Labor, Consumer And Safety Advocates Make Noise At Auto Shows
At auto shows across the country the weekend of January 29-31 – in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Texas and Washington, D.C. – union carhaul drivers and consumer advocates spoke out about auto makers that are threatening good jobs and auto safety.
In Philadelphia and in Washington, D.C., drivers who deliver new cars to dealerships educated auto show attendees about how Fiat/Chrysler, after taking $14 billion in taxpayer bailout money, is moving to cut-rate car carriers that may create serious hidden damages to tires, rims, axles and the overall frame when they improperly secure and transport vehicles. The report, Damaged When Delivered? documents these practices in detail. Fiat/Chrysler’s moves are also leading to the destruction of thousands of good, middle-class jobs with health care benefits.
At the Washington, D.C. auto show, 75 demonstrators broke out into a song and dance, to rewritten lyrics of the song “YMCA” by the Village People, to spread the message about what Fiat/Chrysler is doing to workers and the car-buying public.
In Secaucus, New Jersey, over 110 Teamster members and their supporters gave auto show attendees leaflets that explained how Honda is also turning away from professional auto transport companies and moving to the same cut-rate carriers that have been shown to transport vehicles incorrectly, Damaged When Delivered. This can threaten your safety and lead to costly repair bills.
And in Houston, Texas, union carhaul drivers and consumer advocates gave auto show attendees information that explained how Toyota, after making many poor management decisions that has led to unsafe throttles, millions of recalls, thousands of accidents and 19 deaths, is now making even more bad decisions. This includes a plan to close the NUMMI manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, which could lead to the destruction of up to 50,000 jobs in California, a state that gave Toyota the most sales in the taxpayer-funded Cash for Clunkers bailout program, and a state that is in dire financial condition. They are also planning to move work away from the longtime professional carhaul company that has transported its new vehicles safely for decades – a move that could lead to the destruction of thousands of good Carhaul jobs.