Quoting Peter : >> it still true with the Canadian $ value history high? > > Read the news. Several auto part makers in Canada fired thousands lately and > several plants are scheduled to close. See http://www.apma.ca/ about > that 'reeling'. > > Peter The whole industry is not in good shape. For an automotive maker, overall cost of doing business is still competitive, even if the Canadian wages are higher, because of the government-funded health care. That's why both the car companies and the unions in the US are in favor of some kind of similar health care plan. But the US union is accepting a two-tier wage arrangement, which literally halves wages for new workers. And the Canadian union is holding out for equal treatment for new/younger workers (so far). None of this ($30-hour-ish wages) for union employees has anything to do with Chinese and Vietnamese level unskilled wages, which are but a tiny fraction. 2005 numbers for minimum wage: Vietnam: 45-55 Cambodia: 45 Beijing: 63 Shanghai: 70 That's not per hour- it's per month. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" s...@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist