Auto union local lobbies for Fenton minivan plant via Colorado newspaper ads
United Auto Workers Local 110, which represents workers at Chrysler LLC’s Fenton minivan plant that’s set to idle Oct. 31, sent a message to policymakers at the Democratic National Convention today — through newspaper ads lobbying to keep minivan production in the United States.
The local union bought ads in today’s Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News with the intent to reach policymakers who are in Denver for the convention, said Joe Shields, president of UAW Local 110. The ads protest Chrysler consolidating minivan production to its plant in Windsor, Ontario.
According to Shields, one part of the ad said: “We need our political allies’ help now!”
Chrysler spokeswoman Mary Beth Halprin declined to comment on the ads today because she said she had not seen them.
Shields said the local union has not yet determined if it will buy ads around the time the Republican National Convention is held next week in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Workers have protested Chrysler’s decision to indefinitely idle the minivan plant and reduce the number of shifts at the neighboring pickup plant from two to one. UAW Local 110’s ads today are part of a series of ads and events to bring attention to the Fenton plants. Shields said the local union also placed an ad in the Detroit Free Press on Aug. 14, when more than 450 people from the St. Louis area — workers, retirees and family members — rallied outside of Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.
UAW Local 1760, whose members are workers that make seats and dashboards for Chrysler’s minivans, voiced its support of the local plants via ads in a Washington, D.C., newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress.
The ad said that Chrysler’s minivan sales in the United States have been far greater than sales in Canada. The ad ran in The Hill on Aug. 13, a day before the rally in Auburn Hills, and it ran again on Aug. 19, said Darin Gilley, president of UAW Local 1760.
What a nicee way to waste the money of the workers, because they aren’t going to reopen the plant.
Didn’t anyone tell the union that they could have bought ads to run on TV during convention coverage? The UAW, sharp as a marble and as modern as a covered wagon.
IF YOU QUIT PUTTING DOWN THE UNIONS AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE “PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THERE JOBS TO CANADA,MEXICO” WHERE IS GOING TO STOP? WHEN THERE’S NO MORE U.S.A. JOB LEFT!! THEN WHO COULD WE BLAME?
Windsor Ontario Canada is the birthplace of the minivan , the st. louis plant was built only as a temporary plant due to the demand of the minivan , now that minivan sales have dropped unfortunately the temporary shifts must go…
Can anyone explain how greedy the UAW was when it came time to sign a contract for minivans in Fenton? Keep in mind, these are just assembly line jobs where these guys receive at least 6 paid weeks off a year. If they would have conceded, maybe the jobs would not be lost. Greed!!
Is there anyone out there who was involved in the negotiations who can explain exactly why canada received the contract? I understand that the union which may not have a place in thsi country any longer, got too greedy and the UAW lost the jobs to Canada. And, when the plant reopens to produce Nissans, the pay rate will be comparable to what the job is really worth and that is $10-$20 hour. And, the same workers could be working again for what they are worth rather than what the union has inflated the wage to. This is just an assembly line job for pete’s sake. I really hope the workers come back with Nissan and take the pay that the job is worth. I am rooting for you guys.