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News :: Miscellaneous |
Milwaukee Auto Plant Workers Face Closure (video) |
Current rating: 0 |
by John Hamilton, IMC-Madison Email: johnshamilton (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
28 Jan 2002
Modified: 29 Jan 2002 |
Milwaukee's Smith Steelworkers, who have worked for AO Smith Corporation and Tower Automotive since 1937, face plant closure. The union was once 6,500 stong. |
The AO Smith corporation of Milwaukee began producing bicycle and auto parts at the turn of the 20th century. D.A.L.U. 19806 - the Smith Steelworkers - first organized in 1937. Their efforts ensured that for generations, a job at AO Smith meant a ticket to the middle class.
But times are changing. International trade agreements - and NAFTA in particular - are decimating unionized manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin and across the US. The Smith Steelworkers, once 6500 strong, have been reduced to about 700 active workers. And Tower Automotive, AO Smith's successor, is looking to move even more work out of Milwaukee.
On January 22, a national holiday remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Smith Steelworkers rallied at the gates of Tower Automotive and demanded jobs and justice.
Listen to the story. ( MP3 / Real Audio )
Watch the seven minute video:
High-bandwidth modem users: Stream the video |
See also:
madison.indymedia.org |
Somehow, I'm Not Surprised |
by ML (No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0 29 Jan 2002
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Apparently, President Bush didn't want to go anywhere near THIS particular factory when he made his "free trade" booster speech a couple of weeks ago, right after he choked on the pretzel. See: http://urbana.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3746&group=webcast
Awww, the benefits of "free trade"....
The rich get rich, and the rest of us just try to survive.
Thanks for the great article. |