UAW Autoworkers Confront Rep. Sen. Shelby (Part 1 of 3)

On December 8 2008, active and retired UAW members from across the U.S. traveled to Washington D.C. to put a human face on the real issues underlying the future of the domestic auto industry, manufacturing, and the American working family. The workers marched, held a press conference, met with Democratic Congressman and author of Single-Payer Bill H.R. 676, John Conyers of Michigan, and confronted Republican Senator Richard Shelby on his views regarding unions, the value of domestic manufacturing, health care, green jobs, the double standards that exist between white-collar and blue-collar labor â especially with regards to the government's handling of the banking and automotive assistance plans â and more.

After being informed at Shelby's office by Ashley Bowles that the Senator was not in that day, Bill Duhnke and Mark Oesterle of the Republican staff on the Banking Committee agreed to sit down with the workers to discuss the Senator's positions.

Voice your opinion.

Call, email, or stop by the offices of:

Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee
http://corker.senate.gov/public/

Senator Jim DeMint (R) South Carolina
http://demint.senate.gov/public/

Senator Richard Shelby (R) Alabama
http://shelby.senate.gov/public/


http://www.AutoWorkerCaravan.org
http://www.LaborNotes.org

Downloadable Open Source version available here:

http://www.archive.org/details/Part1-UawAutoworkersConfrontRepublicanSen.Shel...

NOTE: This is an initial rough cut of the raw video. Graphics with individuals' names, titles, and locals to follow.

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[elr456]

FUCK THE UAW.

[EasyEs]

@FlintPublic Alternate Energy cars..how do those sell in this day and age.

[FlintPublic]

@endlessace I read & think & question & think some more. You parrot. Labor has been less than 10% of Big 3 production costs for yrs prior to the bailout. You won't read this in Econ textbooks or the corp press, but for 30 yrs the Big 3 invested their money into overseas production, not into US pension obligations, not into alt energy designs etc. With that domestically created wealth safely outside US bankruptcy jurisdiction, they could cry bankrupt to shred domestic UAW contracts. What skill!

[endlessace]

@FlintPublic Wasn't the automotive industry in a hole and the cut back was to get it on par? you shamelessly forgot that we American tax payers bailed you people out. The cut back was your industry to SURVIVE. And apparently you never been to college so please stop thinking that economics is about "perfect worlds". Economics is about making the best of the imperfect world. It seems like you';re sitting on your ass all day long with all these quick responses. Give economics a try!!! READ!!!

[FlintPublic]

@endlessace Have prices on autos been cut in half since the UAW gave all those concessions back in 2007? Have they gone down at all? Better ask those highly skilled accountants what the matter is, huh? I kid. Because apparently the economics lessons they teach you in college about "perfect worlds" and "rational behavior" stay there. Go figure! PS: I'm all for your One Big Union idea.

[endlessace]

@Pezmaster then get a job that requires higher skill level and that actually willing to pay you cuz your skill worth it.Nobody is stopping you from going back to school, learn a new skill and make ton. THE FACT IS THAT YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO SO. AND because you are too lazy to be improve yourself, you cock blocked Jose from getting his job at the plant since he's willing to work for less. That's so fucked up.

[endlessace]

@FlintPublic I thought $14 are for the temporary entry level. But that's not the point. The point is you guys are lazy and unambitious!!! IF you think you deserve better than move on to a job that requires a higher level skill set. BUT WAIT, you are making the same amount with all the people with college degrees. MAYBE we should all form Unions and demand an increase in salary as well. And price for everything will go up. And your whooping $14 is only worth $7. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[FlintPublic]

@endlessace The entry level wage ($14/hr) constitutes the new normal, the new "worth of labor" – don't make it sound like it isn't. And anyone whose naive view of capitalism and meritocracy holds that unions are some sort of crutch for the unable or unambitious can hardly claim to be a defender of educated intellectuals.

[endlessace]

@FlintPublic Last i look it's $29/hr average. $14 is entry level. Don't make it sounds like all UAW workers make that little. And that's not including the benefits. BUT DON'T WORRY... I will train my kid to work less hard and put in less effort . Tell them not to go to college, not to pursue anything great, screw all them white collars and screw the intellectuals. Education is overrated. Everybody should be paid the same. Better yet let's be communists.