PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS w h itb y Pblised every wednesdsa and Photography Inc. Phone 668-6111 The F'ree Press Building. oice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher- Managing Editor, 131 Brock Street North, Thbe only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. t M.Bx 0.NhibOt Michael J. Knsll Community Editor Marjorie A. Burgess Production Manager Karen Thompson Advertising Manager Malling Permit No. 480 Member of the WIhltby Chamber of Commerce Transportation of the future I By EUGENE HENRY, Free Press Staff General Motors has announced that it will produce its fuel ef- ficient "world car" in Oshawa by mid 1982. This is the best of economic news for Canada, all phases of the automobile in- dustry and workers who live in this region. F.A. Smith, President of G.M. says the change over from full- size Chevrolets and Pontiacs to the J car may cost $100 Million. Decisions as to how much, If any of the projected Oshawa production will go into the export market have yet to be made. The important point is, that the Oshawa plant facilities and local workers have a more assured future than they I did a few weeks ago when large G.M. losses were an- nounced' without reference to these J car plans, for 1982 and the years beyond. Twenty odd months is a long time to wait when an automotive worker is unemployed. These announ- cements do however provide opportunities for parts and com- ponent suppliers and ail this * Is helpful to those concerned with the future of the in- dustry. The biggest problem that remains is how these J cars will com- pete with the Japanese cars that already hold a sizeable share of the Canadian market for automobiles. Labour hesitant to hea economie tIls What sector or group of our society is responsible for the present unemployment problem in Canada? Simply put, all sectors and groups in this country are respon. sible for the present dilema. However, there is one group that has the ability to do something about this situation and yet has done nothing. It Is also amazing to note that this group Is also the most vocal in demanding that something be done about unem- ployment. They assume none of the responsibility themselves and instead attempt to foster all of the responsibility on gover- nment and corporate management. The trade union or labor movement has the most to gain from having their members back on the job and working and yet they seem to be hesitant to do anything themselves to heal this major economic illness. At a recent convention of postal workers, a report was cir- culated that stated that the chairman of Seagram Distilleries was paid approximately $86,000 a year. This figure was then compared to that of a postal worker which is equlvalent to the wages earned by about 46 postal em- ployees. The obvious inference was that the wage was unfair and excessive. The comparison and resulting conclusion is result of envy. If postal workers, for example, want to be paid the same as the chairman of a major company like Seagrams, then they should start their own company and pray that they are suc- cessful enough to make the klnd of money. Similiarly, the New Democratic Party, the political wing of the labor movement, is fond of going around at election time asking people whether or not a profit of $100 million, made by one major company a few years ago, was excessive. The New Democrats believed that such a profit was ex- cessive, but they failed to tell anyone that that $100 million was divided amongst an untold number of shareholders who received, at best, a six per cent return on their Investment. Six per cent is not an excessive amount. What could be considered excessive is the 27 per cent in- crease in salary over two years presently being demanded by the Ontarlo Public Service Employees Union. A six per cent return on investment is not excessive when the labor movement is constantly demanding increases In wages and benefits greater than 10 per cent. This is.not a çrlticism of the individual member of the labor movement, but rather a criticism of the management of the labor movement. There is nothing wrong with the labor movement striving to protect the rights of the Individual worker. The problem is, that the union movement represents only about 33 per cent of all working Canadians and the non unionized worker ls sufferlng from the grandoise ideas of the movement. Because the union movement has seen Management (whether in the private or public sector) as the enemy, they have treated labor relations as a war to be won, not a common goal to be fulfilled. The excessive demands that have been made by the labor movement since wage and price controls were lifted a few years ago have been one of the major contributing factors to the rising unemployment rate. In this day of tight money supply, any increased demand for excessive increases by labor will tighten even more the cor- porate money supply. If a company has to raise prices to cover demands made by unions, it is more than likely that their sales will fall off because people will not be able to afford their product. This drop in sales will force the company to lay off, some or ail their employees in order to deplete their inventor.- and cut their overhead. A prime example of where this has happened is in the automotive manufacturing sector. In this sector, the slump is blamed on the Canada-United States Auto Pact, and while some of it is deserved, the area of labor management relations must also assume some of the Thanksgo to Whitby Dear Sir: Please convey to his worship Mayor James Gartshore, Councillor Evans and the people of Whitby, my heart felt thanks for their co- operation in making the plaquing ceremony at the Whitby Chronicie Building on July 30, a memorable success. it was a happy and rewarding occasion for me and all the other members of my family who travelled to Whitby for the event, at that time. Finally let me make special mention of the PRZYBYLSKI family who not only gave their permission for the plaque on their building, but provided such hospitable surroundings for the reception that followed our ceremony. Sincerely, Paul Higgins. responsibility. The Individual members of the labor movement should start telling their leaders that they are prepared to take a little less this year so that they will still have their jobs 10 years down the road. What good does it do to receive a 15 per cent increase in salary and benefits this year only to lose the job next year because the company cannot afford to compete In the open marketplace? It ls time for the labor movement to start contributing their share to help solve this country's major economic problems. Over the last week, the national media has reported that the automotive industry has lost well over $1 billion this fiscal year. Every car manufacturer in North America Is running in the red...losing money...not making any profit. In an effort to recoup their losses and give them a better footing in the marketplace, General Motors has announced a $100 million retooling for.their Oshawa plant. This plant will produce the small, compact 'J' car Une, a supposedly marketable commodity. Yet it would appear that the union representing G.M. workers is going to go after the company for more money, believing that the company has money to burn. What would happen if the union went in and settles for the exact same contract that they have now, or even accept a small increase. It is speculated that if the company did not have to pay the employees more, they would probably be on a sounder economic footing within a short period of time. And this means that job security would be maintained. That's what it is all about, keeping people employed. There's not much sense in being the highest paid if its going to cause you to be unemployed a few years later. When people are working, there is a sound and growing economy which will give erveryone labor and management both increased prosperity. It is, indeed, a pity that the labor movement has yet to learn this emportant lesson. i q Send letters to the editor to Box 206 Whitby