Canada Applies French Influence -- Insults U.S. Workers

A Canadian auto executive said that a car plant will be constructed in Canada because U.S. workers are stupid. Them's fight'n words where I come from. Let's see if this guy knows what he's talking about or if this is just more phony Canadian snobbery to the U.S.

Here's the story. Toyota announced that they would build a new plant in Woodstock, Ontario. Why there rather than the Southeastern U.S., which has seen an explosion of new car plants? According to Gerry Fedchun, president of the Toronto based Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, "The educational level and the skill level of the people down there is so much lower than it is in Ontario." In the report by the CBC, Fedchun added (maybe sneered) that workers in Alabama and Mississippi are often illiterate. Well, Monsieur Fedchun may also think that people in Alabama and Mississippi don't wear shoes, either.

Let's look at some figures. Canadian taxpayers are giving $125 million in location incentives. Canadian taxpayers are providing $5 per hour in health care benefits, which translates to $13 million with that size employment, which is over $100 million in an eight year period. Then, the Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for $275 million in related and supporting industries for Toyota. That totals $ 1/2 Billion that they gave away to attract the plant! Now, who really are the stupid ones?

So, you still think that it was their brains rather than their money that got the plant? According to this recent survey, "...42 per cent of Canadians have low literacy (scoring either Level 1, the lowest level where a person is, for example, unable to read a medicine label; or Level 2, where only the simplest of messages are comprehended and there are limitations on learning new skills.)" and at one time Canadian managers concluded, "The estimated annual cost of illiteracy to Canadian business is $1.6 billion for industrial accidents alone. This does not include the cost of illiteracy from lost productivity in other areas."

These smart Canadians are going to learn that there are no poetry and cappuccino breaks at a car plant. You use your muscles and have to sweat. The fact is that auto plants locate where labor is cheap, incentives high, and lifestyles for management and their families are good. If a new plant recruits factory workers from the bottom of the labor pool, they may get someone who can physically do the job even though they didn't graduate from college. They would find this whether outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama or Woodstock, Ontario. I don't think that southern auto manufacturers have any second thoughts about their location decisions. Mercedes and BMW are just as smart as those guys from Toyota.

Southern workers, in fact all U.S. workers, are the best. People in the U.S. work harder and longer than our friends in the cold north and other parts of the world. And, surprise, they can read, too! The states have compulsory education, and I don't think that even the public schools turn out illiterates.

So Canada, just don't tell us that you got a car plant because southern workers are stupid compared to you. We're not that dumb.

But, for you, Toyota--have fun doubling your paperwork in both English and French, dealing with the biggest government bureaucracy that you'll ever see, and having to melt the ice off of car parts before you can install them.

And, Canadians, if you want the U.S. military to continue to provide your defense and fight your battles that you can't or won't do, please don't be offended if we use some stupid, shoeless Southern hicks to do the job.
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UPDATE of July 15, 2005: When the disparaging comments about our auto workers were published, I wrote the Canadian auto association, which is led by the executive making the remarks, and "The Birmingham News," which is the major newspaper in the area of most of the new car plants in the South. Today, "The Birmingham News" wrote me and provided this reponse from Mr. Fedchun of the association. You may follow the Continuation Link to the letter and apology from Mr. Fedchun. It is being placed here for those might come to this entry from a search or link, and they should have both sides to be fair and to see the resolution to this point. Additional information may also be added if it becomes available.

The Birmingham News (c)
Friday, July 15, 2005
Letters to the Editor

On June 30, Toyota awarded a new assembly plant to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. The Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association issued a formal press release complimenting Toyota. After the announcement, I was interviewed by media for additional comments.

I was asked to elaborate on details related to the skilled workers in Ontario and in the Southeastern United States. The comments were my own personal comments and are not shared by Toyota or any other vehicle manufacturer. International surveys have verified the average skill level of Ontario residents is one of Ontario's competitive advantages in North America. My comments taken in their total context were meant to highlight that quality and were not meant to disparage workers elsewhere.

I never used the word "illiterate," nor would I. I have been in this industry a long time. The use of diagrams and illustrations is common. I was horrified that my remarks were reported as they were.

I have led four trade missions to the Southeastern United States. Several Canadian suppliers have set up plants there as a direct result of these trade missions. If I believed what the article implied, would I have done so? I think not.

I must profoundly apologize for the agony the interpretation of my comments has caused. I hold a high regard for the residents of the Southeastern United States. I do not think in the way the newspapers have made it seem.

Gerry Fedchun
President, Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I personally don't think that it was necessary to apologize, as society tends to overdo demands for those. However, I do think it is important to stop misinformation and biases and to set the record straight. I think that this reply is in the right direction to accomplish those goals.

Later, a Canadian born auto executive with Mercedes added his view, a totally opposite one, on this matter in a letter to the editor. Here is part of that.
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The Birmingham News
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Letters to the Editor

For the past 12 years, Alabama has been my home. I am a native of Ontario, Canada, but in 1993, Mercedes-Benz asked me to join its new team in Alabama that would operate its first and only manufacturing facility in North America. ...In my 35 years in this business, I have worked for U.S., Japanese and European car makers. I have run plants in both the United States and Canada and have been responsible for several plant start-ups. I know what it takes to run a successful business, and I know quality workers when I see them.

That's why I was very disturbed and embarrassed when I read a Birmingham News story recently, quoting a Canadian auto industry leader on the abilities of Alabama workers. ...It appears that Fedchun is the one not quite educated. He, obviously, doesn't know what automakers require - and receive - from its workers in Alabama.

...our Tuscaloosa plant recently won DaimlerChrysler's Top Quality Award for 2004 for best performance by a Mercedes plant anywhere in the world, and that was a direct result of our team members' abilities.

It is not my objective to defend Alabama workers; the results speak for themselves. ...our plant recently completed a $600-million expansion, which doubled our work force to 4,000 and will bring production to more than 160,000 vehicles a year, which in the automotive industry is a validation of an organization's success.

As a Canadian, I am proud to lead this organization in Alabama. As a 35-year veteran of the auto industry, there is no other group of workers I would want on my team.

Bill Taylor
President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International

Unless there is something new of substance to add, this is the last update on this matter. I think that we can lay to rest these biases of people who don't know better and who have now had their education.