UAW calls Toyota “a danger to America”
The Detroit News is reporting that the United Auto Workers and the Teamsters held a second day of protests against Toyota Motor Corp.
UAW Vice President Bob King and Teamster General President James P. Hoffa demonstrated outside the Japanaese Embassy in Washington, D.C. calling on the Japanese government to “to hold Toyota accountable for waging an attack on thousands of good-paying jobs in the United States.”
The union leaders are protesting Toyota’s planned closure of the New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. plant in Fremont, California. The plant had been a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors until GM pulled out last year. The UAW plant produces the popular Corolla and Tacoma vehicles in addition to the now-discontinued Pontiac Vibe.
“It’s outrageous that the No. 1-selling car in cash for clunkers was the Corolla, the car that is manufactured in the NUMMI plant,” King said in a speech at the embassy. “After receiving more money in this bailout program than any other company, Toyota is turning its back on American workers and American taxpayers by closing the plant in the state where they sell the most cars in the U.S., shipping these jobs to Japan, and then importing the cars back to the United States for sale.”
The Teamsters are upset with Toyota’s decision to move shipping work away from union drivers.
“Toyota management is seeking to move work from auto transport companies that have delivered their new cars and trucks for decades,” Hoffa said. “The loss of this work could lead to the destruction of the largest auto transport companies in the country and the loss of thousands of good, middle class jobs. Toyota promised to support American communities, they’re instead threatening the very types of good jobs that our communities need in this time of economic crisis.”
King and Hoffa also said Toyota is “a danger” because of the two major recalls due to a problem with accelerator pedals. Earlier this week, the company suspended sales of eight popular lines because it said it doesn’t have a fix in place but told owners of the vehicles to continue driving them. Toyota is working with its supplier, CTS Corp. of Elkhart, Indiana, to produce a new pedal for installation in new vehicles on the line and a special sleeve retrofit to repair problems with cars already sold and on dealer lots.
