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rr Bougeg Cllizen -- Tiesda ativ GM president concerned about neg vote The President of General Motors Canada says the rejection last week by members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 222 has "put at risk thou- sands of jobs in Oshawa and at GM and outside supplier facilities continuous improvement, will sur- vive," said Mr. Mr. Nimigon said Local 222 is prepared to discuss any issue with the company, but he referred to the overtime issue as "whipsaw- ing," a term used to describe the practise of "pitting worker against workers on the tentative local agreement," said GM Canada George Peapples in a toughly worded statement issues last week. By a margin of 1747 votes © 1622, members of Local 222 rejected the agreement that would have allowed the company to schedule up to an hour overtime at the end of a shift if production had been interrupted. Jim Nimigon, vice president of Local 222 in Oshawa said Peapples' remarks "make for good media," but Nimigon doesn't think the union member- ship is in a better of worse posi- tion because of the vote last week "Overtime has never been a major issue for our members," he wid" the Citizen in an interview. "If it (overtime) is on a basis, we will go to the wall." But the key word in rejecting the overtime agreement was "mandatory," he said. And he went on (0 say that the future of jobs in Oshawa depends on more than just an agreement on mandatory overtime. "If that was the only issuc, yes, we would be concerned (about the future of jobs in Oshawa) But there is more than just this issue," he said He said that better costs, effi- ciency and quality coming out of the Oshawa production plants gives them an advantage over plants in the United States when it comes to decisions on where the company will makes vehicles. And he noted that figures released by the company recently show that GM in Canada made a profit in 1991 that amounts to $9700 for each employee in this country. By contrast, said Mr. Nimigon, in the United States, the company lost the equivalent of employee there. ment by the GM Canada president contained several thinly veiled warnings that last week's nega- tive vote on overtime will have a severe impact on Oshawa produc- tion and jobs. "In order to return to prof- itability and maintain viability as a business, General Motors is bringing manufacturing capacity tightly in line with market demand. This means that a num- ber of facilities will have to close. Only those plants that are com- petitive on cost, Sally and pro- Y. and with ment and workers focussed on AIRPORT SERVICE worker, (prod ) jositiy facility, Maing ¢ community across North Ar were about 15,000 union members eligible to vote last Mr. Nimigon said the reason for the small turn-out was the vote was called in a hurry by Local 222 chairman John Caines, Mr. Nimigon denied that the negative vote last week is pant of the fractious campaign for the Local chairman's position carlier this year which had Caine, known as a "moderate," defeat an incum- bent known for his more "hard line" positions. "That' s all ancient history Stemple announced recently the company will shut down five of its 21 production plants in North America by 1995. He has made it clear the com- pany will retain the most produc- tive and profitable of its plants. Mr. Nimigon stressed several times during the interview with the Citizen that Local 222 does not consider the Overtime issue by 9:11 itself to be a factor. GM has not said when it will announce which plants in North America will be closed. Speaking over the weekend to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Mr. repeated , Mr. Peapples his warning that "the ability and willingness of management and the unions to address the issue of competitiveness together (which) TOWNSHIP of SCUGOG FIRE DEPARTMENT Effective April 1st, 1992, The Old Fire Emergency Telephone Numbers (985-2345 & 986-4234) will No Longer Be In Service. The Fire Administration Number will remain the same ... 985-2384 MONDAY to FRIDAY from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Jack R. Cooke, Fire Chief will be a critical factor in deter- mining which General Motors duction faciliti inve in P The issue of overtime at the Oshawa plant may come back to the table again as CAW national president Bob White has indicated he will be in Oshawa in the near future in an effort 10 get negotia- tions started once again. 9-11 @ 2 litre MFI Engine © Bucket Seats ® Tinted Glass © Console Shift © Deluxe Whee! Covers ©® Delay Lighting © AMFM Stereo © Sport Mirrors © Donn Wao [J] Nr -- Brakes ©® Pulse Wipers ® Air Conditioning © Body Side Mouldings © Block Heater ® Power Steering @ Automatic Transmission © Daytime Running ©® Power Door Locks FEATURES INCLUDE ... The Birds Have Returned For Spring Break Sale PONTIAC ee RES Luly $ PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry 985-8474 BUICK