UAW Strikes GM

By: AnonymousIsAWoman
Published On: 9/24/2007 10:39:01 PM

Cross-posted from Anonymous Is A Woman

At 11 a.m. today, the United Auto Workers walked out of plants across the nation in a general strike against General Motors. Here's a statement from the UAW Website:

"We're shocked and disappointed that General Motors has failed to recognize and appreciate what our membership has contributed during the past four years," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "Since 2003 our members have made extraordinary efforts every time the company came to us with a problem: the corporate restructuring, the attrition plan, the Delphi bankruptcy, the 2005 health care agreement. In every case, our members went the extra mile to find reasonable solutions.

"Throughout this time period," said Gettelfinger, "it has been the dedication of UAW members that has helped GM set new standards for safety, quality and productivity in their manufacturing facilities. And in this current round of bargaining, we did everything possible to negotiate a new contract, including an unprecedented agreement to stay at the bargaining table nine days past the expiration of the previous agreement."

"This is our reward: a complete failure by GM to address the reasonable needs and concerns of our members," said UAW Vice President Cal Rapson, director of the union's GM Department. "Instead, in 2007 company executives continued to award themselves bonuses while demanding that our members accept a reduced standard of living.

There will be picketing at the Fredericksburg GM plant. I'll try to find out more tomorrow.

Comments



National Health Care (Pictou - 9/24/2007 10:52:39 PM)
It is absolutely necessary that we have some sort of National Health Care system that relieves our industrial base of the responsibility of paying for health care. We are the ONLY industrial nation that does not have a government sponsored health payment system of some sort. GM is not a manufacturer of automobiles, it is a supplier of health care to current and former employees.  This strike should be aimed at the Republican Party and not at General Motors.


Really? (Sui Juris - 9/24/2007 10:57:09 PM)
It wasn't the GOP that promised them healthcare.  And it wasn't the GOP that's trying to snake out of its promises.


Labor supports Democrats -- Now lets support Labor (Dianne - 9/25/2007 6:41:41 AM)
Map of GM Powertrain, Fredericksburg

From the Free Lance Star

UAW members strike at Fredericksburg area GM Powertrain plant

Date published: 9/25/2007

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Workers streamed out of the General Motors Powertrain plant in Spotsylvania County yesterday after the United Auto Workers called for members to strike.

A line of UAW members wearing placards immediately began picketing outside the fence of the large building on Tidewater Trail opposite Fredericksburg Country Club.

Striking workers were greeted by honks and waves from passing vehicles. Some came from GM-made Chevrolets and GMCs, but Toyota, Volkswagen and Subaru drivers also rolled down windows to cheer. The plant produces torque converter clutches for all GM automatic transmission vehicles.

Allen Nicklow, a UAW member from Orange, was one of about 20 who picketed for several hours yesterday. Union members plan to protest in shifts during the job action.

"When they're giving the CEO of General Motors a $14 million bonus and they're taking more from us, that's not right," said Nicklow, who has worked at the GM plant for 23 years.

It's the first nationwide UAW action against GM since 1970.

The strike comes after several years of layoffs and reductions in shifts at the Spotsylvania plant. It opened here in 1979 and is the only GM plant in Virginia. [emphasis added]

The plant's work force has shrunk from about 300 to 135 employees as GM has tried to cut costs.

"This plant keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller, and they keep whittling away, and they expect more and more from the employees," said UAW member Gary Pickle of Fredericksburg, a 30-year worker at the GM plant.

Yesterday's 11 a.m. strike deadline passed without an agreement between GM and UAW representatives. The parties have been negotiating for nine days.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said that job security was the top unresolved issue, though the union also is fighting to preserve workers' benefits.

Map:  GM Powertrain
11032 Tidewater Trl, Fredericksburg, VA, USA
(540) 899-5000

Figure out what you can do to show your support for the UAW. 



Thanks for the additional information today, Dianne (AnonymousIsAWoman - 9/25/2007 12:23:20 PM)
You picked up the ball, getting out timely information,and showing why RK is an important community!


COMMENT HIDDEN (HeathPulaski - 9/25/2007 3:59:22 PM)


Ummm (AnonymousIsAWoman - 9/25/2007 4:38:32 PM)
Capitalism and unions are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, the countries that are most repressive to union organizing have been the communist countries.

You might say:

Unions + right to collective bargaining in a democracy + greater prosperity = good;

Communism + repression of workers' right = very bad!



you're not all that bright, (Sui Juris - 9/25/2007 8:36:49 PM)
are you, Heath?


Yes i am (HeathPulaski - 9/26/2007 8:17:30 AM)
Yea i am Heath Pulaski the Grandson of Polish immigratnts.