Automakers Return With A Plan

copyright © 2008 Betsy L. Angert.  BeThink.org

Weeks ago House Representatives refused to award the auto industry a blanket bailout or even a bridge loan.  Policymakers insisted they must see a reasonable plan to revamp a business near bankruptcy.  The legislators set a deadline for delivery of the proposal, December 2, 2008.  This same date was reserved for another auto review; in Florida a delayed vote on emission regulations would finally be realized.  The two tales may seem separate; certainly, the cities where Congresspersons will meet are far apart.  Nonetheless, the sagas are inexorably connected.

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There are a number of interesting union initiatives going on these days which are, I think very commendably, pushing back against some very stiff boundaries in an effort to expand the power of working people.  I've included the full details below the fold, but here's a quick synopsis:

A coalition of seven unions, anchored by the United Steel Workers and United Auto Workers, is asking the NLRB to issue a ruling that employers must negotiate with minority unions;

The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is fighting intrusive measures by the licensing commission; the workers are banding together for mutual aid, despite the fact that they're legally independent contractors;

Despite a history of stiff opposition to unions in the South, and particularly in Japanese-owned auto plants in the South, the UAW drive to unionize the Georgetown, KY plant is picking up steam.

update I just saw this come across the wire, and I don't know if it counts as a union initiative exactly, but it sure is good news: Governor Spitzer signed an Executive Order aimed at battling misclassification of workers as independent contractors. Misclassification is a key union-busting tactic, since independent contractors cannot unionize under NLRA. Three cheers!

More details over the flip!

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Last week Sen. Obama launched a broadside on Detroit automakers arguing that the lagging fortunes of US automakers were the result of their failure to "answer the rising global demand for fuel-efficient cars."

The problem is that Sen. Obama has missed the secret to Toyota's success.

An industrial relations model that treats workers like machines, and has pursued a union evasion strategy employing permatemps and wage parity to reduce the incentive to unionize.

But Toyota worker's wages are set to drop, if Toyota has it's way.

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