UAW's King: Union's survival at stake

[The Northerner]

Washington — United Auto Workers President Bob King told members tonight the union's very survival is at stake in its efforts to organize foreign workers — and said it has limited options in contract talks with Detroit's Big Three.

"If we don't organize these transnationals, I don't think there's a long term future for the UAW — I really don't," King told more than 1,000 members and retirees at the opening of a four-day political action conference in Washington.

The Detroit union has asked foreign automakers to agree to a set of principles to allow for what it calls "fair bargaining" and King says the union plans to pick a first target within 90 days. He said the foreign automakers are out to "destroy the union."

So far no foreign automakers have agreed to do so and the UAW has been unable to organize any of the foreign auto plants over the last three decades.

Read more: http://detnews.com/article/20110117/AUTO01/101170403/UAW-s-King--Union-s-survival-at-stake#ixzz1BLv11mLZ

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I wrote this a while ago

Like five years ago...

[sailor65]

2. Foreign auto workers....

have been watching the UAW screw its members for a long time. Most of the considerable number I come in contact with want nothing to do with the UAW.

[svsuman23]

4. its a damn shame..

[mmonk]

3. There is no one to stand up for American workers.

[Kokonoe]

5. I wonder, Do foreign automakers Pay more than $14 an hour when

American Companies are on that pay scale.

He should worry about 'the long term future' of the autoworkers he represents.

[Hannah Bell]

6. bob should know, since he's helped to kill it.

what's he babbling about "foreign automakers"?

gm has the number 1 seller in china & has joint ventures going with every automaker in the world.

there *is* no "competition". they collude.

[Delphinus]

7. So very true. n/t

[badtoworse]

8. Only about 25 years late with this

For decades, the UAW looked at management as their enemy and ignored foreign autoworkers who were making better cars at lower cost. I can't believe it took this long for them to see the light. Oh well, better late than never.

[Brickbat]

9. Wow, way to pump up the rank and file and show the way there, Bob!

[mdmc]

10. ..

[NNN0LHI]

11. He also said a top priority is getting President Barack Obama re-elected in 2012

He also said a top priority is getting President Barack Obama re-elected in 2012 -- and said the president had been friendly to unions. He called on members to back Democrats -- and said workers would not have been successful in the Flint sit-down strike in 1936-37 if Michigan had had a Republican governor.

More than 1,000 UAW workers and retirees are attending the conference, meeting with members of Congress and lobbying on a number of issues. King called on members to engage in "direct action" in an effort to return the union to its glory days and called for supporting Democrats.