17 June, 2010The UAW Convention opened with messages of optimism and despair in the face of harsh times. Newly elected president Bob King uses his acceptance speech to accuse Toyota of shifting jobs to a location where it can pay lower non union wages.
USA: The UAW Convention opened Monday in Detroit with both optimistic and bleak messages. With most members employed by automakers, the financial crisis hit the UAW hard, dropping membership from 1.5 million in the 1970's to 355.000 in 2009. The union has been struck by plant closures, job losses and weakened communities, but hope that the four day convention would re-energize and unify UAW was felt.
With Toyota's announcement that construction of an auto factory in Mississippi would be resumed, it was seemingly good news, with promises to hire 2000 workers and start producing Corolla sedans by the end of next year. But this decision was highly criticized by UAW who accuses Toyota of shifting production from a union plant to a non union plant.
Newly elected UAW President Bob King pledged to step up efforts to organize nonunion workers at Toyota factories and those run by other foreign automakers in the U.S. During the Convention King, used his acceptance speech to accuse Toyota of shifting jobs to a location where it can pay lower, non union wages. He also said the move was designed to scare workers at Toyota's other U.S. factories."We're going to pound on Toyota until they recognize the First Amendment rights of those workers to come into the UAW," King said at the UAW national convention in Detroit. King pledged a banner campaign at Toyota dealerships to tell customers that Toyota puts profits before people.
Bob King UAW Vice President since 1998, and a longtime labor leader known for supporting social justice issues and effective organizing, was nominated for president replacing Ron Gettelfinger who retired after serving two four year terms, and who led his union through difficult times. Bob King received a standing ovation with delegates cheering and blowing horns in support.
IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina took the opportunity in his speech at the UAW Convention to try to re-engage the UAW in IMF global work. "Sisters and brothers, solidarity is a two-way street. The world's metalworkers give their full support to the UAW in your struggle to ensure workers their right to join the union. We all support your demand for the adoption of the Employee Free Choice Act at the U.S. Congress" said Jyrki. Delegates reinforced his message of global unity among workers by approving a resolution supporting international labor solidarity.