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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTeamsters: Toyota is a Danger To American Families Union Posts Billboards in US Cities.
BALTIMORE, July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Teamsters Union posted the first of several roadside billboards about the Toyota Corporation in order to educate the American public about the economic and safety dangers posed by the company.
The first billboard is located along I-95 in Baltimore and reads, "Toyota: A Danger to American Families."
"Toyota spent years trying to regain consumer confidence after mass recalls in 2009-2011 due to sticking gas pedals and faulty floor mats. Millions more Toyotas are being recalled due to dangerous faulty airbags. Now, on top of these very public issues, Toyota is bidding out much of its automobile transport work to small, unproven operators who undercut the health care protections and retirement security of their drivers," said Kevin Moore, Teamsters International Trustee and Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.
Toyotas have been transported in the United States for decades by large, professional automobile transport companies. These companies are proven to be able to handle Toyota's volume, and their operators are skilled, union employees who are able to support their families and communities with stable jobs and dignified retirement benefits.
"In communities like Baltimore that are already economically devastated, destroying good union automobile transport jobs is yet another threat to workers and their families," Moore said.
In 2010, Toyota promised the Teamsters that union drivers would not be displaced by nonunion carriers.
"We don't understand why Toyota has chosen to no longer honor its promises," Moore said. "Toyota has not responded to our request for discussion."
Additional billboards are scheduled to go up in several other U.S. cities over the next two weeks.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-toyota-is-a-danger-to-american-families-300117278.html
Romulox
(25,960 posts)demosincebirth
(12,554 posts)the good ol' U.S. of A., by non-union workers in the South. The liberal bay area?
Romulox
(25,960 posts)still_one
(92,526 posts)Yes, I know Democrats have been taking labor for granted for years, but a lot of the issues labor is having today were started by Reagan, and the republicans have been trying to destroy unions ever since.
At this stage I just don't know how it can be reversed. When Walker in Wisconsin wins three elections, and signs a "right to work bill", how do we reverse that?
Romulox
(25,960 posts)any basis for Democrats to whine about "Reagan Democrats".
You guys got your revenge, and then some.
still_one
(92,526 posts)with Carter and airline deregulation, but did they really think that Reagan would give them a better shot?
That was in 1980.
Reagan destroyed the Air Traffic Controllers union for gosh sakes, and in 1984 the teamsters endorsed him?
I could understand not endorsing anyone, but seriously endorsing Reagan for what?
teamster633
(2,029 posts)...for pointing out that it was Saint Ronnie who broke PATCO, not Jimmy Carter. As for an explanation of the 1984 endorsement, I can only surmise that it was a misguided attempt by the leadership to demonstrate that the union vote could not be taken for granted (emphasis on misguided). I also have to grudgingly admit that there are a lot of very conservative idiots in our union, but I doubt that had much influence on the leadership's decision.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)still_one
(92,526 posts)Democratic party taking the labor vote for granted, and that was happening before reagan.
There is no question in my mind that Democrats must address labors needs, and not just to distinguish itself from republicans, but because it is the right thing to do
No vote should be taken for granted, and as you mentioned the TPP, NAFTA, etc. is hurting the country and taking labor for granted. I don't think it is because of revenge as much as it is due to lobbyists
Romulox
(25,960 posts)still_one
(92,526 posts)which put the U.S. at a disadvantage. My point was I don't think the motivation of the Democrats was to hurt labor, though they certainly knew it would, and did, but rather it was the influence of big money from certain corporations and ideologues to maximize their profits at the expense of the American worker.
I know it is a fine point, but Congress, including some Democrats effectively take bribes, which actually in a way worse than "taking revenge against labor", because it means they don't stand for anything, and don't really have convictions.
A perfect example is what is happening right now with the Iran nuclear deal. Senators are being bribed heavily to oppose this deal by various lobbying groups. Hopefully, there are enough Democrats that cannot be bribed, and will allow any rejection of the deal to be vetoed.
The same thing goes with labor issues, except it is much more difficult now because of the President's support of the TPP, which the republicans were all for, so the Democrats who would vote against it, wouldn't have enough votes. Maybe my pessimism is wrong, but until we elect representative who are working for the people, it is going to be a long road
pnwmom
(109,025 posts)Romulox
(25,960 posts)still_one
(92,526 posts)demosincebirth
(12,554 posts)imported strike-breakers.
still_one
(92,526 posts)It was called the Airline Deregulation Act
demosincebirth
(12,554 posts)deregulation bill which caused 80 percent of the unionized trucking industry to go under...losing 300,000 union job over a period ten years.
still_one
(92,526 posts)through Congress. If you say Kennedy, ok
demosincebirth
(12,554 posts)still_one
(92,526 posts)worked harder to help labor, but that was more in the past then in the present. Hopefully, that will turn around to be more receptive to labor, I hope
demosincebirth
(12,554 posts)endorsed numbnuts, Reagan. Feds cleaned up the union in the late eighties and nineties. It's a lot different now. You have a few bad apples here and there, like any other organization.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Instead of the shit-mobiles they used to make.
Check out This American Life's recent re-broacast of their NUMMI episode.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/561/nummi-2015