Posted on 10/06/2009 7:58:43 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
HIDALGO — Autoworkers from Michigan shouted for an end to free trade Monday afternoon on the Mexican-American border, where relaxed trade restrictions have fostered rampant economic growth.
As the 18 or so members of the Local 174 of the United Auto Workers union from Romulus, Mich. waved signs at drivers approaching the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, maquiladora workers in Mexico gathered on a street corner to protest what they say is an unfair dismissal of workers.
At one point during the concurrent protests, two American autoworkers crossed the bridge to meet and support the maquiladora workers, in a gesture of conciliation that was odd because some of the lost jobs American autoworkers complained of have been sent across the river.
“We’ve been losing our jobs at such a rapid pace; this is a sign of desperation,” said local UAW president John Zimmick. “We would not be down here if President Bush was in office — we’d be wasting our time.”
With President Barack Obama in office and Congress under Democratic control, Zimmick said union workers believe their concerns about the decline of American manufacturing in favor of cheaper labor in foreign countries will actually be heard.
“This country needs to protect its workers,” he said.
Since the North American Free Trade Agreement relaxed trade regulations in 1994, the Rio Grande Valley’s economy has expanded rapidly. The Mexican maquiladora industry boomed and the growth infused the Valley with more money and a rush of migrants. The area even brushed aside a brief recession in 2001.
The growth in manufacturing along border came at the cost of thousands of jobs and factories across the U.S. During the presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama repeatedly mentioned the loss of 1,600 jobs in Galesburg, Ill., where a Maytag plant closed in 2004. Those jobs moved to Reynosa.
Recently, 57 employees at Kohler Co. plant in Searcy, Ark. were informed they would lose their jobs when the company shifts their production line to a Reynosa maquiladora.
Sandy Bruce, a quality technician with Lear Automotive, said that she’s watched jobs at her company flee to factories outside the country for more than a decade.
“We all need to stand up and fight,” she said. “Or there’s going to be nothing left for my family.”
As protesters weathered the South Texas sun at the apron to the international bridge on the U.S. side, about 20 former employees of TRW Automotive gathered on a street corner on the Mexican side in a mirror demonstration.
Gumercinda de la Cruz, wore the automotive supplier’s blue company shirt, as did many of the other former workers. She said that they were demonstrating because TRW unfairly dismissed workers who tried to negotiate better labor agreements.
Some of the workers had actually traveled to Detroit in September to meet with executives from TRW, which makes seat belts for U.S. car companies. The executives refused to meet.
De la Cruz said that TRW targeted higher-paid workers when they consolidated operations at its Reynosa plants. She alleged that those workers were not provided the severance pay required under Mexican law when they were fired.
She accused TRW of firing workers who helped organize the TRW Workers Coalition to negotiate better contracts. She alleged that TRW also blacklisted the workers, making it impossible for them to find new jobs at other area maquiladoras.
TRW could not be reached for comment after business hours.
Two comments:
From the photo in the article, these don’t look like line workers. They look like the union reps and shop stewards.
The other comment is that for every plant that the article cites for closing in the US, you can find a democrat’s fingerprints. It could have closed because the unions made the labor overpriced and underproductive. It could have closed because EPA regulations were too restrictive. It could have closed because trial lawyers were constantly filing suits against company for the the products they made. It could have closed because it was an older plant, and local NIMBY’s blocked plant expansion or construction. It could have closed because property taxes and other state and local taxes were too high.
Lots of reasons plants close. If I’m a business manager, any of the above is a good reason. And all of the above are the results of decades of policies favored by liberal democrats.
The motor is probably made in Cleveland. Ford has two large engine plants and a foundry there. They had slated the foundry to close, but I am not sure if they are still planning on doing that.
By the way, they are now so automated they never hire when someone retires. Having been in the plant several times, I have noticed that the average age of a worker is somewhere in the mid to late fifties. Almost nobody under 40 seems to work there. Also almost nobody seems to be there. Those that are there a re generally not doing anything that can be described as hard work.
Owning a 2008 Mercury Milan (essentially a 2008 Ford Fusion) I have noticed also that this is true. Ford has production facilities in Mexico, Brazil (I believe) and Europe, in addition to a close relationship with Mazda which they may have some stake.
For Ford, it seems to have worked out well. Their 6-speed automatic is from what I’ve heard a very smooth transmission and their engine technology is very good and getting even better in 2010+. I’m sure Mexico makes assembly more affordable and at least with my Milan, which I bought used, build quality is pretty good.
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
I surely hope they don't get an outside compensation company to figure the expense. I had a Rumsheimer(?) figured car allowance at my last job. It was just an excuse to screw the sales people out of money.
He clunkered a 24 year old work van. I, of course, negotiated the deal. I once again embarrassed my father, and almost made the sales manager cry, but they can make their profit on somebody else.
By mid ‘10, my Taurus will be in the 40,000-45,000 mile range and depreciated three years. They’re offering $500/month (figure taxes will eat at least $100 of this.) I’ll probably just buy the Taurus from the company with their money. I plan to retire in two years anyway.
“This country needs to protect its workers,” he said."
Freakin' idiots. They just can't grasp that the cars and parts they make aren't all sold in America, and those "cheap labor" parts and body shops in Mexico actually keep them employed as well. ( usually anyways, until the world economy collapsed)
The idiots can’t grasp the fact that without cheap parts and body components made in Mexico, the assembly plants in the USA wouldn’t be able to put a competitively priced car on the market.
They think every car made is sold in America.
In it's day. They didn't make enough of them however. Now all you can find in the junkyards are those gutless 351 windsor boat anchors.
Now the Triton engine series are the bad the ass engines, possibly the best production engines Ford has ever made. My son has a small 4.6 Triton 3 valve 6 bolt mains job in his truck. That thing hauls for such a small engine. The 5.4's and larger are even better, some models put out almost 496 hp with dual turbos.
My wife and I love ours. We found a 2008 used Milan 4-cyl with 5-speed manual and that car is really fun to drive..still pulls between 32-35mpg while cruising too.
Most Ford trucks have Japanese trannys and have had for some time.
Following diplomatic negotiations dating back to 1991 between the three nations, the leaders met in San Antonio, Texas, on December 17, 1992, to sign NAFTA. U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas, each responsible for spearheading and promoting the agreement, ceremonially signed it. The agreement then needed to be ratified by each nation’s legislative or parliamentary branch.
Before the negotiations were finalized, Bill Clinton came into office in the U.S. and Kim Campbell in Canada, and before the agreement became law, Jean Chrétien had taken office in Canada.
Autoworkers from Michigan shouted for an end to free trade Monday afternoon on the Mexican-American border......what? No arrests? They're obviously racists opposed to equal rights for all (North) Americans.
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