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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Fundraiser for Locked-Out Accuride Workers Raises Over $1,000 |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
17 Dec 2000
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A fundraising visit by locked-out Accuride workers from United Auto
Workers Local 2036 in Henderson, Kentucky raised more than $1,000 in
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois on Saturday, December 16, 2000. |
A fundraising visit by locked-out Accuride workers from United Auto
Workers Local 2036 in Henderson, Kentucky raised more than $1,000 in
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois on Saturday, December 16, 2000. The event,
organized by local labor activist David Johnson, was held at the
Carpenters Local 44 hall.
More than 40 local labor leaders, union members and other activists
listened as Billy Robinson, president of Local 2036, explained the
unjust situation that the workers find themselves in going into the 36th
month of a lock-out by Accuride, their employer. What is worse, the UAW
International has cut off strike benefits, while it cooperated with the
company in undermining the solidarity of the striking workers.
The workers have stood together in opposing massive givebacks of
hard-won contract language that the company is demanding, while their
jobs are being done by specialized US union-busting contractors in the
plant in Kentucky and sub-living wage level workers in Mexico. This
increasingly common scenario has been driven by weak labor laws in the
US and Mexico, further undermined by unequal trade agreements such as
NAFTA and GATT.
The informational visit included an appearance by the four visting
workers on WEFT 90.1 FM's "Illinois Labor Hour," hosted by Peter Miller
and Bill Gorrell. Donations can still be made by contacting David
Johnson at 217 - 356 - 8247.
by Mike Lehman/Urbana-Champaign Indy Media Center |
