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http://www.autoworkercaravan.comVolume 1, Issue 3 November 27, 2012

Who We Are We believe that a job is a human right. We see the need for solidarity across borders and oceans. Workers in other

Autoworker Caravan (AWC) was formed by a group of countries —or from other countries—are our sisters and rank-and-file autoworkers at the Big Three and parts brothers, not our enemies. We must fight to improve suppliers during the 2008 economic crisis, when autoworkers conditions for all workers.were taking the fall for poor decisions by management. AWC has opposed concessions, particularly two-tier

AWC went to Washington DC to oppose concessions by wages and benefits. Before the 2011 contract we developed the union in order to supposedly “save” the industry. Our leaflets informing members that concessions were not needed. wages and benefits amount to well under 10% of a vehicle's We exposed the injustice of a contract that left a huge gap cost! between first and second tier pay and institutionalized all the

rotten concessions we’ve swallowed. Many of the plants that A month after the DC trip AWC demonstrated outside the voted no were plants where the AWC campaigned.

Detroit Auto Show. We’ve done so every year since. Our cities still suffer from mass unemployment for which the auto bosses are partly responsible—75 plants have closed in Michigan alone since 1979!

We’ve witnessed the escalating crisis of global warmingwhich the auto industry is a contributor. AWC calls for a

moratorium on plant closings and demand closed plants be retooled and reopened to build green products, from wind turbines to and . This will create good jobs to employ workers abandoned by the Wall Street economy.

We have been taking concessions since the bailout of Chrysler thirty years ago.

to

light rail cars buses

AutoworkerCaravan Newsletter editors:

Dianne Feeley, UAW Local 235 (retired)

Martha Grevatt, UAW Local 869

Frank Hammer, UAW Local 909 (retired)

Scott Houldieson UAW Local 551

If you would like to submit an article email to

Autoworkercaravan@gmail.com

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he Autoworker Speakout held September 9 put the spot-light on the abuses we are dealing with in our plants. TSeveral dozen autoworkers representing eighteen

locals, from Ford, GM, Chrysler, parts, Ryder and the National Writers Union, attended. Here are some of the contributions:

Eric Truss, Local 600, Ford, described shop fights over sewage odor and working in 102 degree heat with no heat break.

Clyde Walker, Local 869, Chrysler, was a TPT (temporary part time) for nine years. When they made him permanent full-time his pay was cut to second-tier rate.

A Local 212 Chrysler transport worker described losing overtime pay because of the Flexible Operating Pattern schedules at assembly and parts plants.

Dan Kelley, Local 892, Ford/Faurecia, said French parts Peggy Ciccinelli, Local 1112, GM, said “you have to supplier Faurecia is bringing 500 new $11-an-hour jobs to Detroit

faint if you are going to get anything done” about the heat. but cutting more than that in Saline. With multiple tiers and temp-“We got a war going on.”orary workers doing the work of Ford workers being transferred

Ron Lare, retiree, Local 600 said, “If 20 people refuse to out, “they've created all this animosity.” Management threw work for an hour, you don't hear that in the media,” so workers away tables and chairs and refused to provide water and ice.should write about these floor fights for the AWC newsletter.Dean Parm, retiree, Local 699, Nexteer, said with five

Debi Muncy of Local 892 and Reggie Kendrick of Local or six tiers “half the workforce is being whipsawed against 600 moderated the program.the other half.”

Many, who came with little awareness of the plight of Alex Wassell, Local 869, said “Sales are up, profits are autoworkers in other countries, heard a deeply moving and up, executive pay is way up. This is a jobless, payless recovery. informative talk by Jorge Parra, President of the Association That's why we have people begging on Mound Rd.”

Judy Wraight, retiree, Local 600, Ford said, “who here does not hurt? These jobs hurt. I did the repair parts but I don't

(continued on back of page)get any replacement body parts” She also called for a shorter work week, 30 hours work for 40 hours pay.

of Injured Workers and Ex-workers of GM Colombia (Asotrecol).Parra described the dire situation of GM workers in Colombia,

Autoworker Speakout Focuses on Working ConditionsBy Martha Grevatt

Some Auto Workers Who Spoke Up at the Speakout Jorge Parra Top Right picture

Photo by Frank HammerAsotrecol President

labordonated

Chrysler Chief, Marchionne, Labeled a “Union Buster” in ItalyBy George Windau

FIOM said “NO,” and demanded the pay raises that had hile “CBS 60 Minutes” suggested that Sergio been negotiated in the revoked contract. But while FIOM conducted Marchionne of FIAT was some kind of genius for W a short strike, the other two unions, FIM and ULIM, caved in. saving Chrysler in the USA, in Italy workers consider FIOM said the vote was invalid since it was not a contract vote Marchionne a “union buster.” I say this based upon an interview conducted by the union and urged workers to vote “NO.”with Adriano Alessandria, a member of the Federation of Italian

A massive media campaign was conducted, with all Italian Metal and Office Workers (FIOM). I conducted the interview political leaders appearing on TV, urging FIAT workers to vote with the help of Stella Pavnosetti, an interpreter, on May 20, “YES” on the production plan. Even the Roman Catholic Church 2012 while I was at an autoworkers conference in Munich, Germany.urged workers to vote “YES.” In one area, parish priests warned Last year Marchionne unilaterally revoked a Bargaining that FIAT workers voted “NO” they would be responsible for Agreement with all three unions at FIAT in Italy. FIOM, Adriano's allowing an economic crisis that would allow the Mafia to regain union, represented the majority of the workers. Marchionne said control of southern Italy.he had a “production plan” to double output and ramp up profits,

Marchionne's plan received a 60% YES vote, but because but he needed Italian workers to agree to concessions, some of FIOM openly opposed the plan, FIOM-represented workers were which included: not allowed back in the plants. In order to return to work they ?Alternate Work Schedule, paying straight time for were forced to drop their FIOM membership.production work on Saturdays and Sundays

At a news conference, a reporter asked Marchionne if he ?Workers on call two hours before their regular shift considered himself to be a “union buster.” He replied “no,” there and be available two hours afterward whenever were still unions at FIAT--some of his workers simply and management dictatesvoluntarily changed their affiliation. That's a lie that Italian ?Sick pay sharply reducedworkers can see through. Too bad “CBS 60 Minutes” failed to ?Restrictions placed upon when union reps can conduct mention this fact to U.S. viewers.union business.

Despite the odds they face, FIOM continues to organize Clearly the plan was an ultimatum. Marchionne then within the FIAT plants.proceeded to have the company carry out and count the vote.

(continued from front) who work until they are injured or incapacitated by repetitive strain conditions. Then they are fired. His organization is fighting for the workers to be given jobs at GM that they can do with their conditions, or be given a pension if they cannot work. “GM was saved with your tax dollars that are being used to finance human rights abuse in Colombia,” Parra said. Asotrecol's occupation outside the U.S. embassy in Bogota was in its 405th day when he addressed our Speakout. Parra could feel the warm solidarity in the room of his sister and brother autoworkers. The Oakland Press published a story about Asotrecol. The Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator ran a story based on a phone interview with Caravan activist and Local 909 retiree Frank Hammer.

eptember 10, 2012 Auto Alliance International changed its name to Flat Rock Assembly Plant S(FRAP). On September 17, 2012, Local 3000

members went to the polls to vote on a new Local Agreement. The membership passed the new agreement, but skilled trades members rejected the skilled trades part of the new agreement.

As of the deadline for this issue UAW LOCAL 551 Chicago Assembly Plant has not been offered a local contract to consider ratifying. We assume to be working under the 2008 local agreement which was voted down by skilled trades. There was never any attempt to understand the reasons for skilled trades declining the contract in 2008. It was subsequently implemented.

Alternative Work Schedules, two tier wages, and mandatory overtime of 12 hour shifts for trades and as much as 11.5 hour shifts for production have taken their toll on morale. Indicators such as absenteeism, calls to the Harassment Hotline, and altercations are extremely high. A Local 600 trades worker wrote to Autoworker Caravan: "AWS destroying families. Workers are no longer able to participate in family activities. Ford comes FIRST!!!”

The Detroit Free Press reported on October 21, 2012 that the next generation Taurus would be built at FRAP, in a couple of years. These cars will be build at FRAP along with the FORD MUSTANG and the FORD FUSION.

The Saline Plant, represented by Local 892, has seen lots of churn and change since 2000 when Ford spun off most of its parts plants as Visteon. As you can imagine these ownership

changes have been difficult, to say the least, for our UAW brothers and sisters at Local 892.

In 2005, as a means of avoiding bankruptcy and a parts supply disruption, Visteon transferred ownership of the Saline plant back to Ford under Automotive Components Holdings (ACH). ACH was to sell or close the plant by 2008. In November 2007 ACH announced a tentative deal to sell the plant to Johnson Controls, but that deal hinged on them reaching a “Competitive Labor Agreement” (more concessions). The deal fell through. In 2011 French auto parts company Faurecia began negotiating a purchase of the Saline Plant. In April 2012 Local 892 reached an agreement with Faurecia. This agreement was the final piece of the puzzle finalizing the sale. Now Devon Alpha Services has entered the picture. The role of Devon Alpha Services at Saline is unclear. At Chicago Assembly Plant a handfull of retired skilled trades have been brought back on a temporary basis under the Devon Alpha Services umbrella. The workers and the community suffer because of all these spinoffs and related concessions.

UAW Developments at FordContributors: Ron Lare, Jeff Brown, Scott Houldieson