The following is issue #25 of "The Barking Dog," an unofficial newsletter put out by Caroline Lund, a rank-and-file member of UAW Local 2244 at the New United Motor Manuf., Inc. (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, CA. It is dated May 22, 2000. Web site: www.geocities.com/abarkingdog/
Email: lundshep@jps.net

Correction

Bargaining Committee Chair Art Torres has indicated to me, via his lawyer, that he was not the author of the unsigned flyer passed out in the plant two months ago, titled "In Response to the Lies of the Barking Dog."

In response, I take back my statements assuming he was the author, in issue #23 of "The Barking Dog."

Intimidation Tactics Won't Work

I made the above "Correction" in response to a threat from Art Torres and President Tito Sanchez to sue me for libel because of "The Barking Dog." I have been putting out the "B.D." for three years now, and have never heard a word from Art or Tito about any alleged inaccuracies.

Hopefully, now that I have made this correction, Art and Tito will drop their threat of a suit. If they go ahead with it, they should know that I will have free legal counsel from a public service law firm that defends people in free speech cases.

This threatened lawsuit is a blow to democracy in our union. Union members must have the right to criticize union officials without feeling they will be threatened with a lawsuit. We need to be united, as union brothers and sisters, despite our differences, in order to deal with the speed-up and bad conditions out on the plant floor.

I think many members see this threatened suit as a sign that Art and Tito are losing touch with the people out on the line and our desire for unity.

There is one other matter. Art and Tito's lawyer's latest letter to my lawyer was faxed with a cover sheet from their law firm. It says, among other information: "Case Name: Lund, Caroline (Admin. Cauc.)"

What role is the Administration Caucus playing in this threatened lawsuit? I know there are many Administration Caucus members in the plant who totally disagree with Art and Tito's threatened suit. Have they been informed if their Caucus is backing this attack on free speech?

I want to thank all the members who have expressed their solidarity with me, who have expressed their disagreement to Art and Tito, and who have volunteered to collect funds for my lawyer expenses so far. All of you are not only helping me, but are helping create more space for democracy in our union.

-- Caroline Lund

Some Messages of Support

1. If they can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
2. What ever happened to free speech and freedom of the press?
3. If every politician were to sue for every time something was written or stated about them, they would be so poor they would not even be able to feed their own ass.

-- A Concerned Team Member

Hi, Ms. Lund,

My name is Kevin Dalton (Local 1853, Saturn). I am coauthor of "The Shoprat," a small, one-page leaflet. I am just writing to let you know I admire your courage. I know what it takes to stick your neck out, as you have done for quite some time.

They have called out the lawyers. That means you are doing your job well! You must have hit a nerve. Keep up the pressure, it keeps them honest!

-- Solidarity, Kevin Dalton

Hi, Caroline,

We heard the Barking Dog all the way to here in Kansas City! We'd like to turn up the volume by linking to you. We have quite a few transferees from Fremont here, and I am sure they would be interested.

-- Ron Schuman

"An injury to one is an injury to all" The Unofficial GM Fairfax Employees Home Page

Just a note of thanks for writing your newsletter. It's good to know someone is keeping these people in check.

-- A NUMMI member

Dear Caroline,

I applaud your courage in standing up to the UAW "brass" in your plant.
We have several publications in our plant (Saturn) that are doing the same thing. Because of threats from the UAW President, Ron Hankins, and MAC-UAW Chairman, Jeep Williams, they have had to be unsigned. Any of us who go to meetings, though, know that they speak the truth.

After 24 years of being a UAW member (and my father before me), I have come to the sad conclusion that the UAW is a business just like everything else and my rights are not being protected by the people we elect. With the International UAW becoming involved in partnership with management, how could they be impartial?. . . .

In Solidarity,
* Sheryle Davis

Caroline, I am sorry to hear that people are trying to restrict your freedom of speech. In a Union, it is extremely important that you be able to freely express your feelings and thoughts about activities within your union. . . .

If you think something is the truth, and want to share it with others, then you should have the right to do that. That is what leaflets are for, a back-and-forth exchange to get the truth out for all concerned. Keep up the good work, I know you have already made a difference by keeping your fellow workers informed.

* Larry Solomon

[Larry is former President of UAW Local 751 at Caterpillar in Decatur, Illinois.]

Punishment for Being Sick

Milton from Passenger Final 4 became very sick at work some months ago. He went to Medical and was found to have a fever of 104 degrees. He was allowed to lie down for an hour, but his temperature was still very high. But, he was told he could not be sent home "unable to work," and that even if he was sent home by Medical, he would get a point against his attendance record.

He was told the Company felt people were drinking hot tea or coffee before coming to Medical in order to look like they had a fever. Several years ago I was sent home "unable to work" with a fever of only 102, and with no point against me, so I was curious to find out about this change.

It turns out this change came when the Company unilaterally changed the attendance policy in May of 1998. And now Art, Tito, and International Rep Earlie Mays have negotiated with the Company to keep this inhumane policy. If you look at the "UAW Local 2244 Special Report," containing no less than 19 photos of our union officials meeting with and shaking hands with management, you will notice that you don't get a point ONLY when you are sent home unable to work from an industrial injury.

Other companies give their employees sick days. You are expected to fall sick every once in a while, and illness is not treated as if it is your fault.

Here at NUMMI, when you fall victim to a virus or bacteria or an accident, you are treated like the enemy. NUMMI punishes us with a point for sick days, even though we have worked the time to earn our PAA days off. What other company would force you to go back to work with a high fever?

Milton says, "Why have a medical staff if they can't make a decision about someone who has laid down for an hour and still is burning up with fever?"

Discrimination Against Men?

A member who works in Conveyance (Andon) thinks it is wrong that there are some jobs at NUMMI that are treated as "men's jobs" and women never have to do them. He mentioned in particular the "engine job," where you remove the cover and put the whole engine on the line. He thinks that since women get equal pay with men in the plant, they should not be able to avoid the harder jobs. He didn't want his name used because he doesn't want women coworkers to turn against him.

What do readers think? Are there "men only" jobs at NUMMI?

I think women should be able to do all jobs here in the plant. If women are not assigned to do certain jobs, that is management's fault, not women's fault. And if a job is too hard for a woman to do, it is probably too hard for any worker to do. In fact, if a job is too heavy, a small man might have more problems with it than a large, muscular woman. I say, lets not turn against each other, but work together to ease everyone's jobs.

If you have an opinion on this subject, please email or give it to me for the next issue.

* Caroline Lund

UAW Turns Back on Accuride Workers

Earlier this month, some 120 people from 15 UAW locals, UAW Concerned Retirees, the Canadian Auto Workers, and other unions demonstrated outside the UAW's International headquarters, Solidarity House, in Detroit.

They were protesting the union's trusteeship and betrayal of locked-out UAW Local 2036 at the Accuride plant in Henderson, Ky.

The Accuride workers have been on strike or locked out for over 2 years. Last fall the UAW leadership cut off their strike benefits without even telling them why.

Local 2036 has turned down contract proposals from Accuride that provided, among other things: "the company would not recognize any union officers, and the only way to get a steward was for the supervisor to deem it a matter of importance, then he would arrange for a meeting to take place between the company and the Union; any other discussion or Union matter had to be done after work on the employee's own time. The company would not pay for Union representation, and would not allow for dues deduction from employees' pay. Employees would not have to belong to the Union." (Source: The LineWorkers web page)

Apparently, the UAW leadership thought Local 2036 should have accepted these union-busting provisions. Local 2036 President, Billy Robinson, said, "It took the International [Union] to accomplish what the company could not do."

These brave UAW members have not given up, though. You can send a message of solidarity and/or a contribution to the Local's hardship fund at: Henderson Workers Solidarity Fund, c/o Billy Robinson, PO Box 248, Sebree, KY 42455. Or call the union hall at (270) 826-8237. Email: wrobi27316@aol.com

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