Why is there no sign of solidarity for the Polish autoworkers from the US unionists who have opposed the UAW contract?
I do not really understand why all the guys in the UAW who have opposed the UAW-GM contract do not even show one sign of solidarity for the Polish autoworkers and their struggle (at least not here in the blog).
The struggle of the unions in the automotive industry in Poland, especially at the GM plant in Gliwice, is a crucial one. It is a kind of a cross-road. Unionists of a so-called low cost country are fighting for decent wages. GM is trying to blackmail them with relocation of production to cheaper countries like Russia or Ukraine, a tactic which is well-known in the so-called high cost countries in Europe as well as in North America. Attacking the UAW-GM contract is one thing but what I really miss in all these comments and actions against it is the lack of challenging GM's global strategies. The main focus of the critics is only the US, but the GM world and the threats brought forward by Management is much bigger. Therefore, just a question to all of you why do you not care about the struggle of others like the Polish autoworkers? Or am I wrong? The arguments made by Vice President Rapson in the UAW solidarity letter are absolutely essential for our Polish brothers and sisters. Therefore, fighting back means in the case of GM and all the other multinational companies fighting back also globally and to care about others. Without that the unions will be defeated nationally and locally step by step. In solidarity, WS
Rudi
01/11/2007