Auto Industry Crucial to Waterloo Region Economy, New CAW Analysis Indicates: Town Hall Meeting Monday April 30

TORONTO, April 27, 2012 /CNW/ - The auto industry remains a crucial part of the Waterloo Region economy, a new analysis by the CAW says.

In 2011 alone the industry produced automotive products worth $4.8 billion in Waterloo Region or around $13 million per day.

The analysis of the auto industry in Waterloo Region is being released as part of the "Re-think the Economy, Re-think Canada's Auto Industry" campaign, launched on April 16.

"The auto industry is a major source of good jobs in Waterloo Region," said CAW Kitchener Area Director Bill Gibson. "The CAW campaign outlines a path forward for this industry and outlines how to build and strengthen it for the benefit of everyone in the community."

"Over the last five years the Waterloo Region has lost a stunning 11,800 good manufacturing jobs, or 1 out of 5. Our communities cannot afford to lose anymore," said Gibson

On Monday, April 30 the CAW will host a community forum on auto jobs and the community. This is the seventh of eight town hall meetings held across southern Ontario as part of the campaign.

Kitchener Community Town Hall
Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
CAW Local 1524/1106 Hall
600 Wabanaki Drive
Kitchener, Ontario

Speakers will include:

• CAW National President Ken Lewenza;
• CAW Economist Jim Stanford;
• Joe Mancini, The Working Centre;
• Frank Crenew, United Way, Cambridge;
• Amy Slack, Program Coordinator, YWCA Small Steps to Success.

Here is some key information about the auto industry in the Waterloo Region:

• auto workers' paycheques pumped $401 million into the Waterloo Region economy in 2011;
• the auto industry directly employs 7,200 workers in Waterloo Region. Thousands more jobs are created to supply the industry in steel, plastics, and other manufacturing and services;
• the major original equipment manufacturing jobs in the region stimulate an estimated 25,000 additional jobs throughout the economy;
• auto workers fundraising efforts also directly support community organizations such as the United Way, women's shelters and food banks.

For more information on the campaign or to read the entire analysis, please visit: www.rethinktheeconomy.ca (click resources for fact sheets).

CAW Kitchener Area Director Bill Gibson, cell, 519-589-6390 or CAW Communications John McClyment 416-606-6311.