California autoworkers fight to save jobs

Several hundred rank-and-file United Auto Workers, family members, union leaders and a handful of local and state elected officials, community and business people rallied Aug. 20 outside the UAW Local 2244 hall here.

Directly across a busy highway was the sprawling, 380-acre plant of New United Motors Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. Some 4,700 autoworkers are fighting to save their jobs and their plant.

Bail Out the People Movement distributed a leaflet pledging all-out support that was received warmly by UAW members. WW photo: Joan Marquardt

A union leaflet building for the rally to save the 25-year-old plant stated: “Help save NUMMI jobs! Support our local economy! Save thousands of jobs! We need your participation!”

The workers have been struggling to keep their jobs since June when GM coldly announced it was terminating its 50-50 partnership with Toyota. NUMMI had been one of the most productive auto plants going.

Despite a $50-billion government bailout of GM, paid for by U.S. workers and taxpayers, the company’s strategy is to spread the massive layoffs and plant closings that have devastated the Midwest.

The NUMMI autoworkers have every reason to be angry. They are in a fighting mood to keep the Toyota production jobs they still have. GM production was less than one-fourth the total NUMMI plant output when the very last GM car—a Pontiac Vibe—rolled off the assembly line on Aug. 17.

Toyota Corolla orders are piling up thanks to the federal cash-for-clunkers rebate plan. California drivers already account for the most Toyota sales in North America, and now more Californians than ever want compact Corollas. So why does NUMMI want to lay the workers off?

Unemployment above 10 percent

The UAW rally took place just as the latest local, state and national officially recognized unemployment numbers were released. California is one of 15 states and the District of Columbia where the current jobless rate is higher than 10 percent of the “counted” workforce.

At 11.9 percent, California is tied with Oregon for fourth place, ranked behind Michigan at 15 percent, Rhode Island at 12.7 percent and Nevada at 12.5 percent. The July figures are the highest they have ever been since California started keeping such records in 1976.

The NUMMI autoworkers are well aware that jobs have been lost for the last 20 consecutive months in the East Bay communities where Fremont is situated. Making it worse, the race and ethnic identity of the growing ranks of the unemployed are of concern to the multinational NUMMI workforce. Official California figures show that statewide 14.2 percent of African-American, 12.7 percent of Latino/a and 9.5 percent of white workers are now jobless. The figures speak volumes about the continued racism throughout the state.

As if the jobs already lost weren’t enough, to add 4,700 NUMMI autoworkers and some 20,000 to 30,000 workers at auto parts suppliers and related industries in the area to the ranks of the unemployed would be catastrophic. NUMMI is currently the largest private employer in Alameda County.

The rally also highlighted the fact that UAW Local 2244 is in contract negotiations with NUMMI. The most recent contract ran out earlier this month. In these discussions the company is undoubtedly hoping to hear what the union membership may be willing to give up to keep the NUMMI plant open. Local and state elected officials are trying to put together incentives that Toyota will find too good to turn down.

The local is meeting on Aug. 23—no doubt to discuss the future of the NUMMI plant. Other auto industry workers have faced bankruptcy, sale, closure and shutdown by owners and employers. Many others have waged heroic struggles in defense of their right to their current jobs or to a new job at good wages, so they can have affordable health care, pensions, live in a home or apartment, and educate themselves and their children.

At the Republic Windows & Doors factory in Chicago, members of the United Electrical Workers successfully occupied the factory to keep their jobs. And Bakery Workers Local 50 at the Stella D’Oro Biscuit Co. plant in New York City had to go out on strike for a whole year before the National Labor Relations Board ruled against the company’s unfair practices.

These victories were only possible because of the solidarity between the workers and the community. A win for one is a win for many other workers, underemployed or unemployed, and inspires an organized fightback against business owners and their banks that have profited for so long from the labor of the workforce.