AUTO JOBS SAVED!

Wow, Ken Lewenza, Senior must be really happy with the Star's front page yesterday (Oh who reads Henderson anyway!) Why the man's a hero with all of those jobs "saved."

But perhaps Ken and Buzz Hargrove might take a look at a BBC story I just found and which I reproduce below when one wants to talk about really saving jobs for auto workers. That story in my mind demonstrates what a real "Hell of a victory" is.

Imagine if they had shown the leadership the VW unions did and offered a small cut in wages to save the hundreds of Ford and Chrysler jobs that Windsor lost. Can you imagine, CAW workers not having to retire early or to uproot and go out of town for a new job.

I'll tell you one thing. The CAW honchos are lucky that the Ford and Chrysler ratification votes are over.

Volkswagen jobs saved in SUV deal

Volkswagen has agreed to build its new sports utility vehicle in Germany after securing wage concessions from unions.

VW had threatened to switch production of its Marrakesh model to Portugal unless it could reduce the cost of manufacturing in its home market.

It will now build it at its Wolfsburg plant after agreeing to cut production costs by 850 euros (£578) per vehicle.

Unions said the agreement would safeguard the jobs of 1,000 apprentices who will now work on the project.

VW said manufacturing costs in Portugal would have been at least 1,000 euros lower per vehicle than those under current labour agreements in Germany.

As a result of the new agreement, workers on the project will earn less than others at VW and could be required to work extra hours.

However, VW has also pledged to build a new model in Emden, another of its German plants, in 2008.

"For everyone involved, this was not an easy path," said Wolfgang Bernhard, chief executive of the VW brand.

"The main thing is that we can now produce and export the vehicle in Germany in competitive conditions."

VW is in the middle of a major cost-cutting drive and revealed plans to reduce its German workforce earlier this month. "

QUOTE FROM German Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement

"The decisions shows that both sides -- both management and employees -- are prepared to make great efforts to safeguard production and jobs in Germany...They are demonstrating a great sense of responsibility and showing that it is possible, by working together, to find solutions to the demands made by globalisation."