more if they're skilled tradesmen.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
Yup. It’s “BOHICA” time again...
Look for the UNION Label and that a hair dryer and take it off of your car.
Damn Canadians can't spell.
LLS
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.