Workers at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul want an answer to that question – and until they get one, they intend to demonstrate outside Toyota dealerships in the Twin Cities, putting a spotlight on the company’s record when it comes to safety and workers’ rights.
The first of those actions took place June 4 outside Maplewood Toyota, at the busy intersection of Beam Avenue and Highway 61. A dozen Ford workers and supporters held signs imploring passing drivers to “Honk 4 People B4 Profits” – and plenty of them did just that.
![\"Auto](\"https://www.workdayminnesota.org/upload/editor/Image/2010/June/0609Auto_Workers.jpg\") |
| Auto Workers protested outside the Toyota dealership in Maplewood. Photo by Michael Moore |
“We’re going to be taking these types of actions all over the Twin Cities area, hitting different dealerships throughout the area, just getting the message out that Toyota has some poor business practices,” said David Perkins, a worker at the Ranger plant in Highland Park and a member of United Auto Workers Local 879.
“Toyota is the only (auto) manufacturer in the United States that is non-union, but that’s kind of hypocritical because in Japan they are union. For whatever reason – well, for profit reasons, for money-driven reasons – they choose to have non-union manufacturers here in the United States. That puts American manufacturers at a distinct disadvantage.”
About 4,700 workers lost their jobs when Toyota closed its NUMMI plant in Fremont, Calif., April 1.
But its anti-union business practices are not the only gripe American workers have against Toyota.
Toyota also has a poor record when it comes to product safety, the Auto Workers said. The company is facing a $16.4 million fine from the federal government for failing to disclose problems with its cars’ accelerator pedals to the public.
But most workers at the demonstration said their intent was to urge the public to support American workers by buying American-made cars.
“When we buy foreign cars it takes money away from America,” said Sylvia Rutledge, another Ranger Plant employee. “We should always, always support America – not just with cars, with anything. Always buy American.”
To get involved in future demonstrations, call Perkins at 651-260-1761.
Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.stpaulunions.org
Share
Workers at the Twin Cities Assembly Plant in St. Paul want an answer to that question – and until they get one, they intend to demonstrate outside Toyota dealerships in the Twin Cities, putting a spotlight on the company’s record when it comes to safety and workers’ rights.
The first of those actions took place June 4 outside Maplewood Toyota, at the busy intersection of Beam Avenue and Highway 61. A dozen Ford workers and supporters held signs imploring passing drivers to “Honk 4 People B4 Profits” – and plenty of them did just that.
|
| Auto Workers protested outside the Toyota dealership in Maplewood.
Photo by Michael Moore |
“We’re going to be taking these types of actions all over the Twin Cities area, hitting different dealerships throughout the area, just getting the message out that Toyota has some poor business practices,” said David Perkins, a worker at the Ranger plant in Highland Park and a member of United Auto Workers Local 879.
“Toyota is the only (auto) manufacturer in the United States that is non-union, but that’s kind of hypocritical because in Japan they are union. For whatever reason – well, for profit reasons, for money-driven reasons – they choose to have non-union manufacturers here in the United States. That puts American manufacturers at a distinct disadvantage.”
About 4,700 workers lost their jobs when Toyota closed its NUMMI plant in Fremont, Calif., April 1.
But its anti-union business practices are not the only gripe American workers have against Toyota.
Toyota also has a poor record when it comes to product safety, the Auto Workers said. The company is facing a $16.4 million fine from the federal government for failing to disclose problems with its cars’ accelerator pedals to the public.
But most workers at the demonstration said their intent was to urge the public to support American workers by buying American-made cars.
“When we buy foreign cars it takes money away from America,” said Sylvia Rutledge, another Ranger Plant employee. “We should always, always support America – not just with cars, with anything. Always buy American.”
To get involved in future demonstrations, call Perkins at 651-260-1761.
Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.stpaulunions.org