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The virtual meeting place of the left in the unions and in the workplace
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Happy New Year!
Here is "The Barking Dog" #42, dated Dec. 7, 2001. It is an unofficial newsletter put out by Caroline Lund, a Trustee and member of UAW Local 2244 at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA. Send comments to: lundshep@attbi.com For back issues, see: www.geocities.com/abarkingdog/
I believe in working smart and putting a lot of heart into my work. But it seems Kaisen [Japanese word for "constant improvement"] won't work anymore when there is too much to do and too little time to do the job.
I haven't been hurt since 2 years ago, when the takt time was around 87 seconds, but now I experience a lot of pain in my hands and back. Upon going to Medical for treatment I learned from a nurse that injuries are up due to the speed of the line.
What is worse is that there are a great number of high-grade vehicles that require more parts and they are scheduled back-to-back -- so many that it is unbearable. The motor line is running too fast and unsafe. The time to use the hoist is being rushed, therefore people on this job are getting their hands or feet almost crushed. . . .
I just heard from a G/L [Group Leader] that we will be running FASTER. Another second will be taken away this December -- from 83 seconds down to 82, without us knowing why. No time study, nor any improvement to the equipment we're using.
They know they are making everyone work harder, faster, and unsafe. but yet they say "all accidents are preventable." You can't prevent the accident if you are being driven into it.
They have a meeting every month to push everyone to speed up, talking about so much down time and A-ranks. And a second meeting about safety and the wearing of PPE [personal protective equipment]. My take is, what good is PPE if you can't handle parts safely when you're rushing to get out of the hole. . . .
I wonder if you can get my word across to Union leaders like [Chairman] Art Torres, that they should take action by going to each group at lunch time to talk about the issues and what members could do, and their rights.
Most employees, especially on second shift, are newly hired. New hires, even from last year, are afraid of stopping the line when they are in the hole, and also don't understand how critical it is to stick together instead of trying to show off what you can do because you're new and you want to be accepted. But then you misjudge your physical limits, ending up with severe or even nagging injuries.
Injuries are UP, and no one seems to be doing anything. I implore the leaders of the Union to go to each member, especially now, to talk and give advice.
Motor Line Man
I have worked in union shops and non-union. I can see advantages in both, depending on the situation. I have over 20 years in manufacturing and I've seen most every situation that you can imagine.
I too once thought that union representation was not needed here at TMMK. Boy was I wrong. At least I'm man enough to admit it.
Not only did I see management's true colors once I was injured, but at the very same time I was off work, my neighbor was terminated. She was an 11-year veteran. She is an African American, single with 2 children. She was terminated for a "false positive" drug test.
When she was informed of the shocking news, she immediately called Human Relations. She was brought in for a meeting and terminated.
She professed her innocence and offered to retake the test and a polygraph test at her own expense, but was refused. She lost her job, her car, her home and her reputation in Georgetown, due to a flawed and I believe illegal test.
Every employee is subjected to a possible firing squad every two years when our mandatory physicals come around.
I will continue to fight for this lady, other team members, injured team members, fair treatment, better working conditions and better benefits, until the day I'm walked out the gate. They may be able to take away my rights, but they can NEVER take away my dignity.
Solidarity, Dave,
81/2-year veteran, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky
UAW Local 2036, in Henderson, Kentucky, has been on strike and locked out for 45 months. They have been urged by the UAW International to accept a union-busting contract with the Accuride Corp., but the membership has voted down the company proposal 6 times and have courageously stuck to their picket lines.
Now the UAW International has told the Local that if they don't accept the anti-union contract, their strike and medical benefits will cease on Jan. 15 and their UAW charter pulled.
The UAW International never lifted a finger to try to organize solidarity with this strike. Never even informed other UAW members who continued to install scab-produced steel wheels from the Accuride Corp.
Local 2036 former president Billy Robinson says, "Fellow workers, we have got to promote solidarity all across this country. All of us. It's our responsibility. You're probably going to have to go back into your own local and organize your own local, because they don't know what a union is."
NUMMI workers who have computers: take a few moments to send a message of solidarity to Local 2036. Email Billy Robinson at: wrobi27316@aol.com
Just about everyone, for just one moment, has wished on a star - family, friends, and especially little children.
Our children know that each day they wake up, their tummies will be filled with food and that each year on their birthdays and on Christmas they will receive a gift or two.
For people less fortunate than us, they can only wish on a star that for their birthday and Christmas they will receive a gift, and that each day when they wake up in the morning there will be food to eat.
We must always show love and consideration for the ones less fortunate than us, for if we were in their position, we would want the same thoughtfulness given to us.
That is why I write this letter. It is in regard to our union's "Childrens' Christmas Party" last year.
The Recreation Committee had stored away excess canned and dry foods and toys that were to be donated to local shelters and the less fortunate.
The plan didn't entirely follow through, however. Members of our own Local Union 2244 walked away with some of the products that were to be donated to shelters and children, even though they were well aware of the cause they were to be donated to.
It was then that it became impossible to donate anything to shelters and families for Christmas that year.
The intention of this letter is that all of us who participate in this event should be well aware of the problems that occurred at last year's "Childrens' Christmas Party" and that we will all help out in any way to prevent this from happening again.
Sincerely,
Concerned Union Member
WEB SURFERS:
Check out the web site of Tom Burton, Union Coordinator of Trim 5/Car2nd
shift at:
www.autoworker.org
Also, to be in touch with autoworkers from around the country, go to the UAW Solidarity coalition at:
www.hawk.addr.com/uawsc/members.htm
In the latest news update from NUMMI, we are informed that the company is anticipating making more cars and trucks than ever. That, coupled with a completely new model, the Vibe, and not completely ironing out the problems from this and last year in the paint process, makes it look like a monster is in our near future.
I hope they didn't bite off more than they can chew, because if they did, they will be taking it out of good old us.
The first paragraph of the note said: We realize many team members will be asked to put in longer hours and make other sacrifices in order to ensure a successful launch, blah, blah, blah. . .We ask for your commitment, cooperation and enthusiasm, blah, blah, blah.
I guess that means that the Union officers will have to get out there and work alongside all the rest of us, right? No? Oh, well.
Do you think there is any chance that we can get our union dues reduced by about 35%? That would be a fair start. There is way too much money being spent on things that are not needed.
We don't need to contribute to politics, charities, have parties for a select bunch, or need to fly and feed anybody anywhere. We are doing this and more, and still not getting proper representation. I don't want to hear any mumbo gumbo, we can see thru that.
Zigzag
"Most Americans get their news from TV. . . . The images TV doesn't show are anything but heartwarming. A full picture would show politicians and businessmen behaving badly, with this bad behavior made possible -- and made worse -- by the fact that these days selfishness comes tightly wrapped in the flag. . . .
"It tells you something when Congress votes $15 billion in aid and loan guarantees for airline companies but not a penny for laid-off airline workers. It tells you even more when the House passes a 'stimulus' bill that contains almost nothing for the unemployed but includes $25 billion in retroactive corporate tax cuts -- that is, pure lump-sum transfers to corporations, most of them highly profitable. . . .
"No economic doctrine I'm aware of, right or left, says that an $800 million lump-sum transfer to General Motors will lead to more investment when the company is already sitting on $8 billion in cash."
Paul Krugman,
Economist, in the Nov. 25, 2001 New York Times
"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. . .
"If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places -- and there are so many -- where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
"And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."
Historian, Howard Zinn
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