fastime

http://www.caradvice.com.au/25858/vw-plant...page-incentive/ It’s quite amazing to think that the demand for a vehicle in one country, brought about by a tax incentive, can have such a specific and crucial impact on the lives and jobs of employees in a car factory half a world away. [1] But with Germany’s scrappage incentive driving sales of the Volkswagen Polo through the roof, the brand’s South African plant has now managed to avoid the temporary closure it was certain to face next month in order to keep up with the unprecedented demand. Volkswagen’s Uitenhage factory in South Africa was supposed to have stopped production in the weeks before and after Easter, but plans changed when VW’s order books in Germany started to fill. The plant will now produce 6,000 additional Polos to meet with demand - most of which are to be exported to Germany. The scrappage incentive provides German customers the equivalent of $4,905 AUD if they trade in a car that is at least nine years old for a new, more fuel-efficient model. The scheme has seen new car sales in Germany rise by 21.5 percent in February. The price for a basic three-door Polo in Germny would be the equivalent of $23,840 AUD.

Thanks brother I love you too ..

enjoy ... John Rich's "Shutting Down Detroit"

If a man dies in the forest and a tree falls can he hear it ? the Crown vic however @ 80 mph ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABKaVHr_11Q

well at least they won't complain about dieing in fires ....

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/03/23/r...ng.html?ref=rss The host of an over-the-top, late-night Fox network show has apologized for disrespecting the Canadian military with a recent segment on his intentionally inflammatory program. "The March 17th episode of Red Eye included a segment discussing Canada's plan for a 'synchronized break,' which was in no way an attempt to make light of troop efforts," host Greg Gutfeld said in a statement issued Monday. "However, I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize. In an interview with the CBC on Monday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said he accepted the apology — pointing out it came only after his department contacted Fox demanding one earlier in the day. MacKay called the comments "totally, totally inappropriate, ridiculous [and] demeaning." The vast majority of Americans, from President Barack Obama on down, "have nothing but respect and admiration for the Canadian forces and their families," he said. "I don't think we should dignify this with more commentary other than to say it's highly regrettable," he added. "The apology at least represents some recognition of the insensitivity — and we all move on." "Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner," he added. Gutfeld, a former Maxim and Stuff magazine editor, hosts the cultural commentary show, which is broadcast on Fox weekdays at 3 a.m. ET. He moderates a round table of panellists who deliver off-the-cuff musings and crack jokes about a wide range of topics from the worlds of news, entertainment and sports. Commentators have included comedians, Fox News anchors, actors and Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis. '… The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants.' — Greg Gutfeld, Fox News moderatorIn a five-minute segment broadcast March 17, Gutfeld mocked the Canadian Forces, noting Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie's recent comment that the military may need a year to recover after Canada's mission in Afghanistan ends in 2011. "Meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants," Gutfeld said. "I didn't even know they were in the war," panellist and comedian Doug Benson added. "I thought that's where you go if you don't want to fight. Go chill in Canada." The panellists continued by joking about soldiers needing a break for "manicures and pedicures," how Canada should be invaded and poked fun at the RCMP. Canadian soldiers, who have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001, have spent the last four years in the country's most violent regions. On Friday, military officials announced that four more Canadian soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in two separate roadside bomb blasts outside Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan. Canadians express outrage Over the past few days, the Red Eye segment has sparked outrage from a range of Canadians, including thousands of comments on YouTube and Facebook. "Our soldiers are dying for them and they have the audacity and the ignorance … to say something like that, it is insulting. It's the most ignorant thing I've ever heard," Sam Warren told CBC News after watching the segment. The segment also drew criticism from Conservative author, columnist and commentator David Frum. "The clip in question is a sequence of goofs about the feebleness, uselessness and absurdity of the Canadian armed forces. Why would I call that dumb? Here's why," Frum wrote on his New Majority.com blog last week, before listing the Canadian soldiers, aid workers and a diplomat who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002. "Sorry I disrespected your show, Red Eye fans, but you disrespected the dead," Frum added. "My apologies to the Canadian military, they probably could at least beat the Belgians," Gutfeld mused in his Twitter account on Sunday.

Riggggghhhhttt , you keep telling yourself that .. btw thx for the young guys comment .

Our product is DEAD as of 2011 , the police departments have already been notified and they are actively seeking something to replace the panther. We NEED a NEW PRODUCT .. we are in a position to negotiate that RIGHT NOW !!! Later will be too late. NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO!

NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO! NO PRODUCT!...... NO CONCESSIONS!....... VOTE NO!

hahahaha , not once the bill is passed ... beaters will be going up in price , if they arn't being traded.

The Crown Vic is crash tested from behind at 80 MPH .. the only car in the world that is ....

Yep , if we all went to work this week we could get a majority No vote very easily , I think there are a lot of people in the plant that would be afraid of the consequences if they voted No , but in reality we have Nothing To Lose .....

Confirmed .. I called and they said we have no parts.

Wow what a crock , way to rub it in our faces. NO PRODUCT!.......NO CONCESSIONS!.......VOTE NO!

NO PRODUCT!.......NO CONCESSIONS!.......VOTE NO!

New Health Care Co-Pay Effective January 1,2010 a new Health Care Co-pay will come into effect as follows • Active employees and retirees under age 65 will have a Co-pay of $30 per month. • Retirees who are age 65 or older will have a Co-pay of $15 per month. • Surviving spouses will have a Co-pay of $15 per month. • The Co-pay will be applicable to subscribers only, and not their dependents. Drug Plan • Out of Pocket Maximum: T';,wcurrent out-of-pocket maximum of $250 for the 10% Co-pay on drugs is scheduled to increase to $270 on January 1, 2010 and to $290 on January 1, 2011. With the one year extension of the Collective Agreement, the out-ofpocket maximum will increase to $310 onJanuary 1, 2012. The Drug Plan out-of-pocket maximums are combined family amounts. • Drug Listings: When the Drug Plan carrier is able to negotiate a price for brand name drugs that is lower than the equivalent generic drug, the brand name drug will be included on the Controlled Formulary and dispensed. This v,rill result in lower costs for the Plan, as well as lower Co-pays for participants. Dental Reimbursement levels will remain at the 2008 Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee guide for the duration of the agreement. The union will work to identify and list providers in each community who agree to limit their fees to the 2008 schedule. • The current collective agreement has been extended by 1 year, with a new expiration date of September 17, 2012. • Modified provisions become effective upon implementation of financial assistance agreements between GM and the Federal and Provincial governments. • During these restructuring talks, General Motors agreed La maintain the previously announced product commitments in Oshawa and St. Catharines. Long Term Care Effective January 1, 2011 the maximum rate for coverage for new entrants will be set at $1,200 per month. Current residents of long term care facilities, and those entering prior to January 1, 2011, will remain at current coverage levels. Life Insurance COLA .vill no longer be included for the purposes of determining a member's life insurance benefit amount. Annual Special Payment The $1,700 annual Special Payment v,rill be diverted to offset the cost of legacy health care benefits, but the $3,500 vacation buy-out has been maintained. The company and the union agree to explore the possibility of establishing a Canadian VEBA to pre-fund retiree health care benefits. • Base wage rates remain unchanged for the life of the new collective agreement. • The current $.05 per hour cost of living allowance f10at remains unchanged until June 2012. Cost of living adjustments v,rill be reactivated beginning with the June 2012COLA payment.

Do we have to come and burn down the White House .... again ?

they reduced the restructuring clause from $75,000 down to $50,000,not a good deal for us.

In 1904, Canada's carmaking industry is born when Henry Ford opens a plant in Windsor, Ont. Since then, the country's fortunes are linked to its auto industry. When Canada fails to develop a home-grown car industry, the country becomes reliant on branch plants of the huge American companies. The Big Three American companies — Ford, General Motors and Chrysler — have a few assembly plants in Canada but before 1965 most of the manufacturing is done in the United States. By the early 1960s, Canada has a tiny auto industry and a sagging economy. The country has a massive auto trade deficit with the United States, which means it always imports more cars than it exports. Now Canada wants a bigger piece of the pie in the huge carmaking business. In turn, United States wants its neighbour to reduce its 17 per cent automobile import tax so it can sell more cars in Canada. http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/tr...nts/topics/326/

1965 – Canada–United States Auto Pact Canada’s car manufacturing industry started in 1904 with Henry Ford’s plant in Windsor, Ontario. Throughout the following decades, the North American automobile industry remained highly segregated. American branch plants were established in Canada by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, but most car manufacturing occurred in the United States. By the early 1960s, Canada had a massive auto trade deficit with the United States. On January 16, 1965, the Canada–United States Automotive Agreement, commonly referred to as the Auto Pact, was signed by Canada’s Prime Minister and the President of the United States. This trade agreement transformed the North American car manufacturing landscape. It became the model for ‘managed trade,’ setting a precedent for broader free trade between Canada and the United States. The Auto Pact eliminated trade tariffs between the two countries and created a single North American manufacturing market. Tariffs between the two countries were eliminated on cars, trucks, buses, tires and automotive parts. The single market allowed Chrysler, Ford and General Motors to rationalize production in Canada and the United States and form a single integrated production and marketing system. Larger, more efficient car plants were built to serve both countries, which led to an expanding automotive industry in Canada. Higher levels of integration and better access to the world’s largest auto market enabled Canada to develop an internationally competitive auto industry. The Auto Pact also contained safeguards for Canada to ensure that major North American car manufacturers continued their investment and production in this country. The agreement stated that for every car sold in Canada, one had to be built in Canada. Each vehicle built in Canada also had to have at least 60 percent Canadian content in both parts and labour. Tariffs were applied if these conditions were not met. In 1964, 7% of vehicles made in Canada were sent to the United States. By 1968, 60% of Canadian vehicles made were shipped to the United States, and 40% of the vehicles purchased in Canada were made in the United States. In 1970, Canada registered a small auto trade surplus with the United States for the first time. The agreement has been of great benefit to Canadian workers and consumers. Market efficiencies lowered prices and provided a larger selection of cars. Higher production created thousands of jobs in the automobile industry. Between 1965 and 2002, the number of people employed in the automobile industry rose from 75,000 to 491,000. The number of vehicles manufactured in Canada over this same period jumped from 846,000 to over 2.6 million. The value of vehicle shipments from Canada in 2002 was $66 billion and parts shipments, $33 billion. The Canadian automotive industry accounted for 12% of manufacturing GDP in 2002. The Auto Pact has not remained static over time. During Canada–U.S. free trade negotiations in the mid-1980s, features of the Auto Pact were changed. Non-U.S. automakers lost the right to import parts and vehicles duty free into Canada unless they met the production conditions of the Pact. These manufacturers did not make enough cars in Canada to qualify for the tax break. Companies such as Honda and Toyota had to pay auto tariffs, even though some cars were built in Canada. Meanwhile, American automakers continued to operate tariff-free, even though they now imported cars and parts manufactured overseas. While negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Mexico in the early 1990s, the Auto Pact was again modified. Canada wanted to protect its Auto Pact safeguards but at the same time gain access to the Mexican market. Mexico's auto industry had been essentially closed to foreign competition, although Mexico shipped automotive products produced by American branch plants to Canada duty free. In the final NAFTA deal, Canada retained its production and investment safeguards and the Mexican market was opened to North American competition over a 10-year transition period. By 1996, discussions had begun about tariffs on vehicles imported by non-Auto Pact members. Non-Auto Pact members viewed these tariffs as creating a two-tiered policy. As a result, a complaint was launched with t he World Trade Organization (WTO) by the European Union and Japan. The challenge involved a section of the Pact allowing DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors to import vehicles into Canada from anywhere in the world duty free. Based on a decision by the WTO dispute panel in 2001, the Auto Pact was abolished as the panel ruled that parts of the Canada–United States Auto Pact broke global trade rules by favoring some countries over others. This ended the 35-year-old centrepiece of Canada’s automotive policy. http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/English/e..._auto_pact.html

yeah its called the AUTO PACT and we had it too, should work like that everywhere but it doesn't . and its not Nafta causing all of this its Countrys like Japan and Korea that purposly dump their crap here and don't want any North American products back .. Walmart is a big one importing jobs over to China.

We "took" Ford products ? huh ? are you on crack?

If $19 US an hour supports your family all the more power to ya. Your just one step closer to being on par with Mexico.

already bought .. 2009 Escape and maybe a Focus , but we will see whats up with the contract first.