Frustrated, unemployed Windsorite
WARNING: A little bit of a personal rant approaching…
I am a fourth-generation autoworker in the city of Windsor that has lost his job due to a gamble his employer took in the marketplace.
This is the first time in 94 years a member of the Holt family has not been collecting a Ford Motor Company of Canada paycheque.
My employer decided years back that it would take the chance that all the pundits and soothsayers who were predicting the end of the cheap oil age were wrong, and that the demand for their lucrative trucks and SUVs would prevail.
They put all their assets on “red”, only to have the ball land on “black”.
Come on, they had to know that this was a big gamble. Little old me, working the plant floor with no university education whatsoever, knew that this was coming. Yes - I like to read. They nicknamed the “Librarian” at work because that’s all I really did; read books. When a simple Tool and Die maker was sounding the warning bell that it was absolutely insane to continue building these huge V-8 and V-10 engines and expect to have a job forever, I was labelled anti-car, a saboteur and ostracized from the mainstream worker. Even my CAW brothers and sisters, who will hug a tree as long as it doesn’t cost them one auto job, shunned me for my thoughts and opinions. Nobody wanted to listen.
We all now what happened next.
So, now that the dung has hit the fan, is anyone willing listen? My employer, who had almost 6000 people working for them at the height of the boom time (mid-’90’s) in Windsor, is predicted to have less than 1500 by this February. How has their pig-headed attachment to the status quo served their employees and this community? 4500 people making a base salary of $68,000 (very conservative estimate, as it doesn’t take into consideration the Skilled Trades higher wages, nor overtime) is $306,000,000 taken out of our local economy every year. That’s quite a big hole that needs to be plugged in our local economy.
My question has always been to my fellow coworkers who questioned my intentions; what does it matter to you what you build? If you were making the same income building something else, would you care? Probably not.
Which brings me to why I am writing this article. I have always known that we are capable of bigger and better things here in Windsor. I am a Tool and Die maker. A highly skilled precision metal worker who, all kidding aside, is capable of building absolutely anything! I am not the only one in this city, either. On the outskirts of Windsor lies a town called Oldcastle, Ontario, who had more tool and die shops per capita than anywhere else in the world. Plastic injection, form and stamping dies, robotics, production equipment manufacturing; we can do it all right here in our hometown! We were, until very recently, the hotbed of Canadian manufacturing.
And today, it’s all sitting there “idled”.
According to the Canadian Renewable Energy Industry, in 2006, the level of global installed wind power capacity increased by 32 percent (>15 000MW) and the worldwide wind energy industry market was estimated to be worth almost US $25 billion. Worldwide cumulative installed wind power capacity now exceeds 75 000MW. By 2009 China will become the world’s largest producer of wind turbines. At present China has at least 40 wind-power turbine manufacturers: 17 are state-owned or state-controlled companies, 12 are private Chinese companies, 7 are joint-venture companies and 4 are wholly foreign-owned companies, says Steve Sawyer, secretary general of the Global Wind Energy Council.
The European Wind Energy Association estimates that for every MW of large scale wind capacity installed, 10 job/years in manufacturing activities are created or preserved compared to 2 job/years in planning, installation and construction activities. Furthermore, two permanent jobs in service and maintenance are created for every MW of installed wind generation capacity. Considering this and the fact that in large wind farms, wind turbines represent upto 70 percent of the total capital investment, it is clear that the economic benefits to Windsor from the rapidly expanding domestic and international wind markets will be heavily tied to Canadian manufacturing capacity.
So, why aren’t we persuing this? Seems a natural fit for our region, doesn’t it?
My anger came to a full boil while watching CBC’s The Fifth Estate the other day. If you can afford the 42 minutes it would take to watch this episode, I highly suggest you take the time. In it, host “Bob McKeown and a fifth estate team travel to Germany to meet Hermann Scheer, called “Europe’s Al Gore,” a parliamentarian who is leading the way to increase Germany’s reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power. To date, 15% of Germany’s energy comes from renewable sources. Scheer estimates that if Germany continues on this course, by 2030 that will be 100%.“ They tell the story of Ian McClellan from Arise Technologies, a photovoltaic manufacturer who in 2006, on the brink of bankruptcy in Kitchener, Ontario, was lured to set up shop in Germany when the government offered them half of the funds ($25 million euros) to build a new plant. Today, they are in the process of building three more photovoltaic plants in Germany, where 1/3 of the globes solar cells are manufactured. Within the last ten years, Germany has witnessed a 500% increase in green energy jobs (1/4 million and counting) making the renewable energy sector their largest employer, over even auto manufacturing. “So, if one of the worlds major industrialized nations can achieve this, why can’t a country like Canada?”
Please, remind me again why the highly skilled workforce in Windsor, with their 10% and rising unemployment rate, is spending time collecting EI and SUB as opposed to green sector paycheques?
So now that the Detroit Three are coming to their respective governments with their hands out, what do you think we should do? This is our money, folks! The brilliant management teams from GM, Chrysler and Ford are looking to convince the Canadian taxpayer to partner with them to save the industry. (remember, these are the same guys who took the state of California to court to block any increased fuel-economy standards: the same standards that may have saved their companys from the humiliating begging they are now doing) Would you enter into a partnership with someone who has proven themselves to ignore expert opinion and the will of the consumer demand? Would you join with them to save an important industry, pending they repent at the altar of gas-sipping vehicles that consumers want? Would you instead spend your money on supporting an industry with a proven future in a product (energy) we cannot live without?
Do you believe this is all going to happen in a rational, intelligent manner?
It almost seems like the suppression of our renaissance from this economic depression is intentional, doesn’t it?
It’s enough to frustrate even the most die-hard optimist.
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I found your blog on MSN Search. Nice writing. I will check back to read more.
Eric Hundin
I remember very clearly reading the original story on Arise Technologies in the Globe and screaming “What the F**K! How can any level of government or government agency let this technology and company go somewhere else!” Then reminded myself that this is Ontario and Canada.
I to worked on the line at Ford in the 70’s when the first oil shock hit North America, then the second one and then the third one and finally the recession of 1980 when I finally got laid off.
I watched from plant 2, engines blocks made in Mexico and shipped to Windsor where it was cheaper to produce than in the foundry two hundred yards away, I told my brothers and sisters on the line that our days are numbered, they had a good laugh! The big three gave lip service to the oil shocks and that is all they did and continued business as usual. I bought for $3,800 a Honda Civic while working there and became ostracized by everyone who thought that I was a fool and a traitor. That Civic lasted for twelve years what NA vehicle lasted ten!
I to went to university part-time while while working the line and colleagues and I use that really loosely did everything to discourage me and it became out and out meanness. I quit Ford in 79 and went to university full time and now hold a graduate degree and am working in a information business.
I changed but the once big three and the workers didn’t, now they are all dinosaurs. The writing on the wall for them has been there since the 1970’s , the Japanese read very well don’t they.
Your rant Chris, was my rant forty years ago, this time around it is adapt or die for the auto companies and their workers!
Here’s an article about a Vancouver based start up with an interesting new way of spinning a big blade. We need the powers to make it easy for them to come to our area.
http://www.dailytech.com/New+Wind+Turbine+Generator+Ditches+Mechanical+Transmission+Ups+Efficiency+50+Percent/article13472.htm
I wish I could tell you why we haven’t done this Chris but I can’t.
Instead of $1.5 billion for a third crossing, why not $1.5 billion for attracting green technology in Windsor? Partnership with UofW even for a green technology program or include it in the engineering school?
How about instead of $65 million for an arena we didn’t need (for a privately held company) we use that money to attract green businesses?
Instead of canal visions, use that money to once again attract new diversified business.
We can use our mold makers, tool & die and automation companies to make all of this right here.
What about healthcare machines and surgical equipment? Why can’t that be made here as well?
I really believe we just don’t have the will to push ourselves any longer. We have become lazy and disinterested and really want everything done for us. When will the blind leading the blind take off their blindfolds and realize that both green technology and healthcare are not going away anythime soon.
What was it that Nero did while Rome was burning?
It’s time for city council to face the facts –
Jobs are leaving, en masse, along with many of the skilled workers who worked those jobs — like me! (Sorry, 25 years on ‘the line’ does not qualify you for a skilled worker status)
The tax base as the real estate prices enter a free-fall.
Investment, outside of infrastructure projects and a mega-prison, are few and far between
The population of Windsor is economically emaciated and cannot bear another tax increase, rate adjustment or utility line item to pay for upgrades or services.
Stop worrying about getting re-elected and start worrying about making some real changes. If you don’t know what to do, councillors, then QUIT your elected post and let someone who does, can or will know what to do take over! This isn’t high school politics anymore, Windsor (heck, everywhere!) needs people with talent, vision and non-partisanship to take the lead not kingdom-builders and egomaniancs out to win a popularity contest.
(I’ll stop ranting now …)
http://www.scaledown.ca/2008/06/19/nero-fiddled/#comments
If it hasn’t become apparent to everyone out there yet, we are, in a word - f@#ked.
Not to come across as being too negative or as a naysayer but, not one politician or captain of industry has come forward to say, in plain terms, how dire our situation is and frankly until it plays out we cannot tell how much worse it will get. We have been robbed of our ability to control our destiny. Corporations bent on profit at all costs have taken our jobs and our factories that produced real goods for us and our neighbours. Politicians have bent over backward to facillitate this bullshit and have happily collected pay and benefits from taxpayers too overwhelmed with images of entitlement.
Our local politicians can step-up. Our municipal corporation can source goods and services from local businesses only. Our provincial govt can source goods and services from Ontario companies first. Our federal governtment can do the same. Its not protectionist, or isolationist, its called IMPORT REPLACEMENT and it should be the first survival instinct.
Jane Jacobs in the Economies of Cities - growth and success of cities (regions) is directly linked to goods produced and exported.
James Howard Kunstler in this past Monday’s installement of the Clusterfuck Nation Chronicles (www.kunstler.com) - IMPORT REPLACEMENT. “The G-20 leaders in Washington last week made a lot of noise about ramping up domestic spending. In the decades to come, this will not happen without import replacement — which is just what it sounds like: instead of importing things you need, you make them at home, and people get paid a living wage to do it. Import replacement, by the way, is exactly how the United States rose in the 19th century to become the world’s preeminent manufacturing nation. It doesn’t foreclose trade with other countries, but it self-evidently changes the terms of that trade, and it would spell the end of the kind of predatory “globalism” that has led to the current state of gross imbalance and reckless destruction.”
From an essay by Michael Chossudovsky (http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=10977)
“Ownership of the Real Economy
As a result of these developments, which are directly related to the financial meltdown, the entire ownership structure of real economy assets is in turmoil.
Paper wealth accumulated through insider trading and stock market manipulation is used to acquire control over real economic assets, displacing the preexisting ownership structures.
What we are dealing with is an unsavory relationship between the real economy and the financial sector. The financial conglomerates do not produce commodities. They essentially make money through the conduct of financial transactions. They use the proceeds of these transactions to take over bona fide real economy corporations which produce goods and services for household consumption.
In a bitter twist, the new owners of industry are the institutional speculators and financial manipulators. They are becoming the new captains of industry, displacing not only the preexisting structures of ownership but also instating their cronies in the seats of corporate management.”
We know what we need to do. As difficult as this is to believe, even Michigan knows what it must do. So, let’s do it.
Michigan 2008 State of the State (from minute 25.00)- http://www.wkar.org/stateofthestate/
I see that I am not the only one that reads Globalreseach on a regular basis.
PFA stated that Windsor cannot bear another tax increase, rate adjustment or utility line item to pay for upgrades or services.
That won’t stop them from trying. In fact WUC is looking at no increase in 2009 to 3.7% or a 5.4% increase! Imagine that! After the 86% hike (more likely a 100+% hike when everything is factored in) they still want more! But that is o.k. you can reduce the impact by using less water because that is where they are going to hit us in th epocket book. IE: Consumption.
So I beg an answer what do those of us who have been environmentally and cost conscience get for this? Seems to be just that rate hike! I can’t cut anymore water than I use. Unless I collect rain water in a barrel to flush my refuse down the toilet. I use on average less than 3 cubic meters of water/month. I could always open my mouth when it rains to rinse it when I brush my teeth!
So I ask WUC again (I didn’t get an answer the first, second or third time either), If this money was initially for watermains then why not put it on the consumption so that EVERYONE can reduce water usage AND save money while WUC can still get cash for watermains. My other question is why isn’t WUC maximizing the amount of watermain replacements as they can? Because according to their documents they haven’t replaced that amount but they still collect the money NOW.
By the way has anyone heard a peep out of our elected officials and what tehy intend to do about the worsening economy in Windsor? Have we done anything else other than chase start-up onion companies in Germany? Where is the strategy? Where is the urgency? Like typical Widnsor of decades past, we will wait until it is too late or hope for something else to come along. News alert for city officials….NOTHING IS COMING ALONG TO REPLACE WHAT WE ARE LOSING UNLESS THEY TRY AND ATTRACT IT!
Again, in a blog back in August I posted the event listed below and wondered if anyone locally was attending or attend this meeting. This type of meeting seems like the PERFECT opportunity to have local industry connected to the changing face of manufacturing. At least it would be a start! Maybe alongside door knocking to get people interested in this city again, we need to door knock on those Oldcastle doors to open their eyes to the possibilities!
Wind Energy Supply Network
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
There is a meeting regarding building a supplier base for wind energy -with a US based not for profit group Executive Director Ed Weston of the Great Lakes Wind Network ( http://www.glwn.org/ ) being organized byRainer Kunau (Aug. 19th at the Consulate)
As you may be aware, the expectation is that the demands for production of Wind Energy equipment is forecast to outstrip supply substantially for the foreseeable future. Mr. Weston’s group, a non-profit, is mandated to help establish a supply chain for the industry here in the Great Lakes Region. Ed has a presentation put together, as well as various instruments designed to assist manufacturers to determine whether they should participate, and to assist them in modifying their business models to be able to present a viable case to global customers and partners to consider them.
Ed is willing to meet with a group of proponents at the Consulate on August 19th. From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. If you are interested in attending Mr. Weston’s presentation and speaking with him - please contact Rainer Kunau to reserve your space.
The intent would be to evaluate his program and to gain some market intelligence.
Contact:
Rainer Kunau
Trade Commissioner
Canadian Consulate General, Detroit
600 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI, 48243
Phone (313) 446-7015 Fax: (313) 567-2164
Mobile: (313) 378-0625
E-Mail: rainer.kunau@international.gc.ca or visit: http://www.detroit.gc.ca
I work at a tool and die shop and I can tell you some of the reasons why we are not currently working on this technology. When a presentation comes to the city, we usually hear about it from the CTMA or WEDCO. They aren’t doing the organizing or lining us up with contacts, they just want us to go see the powerpoint presentation and they want money to cover the cost of the presentation…sometimes nominal, sometimes not. So you go and you get a huge handout and someone talks major high tech and promises the world. Then you go back to the office and try to figure out the charts and diagrams and contact lists and decide if you want to invest more time and money trying to become a supplier for something that might never happen. The government comes and says, “Hey, we have research money, but we want a marketing plan and a long term investment and here’s a website that doesn’t really explain anything but you can contact us or pay to get listed in this directory.” So these little shops who have no marketing department, no research department and sometimes no middle management, have to try and build a strategic plan for the future for an industry that isn’t guaranteed. Sometimes all you get is a list of companies that you could be a supplier to but you will still have to cold call them and try to get on their supplier list. How long will that take? So do you take time away from current jobs and doing what you know and trying to keep the doors open, or do you invest time and money pursuing something that could give you a future? It’s not as easy as everyone thinks…that they can just start making windmills and airplane parts tomorrow. Nothing is free and the decisions to pursue this are hard ones. It’s hard to be there every day with my marketing background and organizational skills but I don’t have the tech skills to lead this and tell them what they need to do, they have to do that. But when do they find time and extra money when saving $20 on a steel order is a priority because every job that comes in the customer is trying to get a discount because their customer has cut their budget.
Wow. And I thought nepitism was dead. So, is the rest of the public supposed to feel sorry for you auto workers who got your jobs on the backs of your parents and now you’ve got to make your own way in this world?
Yes yes yes, skilled precision metal worker. Let me ask how you got the opportunity to become one of those. Did you get an apprenticeship because “Holts have been Ford workers for four generations” or did you get that position because you worked your ass off at community college to get the training?
Of course the point is to get people working and of course the plants are suffering because of old technology. But do I feel sorry for all you guys that got there because you had the right last name? Nope.
Wow, Judy, talk about completely missing the point. Where in the world in that article did you find me pleading for anyones sympathy? Or did you simply find an opportunity to vent, regardless of the venue? I’m sure that there’s a better blog out there for you to complain to, as this is an avenue for discussion about the ways in which this city can move forward, and the whole reason it exists is because the vast majority of consumers can’t grasp that.
BTW: I scored second out of 163 people who wrote the aptitude test to land one of the eight coveted apprenticeships offered through Ford. I was a number, and not a name. It was a great opportunity that I wish there were more of for more people, but regretfully my trade is making an exodus from the area. Now, it is one amongst the many diplomas I have from “working my ass off at community college“, which will probably sit on the pile with the university degree I am currently working on.
I suggest you stick with the facts instead making assumptions and accusations about a persons drive and initiative. A person with thinner skin would have taken offence with your accusations. Luckily, I’ve been doing this long enough that I just see them for what they are.
Kudos to you, however, for reading the local independant media. It is one of the few avenues for advancing the level of discourse in this city, and we encourage persons such as yourself to play a part, regardless of personal viewpoints. I would suggest that personal attacks are left at the door, however.
Why the hell isn’t Kenny Lewenza and his posse demanding a national transportation policy that would upgrade our passenger rail network to the same level of service enjoyed by many Western European countries? Not only would it provide lots of valuable jobs to unemployed autoworkers but it would lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and cut down on greenhouse gases. The golden age of our domestic auto industry is over Kenny boy and the CAW leadership better find an alternative to those high-paid auto industry jobs or it will find itself on the scrap heap of history.
George, here is a partial answer for you; You’re on your own
The below article ends with; “”Don’t assume other people will take care of you.”"
“…It can turn into a nasty spiral, he said, in which people will either begin behaving “maladaptively,” because no one is sure what the right course is, or we just throw up our hands or say the hell with it all….”
and…”Dr. Ritvo said he is not so sure that people feel that let down by their leaders, because they never gave them that much credit to begin with. But what is disturbing, he said, is even when we suspect those in charge are incompetent we react with “passivity.”
“That is a major concern,” he said.
No ordinary person could have been expected to see the massive shocks to the system that sent markets tumbling an astounding 40%. Yet, the impact may be worse, especially in Canada, because of such unhealthy dependency on others to direct our lives.
“Canadian tolerance mixes with Canadian passivity,” Dr. Ritvo said. “We must sustain the tolerance while shedding passivity.”
“What should I have learned about all of this?” Prof. Homer-Dixon said. “One of the lessons is that next time we should not trust the experts so much. I think people too readily hand over their fate to others. You have to take some responsibility for your own wellbeing and learn about the world. Take part in the democratic conversation and not just depend on experts.
“Don’t assume other people will take care of you.”
Full article below
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=1118065