| The situation for the Big Three can be considered as | | | | Hargrove can be blamed for the ineffectiveness of |
| bleak but in Canada, things are getting worse too. In | | | | his talk with automakers. He also has the unenviable |
| the past decades, the Canadian auto manufacturing | | | | task of guiding union members through a time when |
| sector has been at an advantage due to the fact | | | | even experts are pondering whether manufacturing |
| that the Canadian dollar is valued lower than the US | | | | vehicles in Canada still makes sense. And most |
| dollar. That means that automakers from the United | | | | importantly, Hargrove can also be under fire for |
| States can manufacture their vehicles in Canada and | | | | agreeing on a deal which took away the right of |
| import them in the United States generating a lot of | | | | union members to strike. |
| income. | | | | Dennis DesRosiers, an industry consultant, said: "Buzz |
| But recently, the value of the loony has increased | | | | has some very big problems." The biggest problem of |
| that it now rivals the dollar. Although this is | | | | course for Hargrove is to fight for union members' |
| considered by many to be a good sign for Canada's | | | | work. Within seven years, over 20,000 jobs have |
| economy, the automotive sector has experienced | | | | already been cut in the auto manufacturing sector in |
| problems due to the loony's rise in value. With the US | | | | Canada. This is a result of the Big Three reducing |
| and the Canadian dollar now almost at par, American | | | | their production due to lowered sales. This year, |
| automakers are slowly lowering their manufacturing | | | | Chrysler and General Motors have announced that |
| output in Canada. | | | | they will be cutting down jobs as part of their |
| And championing the rights of Canadian auto workers | | | | restructuring plans. This involves not only jobs in the |
| is the task of Buzz Hargrove, the president of the | | | | auto assembly sector but also workers on plants |
| Canadian Auto Workers union. Mr. Hargrove though is | | | | manufacturing auto parts such as the cabin filter |
| facing a tough battle up ahead not only in his | | | | Canada for the Big Three. |
| bargaining with automakers but also in dealing with | | | | "We've never had to face this kind of challenge, the |
| this fellow union members. | | | | layoffs and closures," said Hargrove in a recent |
| At the most recent convention of the Canadian Auto | | | | interview according to the Financial Post. "One of our |
| Workers, Mr. Hargrove will be presiding over a hostile | | | | guys said at our meeting this week, Ken Lewenza, |
| group. Several reasons are being cited why Hargrove | | | | who's a key rank-and-file leader from Windsor, said |
| can expect some uprising. | | | | he never, ever dreamed that he would be thinking, |
| Many unions in Canada are seeing that their members | | | | as he looked to the future, that there might not be |
| are declining and more importantly their relevance | | | | auto workers in the union." That statement sums up |
| too. This could lead to an ugly confrontation as | | | | the fear that every union member in Canada feels. |