Mahwah Ford Plant; Plant Closing

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no. Well you know. Also. I think it's right. We kept you waiting. We've got a long wait. By 10:30 this morning the last car came up the final line of the model plant for the last time. For 25 years. The model plant has been producing Fords in Mercury's in trucks. Today is a sad day for our membership and for this local union. Before I get into a brief statement that I would like to read to the press

and hopefully answer all your questions that you could possibly have. I just like to make a brief statement earlier this morning. One of our union officials commented that things could not get worse. I responded that it certainly could you know probably right on the TV in the media press and with a lot of luck. It will probably happen. So keeping hoping to keep away the rain and making it as short as possible. I like to read this statement. The trauma of a plant closing and where you are has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of UAW people across the country. We had a local I know six that she had a concern of our brothers and sisters throughout the future of the auto worker and the industry. Yet the dimension of the tragedy could not be imagined until it struck our own lives.

The worker at Fort Lee's this plant for the last time today. Facing a future clouded with uncertainty and insecurity. Is. It what seems to be an effort to smooth the public's mind about the fate of these working people. Much has been said about the benefits of the American auto worker. Receiving their benefits when they lose their jobs. Workers at the plant will be eligible Detroit either state unemployment insurance supplement leak on a plane with insurance or trade readjustment insurance. The sub program was never designed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of workers that have been laid off throughout the auto industry. The sub program is rapidly bleeding and has the myths of how long

it will last are not encouraging. The federally funded to your IRA which was nearly this. Be refunded through an oversight of the Carter administration. We supply it will supply a portion of the worker's weekly wage for one year. From the declared date of eligibility. But the members of local 9 0 6 can tell you that this is no real substitute for a job. There is nothing that can replace the dignity and the self-respect which comes from being able to provide a decent standard of living for each and every one's family. Logo I know since I've been angered this made the false charges of poor quality which have been given undue attention by some of some of the press. We wish to refrain from I believe that the quality was never a reason for the closing

of the plant and we want to note that we have support from officials of a lot of local management and in Dearborn. Harold Cole executive vice president North American said in writing. The truth is that at no time did I ever say I built the world's worst car. At this time I would like to say that I have been very fortunate to serve with the present executive board of the bargaining committee that was elected by its membership. They have stood by me through this ordeal and helped me tremendously. I've also like to thank each and every committee man and open a committee man. Who was at the heart of this local duty. For helping me through this crisis. But most of all I would like to say at this time I have tried to represent our members so they can be assured of the dignity of the

respect that they deserve and I hope we have achieved this. Thank you. I will take any kind of a question but prior to going into questions I would like to do is Joseph Riley our international rep representing this local union for the international. Thank you. Can I get you know brothers sisters on the opposite that you know I was hoping it would rain so we had to cancel this morning reading to keep building cars. But I do have to also have a taxi I'd like to read to you maybe a little bit from it and I will be available here afterwards to answer any questions here if you refer any of them or to the automobile industry nationwide which I represent. And read you the statement. Of the best that read it and give it a shot and I hear. This is a moment of great tragedy today the largest for same Japan United States closing down

over 5000 members. Workers will become victims of greed and shortsightedness of the part of the government and the corporate boardrooms who couldn't remember the communities here and I'm going to pull up roots and leave it means that communities are going to be devastated. Why the nation is shell shocked and overwhelmed by the school devastating impact of plainclothesman huge unemployment. We in the UAW know the situation could again be turned around. We demand that those who have the power to take or corrective action to do so immediately. We believe that policies of the corporate boards and the policies of the government at this time are directed to put more people on unemployment. We're going to try and control inflation by putting our people on the street. Much of the blame for the collapse of the auto industry which it never reached depression levels lies at the feet of the big three corporation decision makers 30 years ago you would only urge them to produce fuel efficient cars. UAW It

went as far. That any success in recent years in particular the public demands which I would be able Senate clear unmistakable message to corporate executives in Iran a similar contempt for the welfare of the American people. The phony guess you are just a massive government lobby and managed to wring a trillion dollar win for the US economy. They set out to panic the American public and succeeded in totally dentist as they were lies and the American economy deal a deadly go to the auto industry. Never have so few man done such a great disservice to our country and intervene in a response the way to regulate the devastation caused by corporate or irresponsibility. It is a disgrace and a president who decided to play the burden of fighting inflation on the backs of the workers. Today a small or close down instead of our government being involved in it they're taking trips to Europe. John I keep an unemployment high and factories idle. This is been done too much in the

past. That approach has been proved to be economically ineffective and morally bankrupt all the divisive corporate economist that are cheering his decision to consciously create massive unemployment. This is the inflation strategy of big business has become the guiding strategy of a complacent government the government restating that he's opposed to any restriction on important of course but we can compete with a small car and get it produced massively. Today. Japanese for instance sell more cars. We anyway don't you believe in free trade even a system fair and free. Our union calls the type of regulation that already exist in most all other countries. Insisting that a percentage of goods sold by foreign countries be produced locally. We need an increase. It becomes more difficult day by day to win back the new car market. Well it doesn't matter mains lead investigators or not it does matter to the American people and should be a prime concern for our government for the nation my world my car and

build a car overseas so they don't want any restrictions on that effect them's seldom important or necessary band closings and layoffs. We will demand of the government sponsor the current crises by placing emergency bulletin limitations on foreign imports. We can fight for the overall economy. Economic policies that recognize jobs as America's top remonstrated repeatedly that such a broad approach is both practical and sensible. We will fight for that occasion to protect workers and communities from the impact of plant closing. We will never accept the notion that a Ford plant and similar plans across the country must become tragic and be monuments to corporate mismanagement and government it lacked. Thank you very much. Thank you thank you Bill O'Reilly at this particular time hopefully. Well first of all as I stated earlier the sub fund was never

designed to handle the situation that we were involved with. In 1974 the Tiare act was an act that consisted of foreign imports whether it was auto garment steel or whatever. When an individual or a firm was affected by that reaction of cutting down because of imports the Tiare would be in force if the location was certified. This local unit was certified in 1979 of January. We will receive rate unemployment and the difference of sub to equal 95 percent. The forecast for this would probably be four to six weeks and after that we would have a bank Rob's fund. So the individual would only receive the already and unemployment. Well first of all you in our opinion you have to remember Ford Motor Company

rushed to judgment and making the decision to shut down when they cited three items for the reasoning which was poor quality of high absenteeism and a poor working relationship with the local union. Within a period of two weeks each one of those charges were retracted the quality made by Mr. Paul and was retracted. Mr. Caldwell the president of Ford Motor Company sent thirty four hundred letters so each individual in their family apologizing to that remark stating it was thinking out of context. Number two the high absentee rate when this local union demanded them to produce their figures they were unable to do so. And the year they cited it was 1971. The third reason was the poor working relationship with the local union. In the past nine

years this local union on record. And in Detroit with the International Union and in Dearborn with Ford Motor Company has the best working relation with local management and local management also made that statement. Yes. Do you think it was if you're making nine hundred twenty five thousand dollars a year chairman of GM and 700 some thousand present of what I believe they have a certain amount of. Branding. Right.