Filed under: Trends, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota
UAW says union fever rising at Toyota's Kentucky plant
Call it a case of "He said, he said." A Toyota spokesman says the Japanese automaker doesn't see an interest in unionizing among workers at its production facility in Kentucky, while UAW spokespeople say workers are showing more interest than ever in forming a union. So which is it? Could be a bit of both. UAW membership has been dropping nationwide, but the organization still has an undeniably powerful place in the industry. With more foreign automakers building plants in the States, particularly in the South, the UAW has failed to gain a foothold in these facilities.
The Detroit News is quoting Toyota spokesman Rick Hesterberg as saying the carmaker sees no evidence of increased UAW interest among its Georgetown, Kentucky plant workforce. But the News also offers statements by UAW president Ron Gettelfinger and the union's head of organizing efforts, Terry Thurman, that contradict Toyota's position. They say there is "increased activity" ever since workers found out about a proposal to lower some workers' wages to cut costs. They admit that Toyota workers' wages are close to UAW rates, but say the difference is in how volatile wages can be at a non-union plant.
Though the UAW's power has been waning, the slow resurrection of profits at General Motors will give it more bargaining power at the table this year. If a union ever were established at a Japanese-owned production facility in the U.S., that precedent would also create the opportunity for a resurgence in the UAW's popularity among hourly auto workers.
[Source: The Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
felipe 3:35PM (3/14/2007)
and if they do go union, i hope toyota shuts the plant down. stupid lazy ass UAW
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nhcycle 8:55AM (4/14/2009)
Unions ONLY accomplish one thing - protect the lazy and stupid and ya can't fix stupid. Seniority rules over competency...... that's another winning skill strategy that makes U.S. manufacturing quality superior - right?!?!!? Lets see....ya just have to survive the longest, forget about how well you can do anything...... Makes me wanna buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler (who?)..... I hope the UAW keeps up the good work...... so the former UAW membership can earn the honest pay level they truly deserve.... start practicing....all together now....1,2,3... flip, 1,2,3..... flip!!!!!
Viv 3:38PM (3/14/2007)
I surely hope a union can be formed in the kentucky plant. Then we will see how many cars toyota will build in america.
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nhcycle 8:53AM (4/14/2009)
sure....... the union mopes can cause another manufacturing plant will shutter in the U.S. !! The UAW has done a fine job at GM, Chrysler (who) and Ford plants...... He's a clue to the clueless...... people will still buy toyotas no matter where they're built , while union mopes eat dirt and cry a river cuz they don't have a job - can't wait! Hey here's an idea maybe obama will put the UAW in charge of all auto manufacturing in the U.S. using the old soviet socialist plan - that was a winner!
Brian 3:39PM (3/14/2007)
Toyota has a UAW plant. NUMMI.
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Guenther 3:45PM (3/14/2007)
They ought to announce that UAW members will receive NO BONUSES. After they bonus they handed out at TMMK last year, that would disuage most.
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GrindingAxis 3:49PM (3/14/2007)
The UAW has MILLION$ of reasons for starting this rumor. Toyota is the most successful automobile brand on the planet. What better way to lower quality and ruin a brand than to let the UAW in. Do you suppose GM and Ford are behind the scenes pushing for this?? lol
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porker 3:51PM (3/14/2007)
Never thought I would cheer for the UAW, but GO! GO! GO! Unionize those toyota workers and let toyota see how competitive they really are. Maybe saddle them with some legacy pension costs, too.
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Hondacura 4:00PM (3/14/2007)
NO UNION!
Toyota don't give in!
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thisislame 4:01PM (3/14/2007)
Union already destroyed the US Auto industry... they will now try to ruin Toyota. Lazy fat turds.
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porker 4:05PM (3/14/2007)
You know, who knows? Perhaps the UAW could stop or at least slow toyota's quality freefall. Look at how successful they've been at GM, which now builds the best cars and trucks in the world.
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SgtHulka 4:05PM (3/14/2007)
I had a conversation 2 months ago with a retiring college high school counselor, an icon in education circles in Ohio who told me "In 43 years I've never once had a student tell me that their goal in life was to become a union member".
That just about sums it up.
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cuahetemoc 4:06PM (3/14/2007)
Well, say goodbye to Toyota and others opening more stateside plants. They'll take off to Mexico like VW and others. The UAW wants unskilled morons to be payed like professionals. These dolts get payed +50k starting and move onto +80k easily with OT. For what? Greasing an axel? Putting a rear bench seat in? Unreal. Then there's the benefits! I detest the UAW for what they did to American auto manufacturers. I won't by American for this reason. I have a high school acquaintance making over $70k easily for lifting axels all day and smoking pot on his lunch break (no joke).
Enough is enough.
These people are going to kill the prize milking cow.
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Jimmy Turner 4:07PM (3/14/2007)
That would be one way to get Toyota to stop developing locations in the US. When I was in high school hearing about the outrageous wage and benefit increases the UAW received, I knew there would be a day or reckoning. Well, it is here, and it is costing not only the UAW members - it's costing the whole American automobile industry! Toyota will hopefully tell the employees to choose having a job or joining a union. It's a no-brainer if you ask me.
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Dandy 4:08PM (3/14/2007)
Could toyota just fire everyone and hire a new workforce if they threatened to join a union? Forgive me, I dunno how all that works.
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GrindingAxis 4:12PM (3/14/2007)
If you can't beat'em, UAW'em.
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Hooligan 4:23PM (3/14/2007)
Union = scum
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Jay 4:23PM (3/14/2007)
>They say there is "increased activity" ever since
>workers found out about a proposal to lower some
>workers' wages to cut costs.
Why would Toyota be looking to lower wages like that? Haven't they been on a double-digit percentage sales tear lately? Why would they be hurting for cash?
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Len_A` 5:22PM (11/18/2008)
Toyota wants to lower wages in response to the UAW/Big 3 contract that was negotiated last September/October, 2007. For all the talk about how high the Big 3's labor costs are, if they make it to 2010,the last provision of that contract kicks in, and the Big 3's labor costs drops to within $1.50 an hour of Toyota.
When that contract was finalized last year, Toyota said they would start looking at ways to keep their cost advantage over the Detroit automakers, including dropping wages to the "prevailing local rates". So if where Toyota's USA plants are located are in areas where non-automotive light manufacturing pays 1/3 less than auto manufacturing, Toyota is considering dropping the wages of the new hires.
Talk about sending up a large flag saying "Unionize Us!!".
carfan 4:24PM (3/14/2007)
I agree with cuahetemoc. "Skilled labor" wages and benefits seem too high these days. Example: the shock and horror of some UAW members at having to pay a small slice of their massive healthcare costs. I think some actually vomitted at hearing the word "copay."
Here's a novel idea: make union membership optional, and none of that "representation fee" crap. Do that nationwide, UAW, and let the people decide what's best for them.
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