(The following article is from the June 16-30, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

By Sam Hammond

     What does 435 million dollars buy in Ontario? It could build over 3000 affordable homes, requiring at least 15,000 appliances, untold building materials and lots of light trucks. Or it could purchase a litany of false promises, deceits, outright lies and subterfuge. What would you choose?

     This is exactly the situation in the most arrogant sneer yet delivered to the working class of this country, who provided $435 million out of hard won wages (confiscated as taxes), given to General Motors by the federal and Ontario corporate providers charading as representatives of the people. The total includes $175 million from the Ontario government as a forgivable loan to GM if certain job guarantees and new product investments are made in its Oshawa operation; $60 million to universities to research what the automotive manufacturers might need in the near future; and $200 million by the federal government to stimulate the industry. This was done as late as 2005, after years of subsidies from the public purse to try and maintain an auto industry after NAFTA and the giveaway of the Auto Pact. Speaking biblically, this form of government "taketh away" from us and "giveth" to the corporations.

     So what is the corporate response to this benevolence? Take the money and run to the low wage anti-union areas of the United States or to Mexico. Run with the loot and abandon the most efficient plants in the Americas, or perhaps the world, because the corporate agenda for Canada does not necessarily include producing here.

     The Canadian Auto Workers made an historic move with the big three negotiations by opening agreements early (September was the expiry date), and pre-empting their negotiating conference, which traditionally allowed massive input into bargaining priorities and strategies. They started talks with Ford and then Chrysler, without the strike weapon, taking concessions to stave off the effects of a massive meltdown of the UAW in the United States.

     There were concessions - loss of holiday time, tiered wages for new hires for three years, and other items - but these were accepted by the membership, except at the Oakville Ford plant where the contract was rejected. Ford is in a hiring position in Oakville (500 this fall), and Chrysler is holding its own, but GM is in serious trouble after staking its future on gas guzzling SUVs (which are not manufactured at the Oshawa plant).

     The new GM contract contained assurances of job maintenance and the introduction of a new hybrid truck that would keep the plant operating until at least 2011.

     Let's go back in recent time. On August 30, 2007, GM says it will cut the third shift at the Oshawa Truck plant and permanently lay off 1200 workers. This in response to Ontario's $275 million injection. On April 28, 2008, GM announces another shift cut with 900 job losses. On June 2, just two weeks after agreeing to maintain CAW jobs into 2011, GM announces a pending plant closure for May 2009. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that this corporate contempt is only fuelled by massive gifts of taxpayers' money.

     The reaction of the CAW, from the plant leadership to President Buzz Hargrove, was shock and anger. The union has properly called it a betrayal and "illegal". The members of Local 222 (Oshawa) reacted by closing down the corporate headquarters on June 3. Chris Buckley, president of Local 222 and on the master negotiating team for GM, has vowed to keep the headquarters closed indefinitely. On June 7, about 300 workers drove their vehicles in a motorcade around the plant, effectively preventing deliveries and causing a two-hour shutdown of production.

     Buckley has expressed the views of his members with observations like "corporate greed" and "highest level of betrayal." The memory of the older CAW, the fighting union, burst out dramatically when he said, "I challenge them to take one part of that plant. That truck will not leave Oshawa. We'll fight them to the bitter end."

     Meanwhile, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the Harper Tories remain noncommittal about the fate of another plant, another 2600 jobs. And why not? They don't represent us, they represent General Motors and the corporate agenda. They always have and they always will. Why cry about 2600 assembly jobs and perhaps around 12,000 spin-off jobs, when 500,000 have been sold already?

     This was completely predictable when NAFTA was signed, when we gave up control of energy, when we gave away the Auto Pact. Don't expect any relief from the boys, both Liberal and Tory, who drew up the blueprints.

     The labour movement in general must do more about this crisis. There was a demo against the loss of manufacturing jobs held in Oshawa June 1, before the GM announcement. It was supported by Steelworkers, CUPW, OPSEU and others, including a couple of Labour Councils, but these were street level contingents. Another rally has been called for June 12. Hopefully the CLC leadership will begin to play a bigger role in mobilizing the labour movement.

     The CAW must not be left to fight this alone. They should be in charge, but every major union in this country should pledge support, including resources, to this campaign. The CAW emerged fighting at ground zero in Oshawa. They deserve unity and solidarity.