Auto Workers Issues
South Korea: Riot police sent to break Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 27, 2009
Thousands of heavily-armed riot police have laid siege to Ssangyong Motor’s factory in Pyeongtaek where around 900 workers and supporters continue to occupy a major building.
Unions systematically divide Opel, GM-Europe workers
By Ulrich Rippert, July 23, 2009
From the outset, the German works councils have sought to ensure that the main burden of an Opel “rescue plan” be shouldered by European plants outside Germany.
Germany: Unions support dismantling of over 10,000 jobs at Opel
What lies behind the “workers equity investment scheme”?
By Ludwig Weller, July 22, 2009
As part of their “rescue plan” for Opel, the German trade unions propose a “workers equity investment company”, in which only the works council members and some union officials would have any ...
Discussion with Opel worker: “Joint resistance is necessary”
By Marianne Arens, July 17, 2009
A former IG Metall shop steward at the Opel's main factory told the WSWS that workers are critical of the role being played by the trade unions and works councils, which refuse to inform the workforce...
Fifty thousand General Motors retirees face destruction of benefits
Interview with a former New Jersey auto worker
By Lawrence Porter and David Walsh, July 17, 2009
The bankruptcy of General Motors, and the organization of a “new GM,” is being carried out at the expense of tens of thousands of active and retired auto workers, along with dealerships, other sma...
Ssangyong occupation supporters speak to the WSWS
“If these workers fail, restructuring will become normal”
By a correspondent, July 16, 2009
A WSWS correspondent spoke to supporters outside South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor assembly plant, which workers have occupied for eight weeks.
South Korean government prepares new assault on Ssangyong occupation
By Terry Cook, July 11, 2009
Workers are continuing to occupy Ssangyong Motor’s assembly plant to fight mass sackings amid signs that the government is preparing another violent operation to storm the plant.
Chrysler plants reopen as assault on auto workers deepens
By Jerry White, July 3, 2009
Auto workers at seven of Chrysler’s twelve plants returned to work this week after a two-month shutdown following the company’s April 30 bankruptcy filing. Meanwhile, the government-directed assau...
South Korea: Clashes erupt at Ssangyong factory occupation
By Terry Cook, July 1, 2009
A lengthy factory occupation in defence of jobs at Ssangyong Motor’s Pyeongtaek plant in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province reached a critical turning point last weekend. Clashes took place between o...
Organize rank-and-file committees to stop plant closings and overturn UAW concessions!
By Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, June 30, 2009
With Chrysler plants reopening after a two-month shutdown, workers will quickly come face-to-face with the brutal reality of the Obama administration’s plans to return the bankrupt automaker to prof...
The GM bankruptcy and the middle-class “left” organizations
By Jerry White, June 22, 2009
In the wake of the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler, a number of ostensibly “left” organizations oriented to the United Auto Workers and the Democratic Party are working to block any st...
“It’s going to be an absolute bloodbath”
Obama, Harper force bankruptcy on auto parts industry
By Tom Eley, June 20, 2009
The Obama Auto Task Force has followed the Canadian government’s decision to turn down assistance to the auto parts industry. The resulting collapse will result in tens of thousands of layoffs in Mi...
