Union drivers to bosses: ‘We want to return to our rightful jobs’

Until December of 2009, drivers employed by the Ryder company, members of United Auto Workers Local 174, moved parts from General Motors parts plants to its assembly plants in Hamtramck and Lake Orion, Mich. A month earlier drivers had begun getting layoff notices and by the end of the year, all of the union drivers were out of a job indefinitely. Since then nonunion drivers employed by OTR/LINC, a company owned by unpopular local billionaire Matty Maroun, have replaced them.

On April 4 the drivers took their case to UAW GM workers — members of Local 22 — and to the general public. Drivers and their supporters spent hours in the rain conducting informational picketing. They charge GM and Ryder with collusion with the intent of breaking the union.

“You don’t have to go to Wisconsin. Union-busting Ryder is here,” was the leaflet’s headline. According to the drivers’ website, Ryder has refused to negotiate in good faith, has not offered drivers jobs with other Ryder accounts, has not offered severance pay and appears to be “blacklisting” union drivers. (www.swebber1.com)

Recognizing the drivers from when they helped each other move parts off the trucks, and having discussed the situation at their union meeting the day before, Local 22 members voiced their support and shook hands with their fellow union members.

The leaflet reminded the GM workers that “the Volt is the ‘Car of the Year’ because of the quality design, engineering and assembly by dedicated UAW members like you,” and urged workers to “make sure every nut, bolt, and part is perfect before it goes on the car!” The work-to-rule strategy was encouraged as an act of solidarity to pressure GM and Ryder to grant the drivers’ demand that they “return to our rightful jobs.”

Later in the evening, the drivers brought their signs to a citywide vigil called by Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.

Eventually the campaign to get the 200-plus drivers rehired will move to the Lake Orion plant, where it appears that drivers working for a nonunion subcontractor will drive Ryder trucks.