In Kentucky, Toyota Faces Union Rumblings (Downtrodden UAW Makes New Push)

The Washington Post ^ | Saturday, May 26, 2007 | Sholnn Freeman

[MinorityRepublican]

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Dissident workers at the Toyota plant here gather at the Best Western Georgetown on Wednesdays between shifts to shape a battle plan. The workers are angry at conditions at this flagship Toyota site, where the best-selling Camry is built.

The United Auto Workers has launched big new push to organize the plant, trying to capitalize on fears of lower pay, outsourcing of jobs and on Toyota's treatment of injured workers. The stakes for the UAW intensified this month as a private-equity firm agreed to buy Chrysler, raising fears that the union will be unable to block cuts in jobs and benefits at privately owned automaker.

The Chrysler deal has underscored the UAW's diminished clout as membership has shrunk along with jobs at the Detroit automakers. The UAW has never succeeded in organizing a foreign auto assembly plant in the United States, but Toyota's emergence as the world's largest automaker has added urgency to this effort. The UAW will begin new contract negotiations this summer without any workers from Toyota.

"We've got a lot of work to do," said Charles Lite, 41, a member of the organizing group, speaking of the effort at Toyota. "No more mistakes."

The UAW and the workers have seized on leaked business documents from Toyota that detail a plan to put a lid on manufacturing wages in the United States. At a new factory being built in Mississippi, Toyota plans to pay workers about $20 an hour in a region where many people earn $12 to $13 an hour. The average Toyota worker at Georgetown makes about $25 an hour.

Toyota officials say the increasing pressures of the auto business have caused the company to reevaluate worker's compensation policies -- a matter that has to be negotiated with the union at UAW-represented plants.

[P-40]

Sounds like the UAW is trying to run off more industry...

[Spktyr]

Sounds like the UAW wants Toyota to close the plant with the resultant loss of all the workers’ jobs.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I hope Toyota terminates them.

[BooBoo1000]

The Unions still have the Communist mentality, they are not satisfied with a good job, good wages, good health and welfare benefits, now they want to stick their noses into business in Mississippi. I hope Toyota,locks up the plant and moves to Mexico, that will give good jobs some Mexicans and keep them from migrating to the U.S. To hell with the stupid unions.

[ducks1944]

NEW BUMPERS STICKER & CAMPAIGN SIGNS COMING TO USA:

“KISS OF DEATH”
TO ALL WHO WILL NOT ENFORCE USA LAWS!

GO AHEAD MAKE OUR DAY!
WE SEE A WHOLE NEW CONGRESS VERY SOON!

MEMO TO: PRESIDENT & CONGRESS: ALL OF YOU HAVE OVER STAYED YOUR VISA!

MEMO TO: PRESIDENT & CONGRESS: GO TO MEXICO AND OVER HAUL THERE IMMIGRATION LAWS!

A NEW DAY IN AMERICA!
PRESIDENT REAGAN!
WE WILL DO THE JOB OUR PRESIDENT & CONGRESS WILL NOT DO!
PROTECT USA CITIZENS!

REAL AMERICAN STAND UP US CITIZENS!

JUST SAY YES TO USA CITIZENS!

WE WILL OVER COME OUR CONGRESS WHO WILL NOT ENFORCE US LAWS!

JUST SAY NO ILLEGALS & AMNESTY FOR THE KIDS!

JUST SAY NO TO ILLEGALS & AMNESTY FOR OUR TROOPS! FIGHTING & DYING FOR FREEDOM!

MEMO TO: PRESIDENT & CONGRESS: LOVE USA CITIZENS OR LEAVE!

NO MORE VOTES!
NO MORE $$$$
TO THOSE WHO WILL NOT STAND UP FOR US CITIZENS OR USA LAWS!

PROTECT OUR KIDS SAY NO TO ILLEGALS & AMNESTY!MEMO TO USA CITIZENS STAND UP NOW CALL WRITE CONGRESS NO AMNESTY!

[Squantos]

Agree BTTT.........Union’s are Divider’s !

[ReformedBeckite]

Have they tried to Unionize this particular plant before and if so how many times have they tried and when was the last time they tried.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Biting the hand that feeds you and your family.

Brilliant strategy there, union goons.

[Timbo64]

My wife and I both have 4 year college degrees. We do not not make anywhere near $25 an hour. These unskilled autoworkers can STFU and kiss my a$$! BTW, we both drive a Toyota.

[CTSeditor]

I'd say they are doing pretty darn good without a union. I only make $20 an hour. (In New York) Have 21 years with the same company and union. CNC machinist. Run production. Trouble shoot. Write all programs. Fix engineering mistakes.

I'd gladly sell my house, move south, and take one of those jobs non-union. I'd be BETTER off.

[RonPaulLives]

BLUEGRASS PING

[Sybeck1]

Mississippi is a right to work state.

[painter]

If you are serious I’d write Toyota and send them your resume. When you do that you better tell the wife and kids to get ready to move. With your skills and experence Toyota will probably jump all over that.

[badgerlandjim]

Hmmm... guess I’ll try to get one of them there $25 per hour copy boy jobs being offered at the Washington Post...

[gidget7]

Not to mention the cost of living is much more favorable down south!

[skinkinthegrass]

The average Toyota worker at Georgetown makes about $25 an hour.....and that is an avg. rate, probably includes the temps.(like ProductAction/Kelly Staffing et al) who earn 9$/hr....they employ many of them....depressing the mean
so the perm. worker rate is REALLY higher. I worked @ TKMM for 4+ mo. good people

[Nucluside]

If you are a ‘Rat or Rino, please do not move to KY. We have enough of you already. City people, please do not move South. You (especially retired union types from Ohio), are screwing up our hunting, fishing, and gun rights. Our schools are trashed and ate up with enough NEA tripe as it is. We’ll take care of the union situation in our own way!

[Nucluside]

If you are a ‘Rat or Rino, please do not move to KY. We have enough of you already. City people, please do not move South. You (especially retired union types from Ohio), are screwing up our hunting, fishing, and gun rights. Our schools are trashed and ate up with enough NEA tripe as it is. We’ll take care of the union situation in our own way!