CAW, unite; you have nothing to lose but the vendors -&- Scrap Metals China Bound?

"Charisma is no substitute for force of character"

Dedicated to the present government (quotation from Macleans Oct. 31, 05)



What's in it for Buzz? In Propping up the Status Quo Liberals

There have been instances in the last couple of days of people propping up the status quo Liberal government -- the one that has nothing to do with the corrupt Liberal Party of Justice Gomery ignominy. Our government wants us to realize that it belongs to the other one, the squeaky clean one.

Buzz Hargrove cautioned his Canadian Auto Workers, not to vote NDP, the party the CAW has traditionally supported. Buzz must be so afraid of any party coming into power that might not play politics with other people's money, as have the Liberals . . . that he has forsaken the NDP and told union members to vote Liberal. I can only conclude that Buzz has been or will be paid off in some manner--government grant money, preferential treatment that would favour him and / or his union in some way, or something else.

It may be plain fear -- not knowing how a cleaned up government would affect him and his union. Are union leaders selected by secret ballot or are workers' jobs on the line because they vote with a show of hands for union leadership, for example? What about workers who have not agreed with supporting any one political party such as the NDP now being told to support the party of corruption? Would there be any likelihood of union members' revolt? A change in the union or government tradition may have Buzz worried.

As a worker, would you vote the way anyone else told you to? That would make me support any party except that one. [I actually did that once, after being told to vote for someone. . . perhaps not my wisest move, but that was my reaction. ]

Paul Martin and Buzz in hugging contact for a photo-op makes me wonder. Why would a union leader not want a cleaned up government? Would it not be an advantage to his union . . . or to him? What might be affected if corruption in government were cleaned up? How could any of that negatively affect Buzz Hargrove?




Leading CAW union down the garden path -- Buzz misleading CAW

* Under Martin & Team, the numbers of those decent factory jobs and salaries are diminishing anyway, as long as jobs move to China. Businesses think they are doing business there for less, and the upfront costs are lower in China at present. We won't know the true cost for a while yet . . . and there will be costs, besides the obvious ones.

The costs of and climate for business in China have been attractive for various reasons:

* Low wages -- lower than in North America

* Use of prison labour keeps costs lower

* Lack of the benefits that CAW and other workers take for granted

* Less labour unrest and fewer demands dare be made since the state controls all, though I have heard there is some change, and some unrest.

* Comparative lack of mobility, so there is a captive work force in place.

* Grouping of factories in Shandong province and other areas close to Hong Kong for shipping is advantageous to business. Also the proximity of a less controlled Hong Kong has its charms for businessmen (and for their wives) and particularly, those reluctant about entering China at first -- HK was westernized earlier, thus more reassuring and hence, more seductive (I expect.) China is reported to be tightening controls on Hong Kong. (I vaguely remember something about Tung Chee Hwa(?) going to China -- conferring with China's rulers -- that it was negative for Hong Kong. )

* Auto parts are already being fabricated in China (whether a few, most or what, check) and cars like the Chery out of China will--or have--come to North America, which will put even more auto workers out of jobs.

* Once enough jobs have gone abroad and workers are reduced to working at anything, they will find they can no longer afford to buy what their comparatively good salaries allowed in the past. Some will lose their chance at pensions and others who would have worked in the auto industry will never get the chance.

* Along with jobs lost to China, some are headed for other parts of Asia, Mexico and India.

Under a government that has been assiduously marketing and urging the selling of resources, that has been courting business and creating ties to China, Japan, France, India and others--anything but the US--what would be the advantage for the auto workers to support--to prop up--more of the same? Jobs that are now in Canada will abroad, and those companies which enter Canada bring their own trusted coterie for the good jobs, or have already cultivated them here.

The propaganda is that there are many jobs in Canada's oil patch and workers are needed. How many auto workers have the training needed? How many can make the switch and will move? Do they have the necessary skills? If Minister Volpe is going to bring in 40,000 new immigrants in the next year, what will they work at and how will this affect the CAW?

I would question both parties about plans for this whole aspect of the economy.

What I have enumerated are just a few of the questions a member of the CAW should ask his candidate and himself when he considers how he will vote. There are more.



Scrap Metals China Bound? CAW, what does this mean to you and jobs?

Update: There was a report within the last year that China was buying up every bit of scrap metal it could lay its hands on (Search FHTR). Now, in the Globe and Mail, B1 (mislabelled as page B13)

"How hot are metals? Thieves are stealing lamp posts" and B6 "Bizarre scrap metal thefts feed a frenzy"

Aluminum, copper and even steel prices for scrap have risen.

Where do auto workers suppose that metal is going?

Financial Post Dec. 3, 05, Editorial Page: There is also a report that Peter Munk of Placer Dome and Barrick Gold executives "are publicly lobbying against foreign investment in Canada's mining sector" -- It seems not to be online at the NP; however, a Google search gives:

Globeinvestor.com: Keep mines in Canadian hands: Munk "Barrick Gold Corp. chairman Peter Munk has hit the lobbying trail, ... “Wherever Placer Dome goes, goes the dominance of the [gold-mining] industry.” ..."


Terence Corcoran disagrees, stating that it is one thing to forbid sales to China, which is, in effect, China's government, quite another to forbid all foreign investment.

China is a neo-fascist dictatorship short on human and economic rights and long on unfinished and unstated military and ideological objectives. Shutting the border to China MinMetals would have been in the national Canadian interest on any number of levels. Closing it to Newmont Mining of Denver or other foreign corporations serves only the interests of Barrick and Canadian mine managements.

Do CAW members really think (ex) shipping tycoon PM and his Team will protect auto workers' jobs? Think again. Shipping companies--perhaps even those owned by relatives and friends--need to ship something if they are to prosper.

Once the ducks are in a row for minerals, metals, petroleum, LNG to head to China, once the pipeline(s) are built, consider what will be travelling back to China after dropping off the finished products that come from China to North America.

CAW workers, unite; you have nothing to lose but the sellers . . . if you do not follow Buzz Hargrove's advice which is to maintain the status quo.

Consider your jobs and do NOT vote for what PM & his sales team have been doing -- actions which will alter Canada's jobs market even more in future

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