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years, which also limits the number of industries we want to operate in North America. * Overall, recovery from this recession will be a slow one and we will emerge with a much reduced manufacturing base. The remaining North American manufacturers are expected to be highly efficient and that means profitable. They will be able to compete with European and Japanese manufacturers. After all, manufacturing is now on a global basis. Of course, with the recession things appear to be even worse; however, the corporate restructuring will continue when the recession ends. It has to continue so that North America can eliminate inefficient manufacturers and create profitable specialist manufacturing that does not harm our environment. Yes, we also became more environmentally conscious over the last few Now, Canada started this process later than the U.S. So it‘s only inthelutfewyemthatwebegantofeelthe impact of this wanksnncblcne L PBR e s co o on se Reounp. ueC EL0E ITIVE Am and the recession. restructuring of the North American industrial workplace began in the 1970s. It coincided with the rise of Tich n cane is en it came metal bashing (steel and automobile manufacturing) the foreign competition had new, modern equipment and lower wages. This was the start of .global oompet:::n. d 8 And the competition was fierce. After all, North American mrkeul:?gbeenprotectedthronghhm' ation and had little to no on. The 3-3- reacted to this competition by closing unprofitable plants and laying off employees. This trend continued tgnrough the 1980s. In fact, during the 1980s the top 500 North American companies eliminated 25 per cent of the manufacturing jobs. Halfway through the 1980s, they began to eliminate white collar jobs. After the intense growth in the 19508 and the 1960s, the average North American salary stopped growing in the 1970s. Canadian salaries continued to grow for a few years after the American salaries stopped due to higher wage settlements in Canada. Now this fact was aas:liudugumd ised during the 1980s when income earners borrowed heavily to maintain their lifestyles. Andmmmber,morewomnwokonfull-fimejoblinthe 1980s. It now takes two people working fullâ€"time to support a family that used to be supported by one. Andsonhriustoppedpowingnndjobastaruddisappear- Pattie Moran is a corporate banker living in Waterloo. The other week, General Motors, announced that it will cut 74,000 jobs. That amounts to 19 per cent of its work force, That announcement came on the heels of news that IBM plans to cut 20,000 jobs next year. Xerox will cut its payroll by 2,500 and TRW Inc. will reduce its workforce by 10,000. So what exactly is going ton with our economy? Well, first of all you have to realize that this is not just a As the sun sets on the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, North America reAdily“mpu :hnt aul:ndor political and economic i taking place in the countries we once i rutmmmng What most North Americans fail to realize is that these changes are not contained to the U.S.S.R. North America (both Canada and tlt p.S.)undergoing a massive restructuring of the in. "m. 10212 [ _ 7C 3° mt WBP i8 HOL Just a .;in!. Sghle_t’s stop blaming the Free Trade * % % 00 B0 OA _ And Happy Smiles 545 KING STREET N., | w"gem.oo m mesrsit ns | From Us To You . C1 | & p==r~ A Prosperous ‘92. 746l41 20 @ Other board members include: Vivian Anderson (Equitable Life), Vice President; Martin Mathieson (Prudential _ Assurance), _ Secretaryâ€"Treasurer; together with Paula Jefferies (The Mutual Group) and Craig White (Manulife Financial). The FLMI Society of Waterloo, founded in 1961, Lori DePlonty of Lutheran Life Insurance Society has been elected 1992 President of the Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) Society of Waterloo, replacing past President Dave Embury of Manulife Financial. Life Insurance Society elects directors He added that Saturday shopâ€" ping was down and just meant his employees worked one more day a week. & "Sunday shopping just split my business and there was very little them during these troubled ecoâ€" nomic times, which has hit the retail market with a stunning and almost fatal blow. Yet, others felt that their business did not pick up and have no use for Sunday shopping. One of those merchants was Wayne Deyarmond, owner of O.W. Sports in Uptown Waterloo. Deyarmond is hoping that next Christmas there‘s a law against Sunday shopping and those who do open get fined heavily. increase in sales," Deyn}niéiié Pete Cudhea Chronicle Staff Even though cash registers were ringing up those Sunday shopping dollar signs, many Waâ€" terloo merchants have cast aside all notions of wanting to remain open on Sunday throughout the ""I‘m totally against it. We keep Sunday shopping meant _ work but not more dollars, Waterloo retailers report For some merchants the four D BIZ Waterioo S Honda 2.‘ ceu.) "As far as I‘m concerned, Sunâ€" day shopping killed our Monday and Tuesday business and at the end of the week you‘re no further Lizzy R, Dara Shoes and Size Wise, said that Sunday shopping didn‘t do her business any good. "I do believe that it (Sunday shopping) helped and made the difference for a lot of people, but Sundays are for families." Elizabeth Rodgers. owner of Harvey is dead against the Sunday shopping idea and alâ€" though she felt that the four Sundays in December helped her business, it‘s not something she wants to do yearâ€"round. a day to day record (of sales) and there was very little increase in sales. All it did was put more pressure on on staff." And in a familyâ€"owned business there is very little rest for the employees such as those as Copâ€" per Creek Gift Shoppes in Waterâ€" loo Town Square. ‘I‘m an independent and have been working seven days a week since Sunday shopping began in December. On Christmas Eve my husband and I crawled home," said Copper Creek owner Sharon Harvey. The Professional Secretaries International will be meeting at the Waterloo Inn on Jan. 8 92 Dr. Kenneth Shonk will be the guest speaker to discuss humor and stress Social begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. For more information contact Millie Anderson at 745â€"7307. promotes professional management and operations in the life insurance industry. Meetings are held regularly to foster continuing education and the sharing of ideas. PSI to meet , owner of Conestoga Mall Merchants‘ Asâ€" sociation vice president Charlene Dunn, manager of Mappins Jewellers, believes that the Waâ€" terloo Region is a very conservaâ€" tive area and shoppers weren‘t mentally prepared for Sunday shopping. Dunn, who saw people walking the mall but doing very little shopping, said that they did less business during the Sundays this December than last year. "I‘m really against Sunday shopping. If we remained open on Sundays all year long, our mainâ€" tenance fees would go up 10 per cent, which would eventually hit the consumer. It‘s just not profitâ€" able." "I‘m totally against Sunday shopping. Maybe it‘s good just before Christmas, but that‘s about it." Rodgers said that the first two Sundays in December were slow in sales, but during the final two weeks business was good. Howev er, she felt that the first two weeks of Sunday sales would probably be a reflection of sales if they were allowed to remain open year long. ahead," Rodgers said Pete Cudhes photo