2007 UAW Special Convention on Collective Bargaining Day Two
by Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

The second day of the Special Convention on Collective Bargaining began with an address by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. “The history of Michigan is intertwined with the UAW. Your struggle to defend the working class is our struggle as well. In Michigan, as in all manufacturing states, together we are carrying on the fight for working families. Together we must carry this fight to the halls of Washington.

We all feel the pressure of globalization pushing down on our working families, driving wages and benefits lower. We have to push for worker’s rights provisions in our trade agreements. We must advocate for the right to organize, the right to assemble and the right to bargain collectively. The Bush Administration must develop a manufacturing agenda that meets the needs of workers both here and abroad. Without worker protections in foreign lands, the race to the bottom continues here.

In Michigan, there are some who feel that tax cuts to businesses alone can correct this issue. Our state has cut taxes in business to the point that we are looking at 30% drop in tax revenue while we continue to lose thousands of jobs. I tell you, cutting business taxes alone cannot correct this situation. We need investment in our schools, in our infrastructure and in technology. (click here for the full context of Governor Granholm’s speech)

The convention continued with the delegates debating resolutions submitted by the membership. Some of those included:

- Workplace Safety. Preventing working place injuries through comprehensive health and safety training must be a priority in these talks. Ergonomics and chemical hazards are additional areas where we must continue the push.

- Creating opportunities for lifelong learning. Training has become a cornerstone of UAW contracts. Enhancing our current educational programs is a must to prepare our members and their families for shifts in the workplace. Tuition assistance must keep pace with the rising cost of higher learning, along with educational leave that enable our members to utilize these benefits.

- Pursing Innovative Benefits. When it comes to family obligations, today’s working families are pressed both on time and resources. Some of the areas that are being considered include:
- Wage replacement during family and medical leave.
- Provide education for retirement planning including long term care plans.
- Enhancing group legal services plans.
- Protect employee purchase plans and expand this option to all of the United States military personnel.
- Enhanced benefits for our members who serve in the military.
- Expand EAP services for members who do not have them.
- Provide the option for phased in retirements for workers who would exercise this option.

Jim Dole Director of the Level Field Institute addressed the conference. The Level Field Institute is a public advocacy group whose mission is to educate the pubic on the value of the domestic automotive market. “At the Level Playing Institute, we believe that people do not know the issues that face your industry. If we do not try to educate the public, then they don’t understand there is a difference between the automakers.

People think that buying a car is just buying a car and they hear all this news about the transplants building plants and the domestic automakers closing plants. Still, the domestic automakers provide many more jobs and investment in this country. The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), an association of 14 Japanese automakers doing business in America, notes that they collectively employ more than 3,600 R&D workers at 36 facilities nationwide. Honda operates 10 facilities employing 1,300 R&D professionals. Level Field welcomes these jobs, but more than 65,000 Americans (20 times JAMA's total) work in 215 automotive R&D facilities in Michigan alone.

GM employees more employees than all the foreign workers combined. There are more jobs at the Ford Rough Plant than all of Hyundai and Volkswagen combined. Each car purchase supports jobs. The big three support 33 jobs for every 1,000 cars they sale, Toyota supports 12 jobs for every 1,000 cars they sale. GM, Ford and Chrysler have more of their workers here than the transplants. It has nothing to do with efficient, but rather the amount of the work that is done here.” (click here for more on Jim Dole’s speech)

The convention was wrapped up with the adoption of the remaining of the resolutions. President Gettelfinger thanked the delegates for their attention and resolve in sitting the platform for this year’s talks.

Local 2195 Delegate John Hawkins has served as a delegate to many bargaining conventions and summed up his opinion of the events. “The press has been full of talk of concessions during this round of negotiations,” Hawkins stated. “However, when you read this list of resolutions, there is no mention of concessions. The press is trying to forge an idea of concessions, but as President Gettelfinger stated, this contract will not be negotiated in the press but rather at the bargaining table.” “I thought the convention provided good information on the issues we face and the steps this union is taking to address them,” added Local 2195 Delegate Bonita Culver.