Fiat boss dines with Canadian union officials

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/626008

Apr 29, 2009 04:30 AM
Tony Van Alphen
Business Reporter

Fiat SpA chief executive Sergio Marchionne didn't see any horns coming out of the head of union leader Ken Lewenza at the dinner table the other night.

Marchionne, who is racing to complete a merger with Chrysler LLC by the end of tomorrow, quietly flew into town Monday to dine and personally thank Lewenza and his union for accepting significant concessions critical to saving the sputtering auto giant.

"He wanted to see if the CAW and I have horns in our heads," Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers, said with a chuckle. "I think he left knowing there were none but they could come out any time if we're backed into a corner."

Marchionne, Chrysler president Tom LaSorda, Lewenza and four top union officials dined on steak and veal Parmesan for about two hours at Topiary's Steak and Seafood Restaurant near Pearson International Airport.

Marchionne, 56, was born in Italy, raised in Toronto and graduated from the University of Windsor. He recently described the CAW as "rigid" and vowed to walk away from merger talks if the Canadian union and the United Auto Workers in the U.S. did not accept concessions deeper than those ratified earlier by General Motors employees.

Lewenza said he mildly "challenged" Marchionne on the comment and reminded him Chrysler workers in Canada are efficient, produce top-quality vehicles and would do anything to remain competitive.

FULL story at link.

[Skink]

1. Fix it again Tony.

I don't like the idea of minimum wage earners making cars.

[madrchsod]

2. the problem is....the guy made fiat profitable

he could save chrysler by engineering and building a good automobile.