Peterbilt Members Demand Justice in Music City
They wore necklaces made of chain and padlocks to symbolize
that they been locked out of their jobs. They marched to the corner of
4th and Union streets in Nashville Tennessee to stand before the marble
walls at the Bank of America Plaza and shout demands for justice and corporate
accountability. Their voices like the biblical trumpets before the walls
of Jericho shouted to end the corporate greed that was devastating their
families. On April 22, 2003 close to 150 Members of various Unions across
the south and the State of Tennessee met with Members of UAW Local 1832
to stand before the source of their pain. Bank of America, the largest
institutional investor in PACCAR.
UAW Members of Local 1832 built Peterbilt Trucks in Madison,
Tennessee. They prided themselves on building the best commercial trucks
in the nation. Through their efficient labor and cost saving initiatives,
they gave PACCAR, the Seattle based parent company of Peterbilt a 114
percent profit for the year 2002. When their labor agreement came to an
end, PACCAR rewarded them by offering the executives at Peterbilt a 41.6
percent raise and demanding that Local 1832 Members take a 300 percent
increase in their health care cost and a 600 percent increase in prescription
drug cost. PACCAR wanted the Union Members to take cuts in wages, pension’s
health care and disability pay. When the Bargaining Committee of Local
1832 offered to extend their current contract until these issues could
be worked out, PACCAR locked their gates on September 3, 2002 and moved
production to a non-union plant in Texas. Paccar’s ravenous greed
began the suffering for 750 Union families who have existed without income
for 8 months.
The demonstration was designed to be small but to send
a powerful message to the corporate heads of Bank of America. Only a limited
number of Union Members were asked to participate due to construction
in the area, the small streets of downtown Nashville and limited parking.
Dale Davis of Local 1832’s Bargaining Committee addressed the crowd
with a thunderous voice that echoed through the streets of Music City.
“We want the officers of this bank to know that all we ask is justice!”
He shouted to the crowds of hundreds passing by. Windows in office buildings
opened and the horns of passing cars honked in support. Rev. Gene Te Selle
of Jobs for Justice then addressed the audience and demanded corporate
accountability and responsibility.
The atmosphere then turned festive as Ray Sorro from SEIU
Local 205 led the crowd in singing, “We Shall Not Be Moved.”
In Music City, this was music that moved the masses. Ray, known affectionately
as “Chief” due to the fact that he is an American Indian,
then led the crowd in chanting “What do we want? Justice! When do
we want it? Now!” After a rousing round of chanting, Harold Woods,
President of the Tennessee AFL/CIO spoke. Harold then turned the Microphone
over to George Fox, The Financial Secretary of Local 1832 who announced
that as of that day, all Local 1832 accounts with Bank of America were
being closed. He urged other Locals to do the same. Mike Brown a Servicing
Representative from region 8, then told the crowd of the hardship this
lock out had on his families. Ray “Chief” Sorro then led Union
Members in another round of chanting. “Every where we go! People
want to know! Who we are?” We are the Union! The Mighty, Mighty
Union!” The Rally ended with a prayer led by Rev. Gene Te Selle,
who invoked the almighty to soften the hearts of Bank of America’s
corporate heads to end the suffering of Peterbilt workers.
One can only wonder if those who attended the demonstration
could appreciate the irony presented that day. They were Union Members,
standing on Union Street, demanding that Union voices be heard. They stood
in front of buildings that were built over the foundations of the pre-Civil
War Slave Auction houses wearing chains and padlocks on the very street
corners where human lives were bought and sold one hundred and forty years
earlier. Now they wear the chains as a symbol of economic oppression.
The Members of UAW Local 1832 are asking their Sisters
and Brothers across this nation to join their struggle. They ask you to
join them in solidarity to fight the corporate greed that oppresses them.
They ask that you call Kenneth Lewis, Chairman of Bank of America at:
(704) 386-1845 and tell him that you will not support a bank that invests
in the oppression of Union Members. They ask that you contact your local
Bank of America branches and tell the managers that you will not keep
your hard earned paychecks in a bank that invests in the suffering of
others. They ask that you remember them in your prayers as they fight
the day to day battle to keep roofs over their heads and food in their
families’ mouths.
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