Attention Ken Lewenza: You are playing with people's lives.

One of the hardest hit industries from the current global economic downturn is the auto manufacturing sector, particularly GM and Chrysler. As a 30 year CAW member and 24 year Chrysler employee I am dismayed every day to read the latest ramblings from CAW head Ken Lewenza. Equally disappointing are the almost daily appearances of the supposedly retired former CAW head Buzz Hargrove. Guys, pay attention here.

You are playing Russian roulette here with thousands of peoples jobs and lives. The problem is you seem to have loaded a bullet in every chamber of the gun.

Reading comments in various media on a daily basis, it appears everybody gets it but you. The CAW has done a fantastic job in representing the workers in the past, and the Big 3 have been generous with our pay and benefits in good times. But the fact is these are no longer good times, and drastic action must be taken to ensure the viability of these companies. I realize giving something up seems foreign to you, but it is now a matter of necessity. Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have stepped up to the table when they had no obligation to do anything.

Now it's our turn to step up to the table. Many of the things the companies are asking for will provide no major hardships to the workers. Let's take a look at some of the things talked bout.

1. Legal Plan: This is a taxable benefit, and costs each worker roughly $150 per year. Most workers only access the plan when buying a home, and this is only covered once every few years. Give it up, it saves the company money and most workers won't notice much of a differance, many will save money.

2. Remaining Spa week. The union has already showed leadership by giving up one week in the last contract. Give up the other. The fact is we never even had spa weeks until the mid 90's. The time off is nice but having a job is nicer.

3. Tuition Coverage. This was a wonderful idea when it was first negotiated, but the fact is most children of workers attending college or university work as tpt's in the plant, drawing an excellant wage to assist with the cost of their education.

4. Massage therapy, orthotics, etc.: This is another example of something that will provide a cost savings to the company with little effect on most workers. Seems like a no-brainer.

5. Out of province health care coverage: To be honest, I never even knew we had this. But if I'm not mistaken healtlh insurance coverage can be optained for travelling fairly cheap. Again, this would not affect most workers, and would give the company substantial savings on costs.

6. Two-Tier Wages: I know both you and Buzz have been steadfast in your refusal to consider this , but the fact is the UAW have already conceded this. You really can't believe any of the automakers would invest in Canada when newly hired workers in the U.S. make half the wage, do you? Perhaps that is the reason GM chose the Oshawa truck plant be closed rather than the American or Mexican plants. Surely you can't believe GM would close the top quality and productivity truck assembly plant if it was cost-competitive to build trucks there.

These are just a few examples to allow these companies to get back to profitability. Here is a suggestion from a lowly worker on the line. Take the pain and do what needs to be done. Down the road when things turn around, then you can begin to negotiate for improvements. If you decide to keep your heels dug in and plants start to close, I'm not sure of any explanation you can give to those workers standing in the unemployment line, the ones whose best interests is your job to protect.