The following remarks were delivered at an online meeting of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) on Sunday. The meeting was called to discuss an international strategy to fight layoffs at the Stellantis Warren Truck plant and throughout the global auto industry.
A delegation of Dakkota Integrated Systems auto parts workers addressed the meeting. Dakkota workers in Chicago have been striking for nearly a month and have voted down four UAW-backed sellout contracts, three of which were within the past week.
Anna works at the General Motors Flint Assembly Plant in Michigan, where she is a leader of the GM Flint Rank-and-File Committee. To join the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network, fill out the form below.
**
My name is Anna. I am a rank-and-file committee member at Flint Truck Assembly.
I salute the fight of the Dakkota workers, and we will do everything to publicize what is happening so my co-workers are aware! We will not allow you to be isolated.
I have always been told my job is more secure than most because we are one of the most profitable plants for General Motors. This sense of certainty has dwindled rapidly since the recent contract has been implemented, with the tremendous number of layoffs in Michigan, the US and globally.
At my plant, management—with the full support of the union bureaucracy—has been holding contests between shifts to see who can produce the most trucks, possibly to see what shift to cut, on 90 degree days we were producing over quota no heat breaks, popsicles or anything.
In this cost-cutting race to electric vehicles the companies are now looking at ways to get rid of temps and permanent employees who are making what the company and union claims are “decent wages.” They have taken everything from us already, down to our Christmas bonus. Our profit sharing checks are spent before they’re disbursed to catch up on bills and keep up with outrageous inflation.
Flint, Michigan, was once the richest city in the nation with the highest living standard for workers, but since the 90s, thanks to General Motors and the UAW, the city has been devastated. We are at the worst point in its history now. Local Facebook groups have become a platform for workers asking for donations to make bills on time or get food to survive till the next paycheck.
On our UAW app a worker expressed their anger about the conditions. “Who’s the jerk that came up with the idea for us to donate school supplies, most of us are living check to check trying to figure out how to survive and you are asking for donations? MAN GET A CLUE!” And the UAW PLANT CHAIRMAN replied with little empathy, saying, “I am sorry you are struggling but, wow.”
If us who are employed are having this kind of trouble, I cannot imagine being laid off, and I may not have to imagine not having a job very soon!
At my plant workers don’t bother calling the union because they know nothing will change, the company over-cycles and combines jobs. It’s not possible to complete the jobs in the amount of time given. We have called the UAW for help over and over again but they don’t listen or take action for us.
They raised our union dues from $40 to $90 a month. Clearly they are not on our side. It’s before our eyes blatantly confirmed in numerous circumstances.
The time is now for us to collectively take matters into our our hands! Some jobs have been undoable for five years. Some jobs are CLEARLY not able to be done by one person, like lifting a heavy prop shaft while tightening the bolts down with a machine at the same time.
The company and UAW have a strategic plan which they are following through with. The auto companies communicate with their management across the world.
We need to communicate with our fellow autoworkers and other working class laborers around the world, no matter what country, language, skin color or job, so we have a plan to fight back! Instead of making one up as the situation unfolds.
The UAW had a well-planned storyline to convince workers Shawn Fain was “different.” And he was: He is the worst president yet.
The UAW election was publicly confirmed to be fraudulent. And a new election must absolutely take place.
The UAW-GM contract was a sham. All temporary workers were not rolled over and hired as promised. One thousand GM software workers will lose there jobs soon. We are hearing 1,000 flex temps at our plant are getting laid off on August 30, five days away, and we have not heard any confirmed information.
I encourage all workers to come together and create rank-and-file committees because we have the power to change the struggles we all face internationally, and quickly, if we all communicate and come together around the world.