Talks Heat Up As GM-CAW Negotiations Continue
Posted May 19, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Long past the deadline, negotiations are continuing between General Motors and the Canadian Auto Workers.
At stake is six billion dollars in government assistance for the automaker, and thousands of jobs.
The CAW wants a limit on the number of vehicles the company can import to the country, as well as protection for wages, pensions and benefits.
The two sides were supposed to come to an agreement by midnight on Friday May 15, but that didn’t happen. There are a lot of people to please, CAW president Ken Lewenza (pictured) pointed out. The deadline for the two sides to reach an agreement is now May 31.
The deal must satisfy four sets of regulators: the Ontario and federal governments, the U.S. Treasury, and the U.S. Auto Task Force.
“We believe we’ve already made the sacrifices necessary, we believe we’re close to our limit,” Lewenza explained.
“At the end of the day, sooner or later, we’re not going to be able to go any further and we’re close to that.”
If the talks break down completely, GM will have to file for bankruptcy.
With files from The Canadian Press.
