Ken Lewenza, head of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), urged the UAW not to accept any cuts in wages or benefits during United Auto Workers’ upcoming negotiations with the Big Three auto companies in light of the financial problems facing the industry and the $17.4 billion bailout offered to the auto companies by the Bush administration.

Lewenza said that he hoped incoming American President Barack Obama would rescind requirements that the auto companies cut wages and benefits when Obama takes office on January 20th.

Lewenza stated:

“I’m hoping on Jan. 20 president-elect Obama will recognize that the challenges in the auto industry aren’t the result of collective bargaining issues. It’s a global financial crisis, it’s market conditions. The wage rates that the UAW have are competitive.”

Mark Meldrum of the University of Windsor in Canada pointed out that UAW workers’ jobs require few skills and those workers will probably see pay cuts of $10 an hour: “They will be paid what they’re worth.”

The CAW split off from the UAW in 1985.