Potential strike in Canada could affect production in Toledo - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Strike in Canada could affect Toledo production

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Some auto workers north of the border could go on strike in the coming days. If they do walk off the assembly lines next week, it could affect American plants quickly, including some of the plants in the Toledo area. CAW leaders say they are working around the clock to reach a deal. The Canadian Auto Workers union has voted to authorize strikes if that doesn't happen by the end of Monday

Negotiations between Chrysler, GM, Ford and the union recently became testy. Leaders of the car companies say they're trying to cut costs and the CAW is refusing to make concessions. The CAW says the companies are fixated on deep concessions that would have a lasting and severe impact on workers.

GM, Ford and Chrysler all make popular models in Canada, which obviously means those models would be in short supply. CAW workers also build key engine parts and other components for vehicles made here in the United States, which could force some factories to slow down production or even shut down completely.

Chrysler has a Canadian casting plant that supplies all assembly plants in North America. A Chrysler spokeswoman says they could find other suppliers and they are closely watching the situation. She says a strike by the CAW could have an indirect impact on the Toledo Assembly Complex because while it won't affect body work, it could affect the assembly of things like engines and transmissions that go into the vehicles.

Ray Wood, the head of the union that represents the workforce at GM's Toledo Transmission plant, says a strike in Canada could also have a residual effect on that plant, but he says at this point it's not clear when that would happen or how big an impact, if any, it would have.

Of course everyone is hopeful an agreement can be reached. The CAW sent a letter to workers on Wednesday saying they too are hopeful a strike can be avoided, but members must be ready for any outcome. According to GM, Ford and Chrysler, Canada is the most expensive place in the world to build cars and trucks.

Once again the CAW contracts with the big three are set to expire Monday at midnight.

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