Autoworkers picket Auto Show

Held in Detroit every January, the North American International Auto Show claims to be “where the global automotive community comes together.” In fact, solidarity of the global community of real autoworkers was a theme of a spirited picket line outside the show on Jan. 8.

WW photo: Kris Hamel

The rank-and-file group Autoworkers Caravan, which called the Rally for Jobs demonstration, stated in a leaflet, “All over, we see the 1% making the most outrageous demands. Chrysler/Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne is threatening to pull out of Canada and Italy if workers resist his demands for more concessions. This is global whipsawing!” A long banner at the protest called on workers to “Stand with Fiat unions” and the Canadian Auto Workers union.

Solidarity messages were read from workers at plants of Fiat and Lear, an international auto seat supplier in Italy, as well as Polish Fiat workers.

The Rally for Jobs also called for reopening the many closed auto plants in Michigan and other parts of the country. Specifically, the Caravan wants those plants to produce “green” products, including solar panels, wind turbines, and buses and light rail cars, which will help reduce carbon emissions. A green jobs program could provide good-paying union jobs in Detroit and other hard-hit areas.

The other major theme of the protest was about equal pay for equal work. The Caravan has actively campaigned against two-tier and multi-tier pay structures that allow companies to pay newer employees much lower wages than higher seniority workers doing the exact same work.

In General Motors’ Orion Assembly Plant in Orion Township, Mich., the United Auto Workers agreed to allow the company to pay 40 percent of the workers — those with the lowest seniority — the second tier rate. This was only 50 percent of the “traditional” rate, and even under the new contract it’s $10 an hour below top rate. GM’s goal is to make the plant 100 percent lower tier.

There are hundreds of workers in Orion and other plants making even lower wages. They put parts together in subassemblies and work for subcontractor Matty Moroun, a much-disliked local billionaire. One of the demonstration’s popular chants was “Matty Moroun, billionaire, nine bucks an hour just ain’t fair.”

Among the groups supporting the autoworker protest were Occupy Detroit and Moratorium Now! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shutoffs.