The Auto Sector Remains Crucial to Windsor Area Economy

WINDSOR, ON - An economic analysis of Windsor highlights the crucial contribution of the region's auto industry and its CAW membership to maintaining and building a strong local community.

But the analysis also shows that the local auto industry has suffered major job losses of more than 9,000 jobs over the last five years or one in three. These lost jobs represent a loss of $601 million of payroll in the community last year.

"The crisis in the auto industry is affecting every part of our community," said CAW Local 444 President Ken Lewenza. "The health of our community is being directly affected by the closures and cuts within auto assembly, auto parts and the entire manufacturing sector."

CAW Local 200 President Mike Vince echoed those comments - "we are being hammered by the high Canadian dollar, the flood of imports and the impact of unfair trade agreements."

"Why can't the Conservative government in Ottawa wake up and take action to help the auto industry in Windsor and right across the province" asked Bill Reeves, President of CAW Local 1973.

"If nothing is done and if our federal government refuses to take action the devastation will continue," said Gerry Farnham, President of CAW Local 195.

The industry produced vehicles and parts worth an incredible $17 billion in Windsor in 2007 and it directly employed 18,100 people in Windsor. Auto workers' paycheques pumped $1.2 billion into the Windsor economy in 2007.

In 2007, Windsor auto workers paid $309 million in income and sales tax, funds that are needed to support vital public services. The CAW study also indicates that based on average property tax rates, local auto workers supported $54 million in municipal taxes in 2007, helping to fund local services.

While still massive contributions to the local economy, these numbers are down significantly from the previous years.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove said as the union heads into a new round of bargaining with the Big Three auto makers later this year, it's extremely important to remember the huge impact that auto manufacturing plays in communities across Ontario.

"Thousands of workers, their families and many, many communities depend on a healthy domestic auto industry," Hargrove said. "The paycheques of our members are spent in local communities and our members pay federal and provincial taxes that support critical public services such as hospitals, schools and social services."

To find an analysis by the CAW of the auto industry's impact on Windsor, go to http://www.caw.ca/whatwedo/bargaining/big3automakers/auto08/index.asp.