Quote:
Originally Posted by manny_santos
The PR firm that Caterpillar has been using should be fired, and whoever was responsible for using that firm should be fired. The PR firm has HORRIBLY managed this situation. I really don't think Caterpillar fully appreciates how much they and their PR firm have allowed their reputation to be needlessly damaged, potentially permanently, in the Canadian market. The PR firm had an opportunity to correct the errors that were made in the media in the days leading up to the lockout, but they dropped the ball. I agree that it is not their job to negotiate in the media, but they should be reporting the facts.
All round, this whole thing has come from a dangerous mixture of Caterpillar management doing their jobs as dictated by the shareholders that elected them, the losses being incurred by the EMD division, toxic leadership in the CAW, and supreme incompetency in the outsourced PR firm.
I still wish the Free Press and AM980 would ask more questions rather than simply rallying behind the workers without reporting facts.
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Caterpillar always wanted to/is conduct negotiations in private, not make a public spectacle out of them. They don't gain anything by going public and making their position about the lack of EMD's profitability and the need to cut. All people will care about is Caterpillar cutting wages, regardless of the rationale.
The CAW on the other-hand has only the public forum to moan and complain about the proposed wage cuts, making a big spectacle that they hope will draw government intervention, via public outcry. Caterpillar could care less what CAW thinks as ultimately its their money that being lost/spent, and if there's no public outcry against Caterpillar, they can lockout the CAW until they come back begging for their jobs. It's not as though individuals buy locomotives, like a GM or a Ford car. CAW knows their goose is cooked and is gonna make this a dirty, nasty affair.
From LFPress, 980 & CTV2, its natural that they will side and rally behind the workers. I doubt it would be good for either of their subscriptions, ratings or advertisement revenues if they sided or provided neutral facts about Caterpillar/EMD position, as they rely blue-collar followers.
Ultimately I don't see CAWs end game. Caterpillar/EMD won't be budging on their offer, take it or leave down south is their mentality. Any hope of forced government intervention is unlikely, and they've dug too deep a hole and they've dug too deep a hole with their membership to rationalize or agree to Caterpillar/EMDs terms. The loss of jobs or wages will weaken the CAW and other unions and bureaucracies that can't even protect wages or job security