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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

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Auto Workers Issues

Fiat Chrysler layoffs hit workers in suburban Detroit

By Jerry White, 8 April 2016

The announcement that Fiat Chrysler is cutting 1,420 jobs at its Sterling Heights assembly plant foreshadows a new wave of downsizing in the auto industry.

“When the UAW folks play golf with the Fiat folks, what do you expect?”

Fiat Chrysler workers react to Sterling Heights Assembly job cuts

By Shannon Jones, 8 April 2016

Workers who spoke to the World Socialist Web Site at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant said the 2015 contract betrayal by the United Auto Workers helped set the stage for the latest layoffs

Fiat Chrysler axing 1,400 jobs at Sterling Heights, Michigan plant

By Shannon Jones, 7 April 2016

The company is permanently eliminating one shift at the passenger car plant in suburban Detroit due to slumping sales.

Mexican Nissan workers in two-day strike

By Shannon Jones, 5 April 2016

The walkout by more than 5,000 workers brought production to a halt at the Nissan plant in the industrial City of the Valley of Cuernavaca.

GM found not liable in bellwether case over ignition defect

By Shannon Jones, 4 April 2016

The case was chosen by GM because evidence of corporate malfeasance appeared weakest.

“They got away with murder for profit”

Michigan will not sanction GM attorneys involved in cover-up of ignition defect

By Shannon Jones, 29 March 2016

To date, no top GM official has been held to account for the decade-long cover-up of an ignition defect responsible for at least 124 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Indian auto workers fight to defend wages and conditions

By Arun Kumar, 26 March 2016

Workers at major car makers including Maruti Suzuki, Honda Motors and Tata, as well as auto-related companies, have been involved in plant occupations, strikes, rallies and marches.

St. Louis autoworkers bar UAW vice president from their Facebook page

By Jerry White, 23 March 2016

GM workers in Wentzville, Missouri blocked Cindy Estrada from their page in order to prevent her from spying for the UAW International and the company.

India: Tata workers end strike after being isolated by the unions

By Arun Kumar, 23 March 2016

The trade unions, mainly those led by Stalinists, played a key role in pushing Tata auto workers to end the strike.

UAW seeks to ram through contract at Volvo

By Shelly Connor, 21 March 2016

The UAW reportedly reached a last-minute agreement with Volvo, but refused to provide workers with the full contract, following a pattern it has employed many times before.

UAW discussing lower pay rate at Lear in Detroit

By Shannon Jones, 19 March 2016

The UAW is seeking a deal that will expand its dues income by creating a lower-paid tier of workers at the US-based automobile seat maker.

UAW pushes local deals past opposition at GM Lordstown plant

By Jerry White, 18 March 2016

Union officials made it clear that they would force workers to vote again and again until they approved a local contract.

Slumping car sales lead to extended layoff of Fiat Chrysler Sterling Heights workers

By Shannon Jones, 15 March 2016

Last week Fiat Chrysler announced that what had originally been scheduled as a six-week layoff would be extended for another three weeks.

Detroit autoworkers discuss Trump, US election campaign

By our reporters, 4 March 2016

One day before Trump’s rally in Warren, Michigan, Fiat Chrysler workers at the truck assembly plant in the suburban Detroit city spoke about the rise of the extreme right candidate.

Autoworkers support challenge to UAW-Ford 2015 contract vote

By Shannon Jones, 1 March 2016

An internal UAW Local 600 hearing on the challenge to the ratification vote by a Ford skilled trade worker is set for Thursday.

Michigan autoworker files challenge to UAW-Ford 2015 contract vote

By Eric London, 26 February 2016

A worker at Ford’s Dearborn Truck plant is continuing to pursue his allegations of fraud during the 2015 contract ratification vote in the face of stonewalling by the United Auto Workers.

India: Tata Nano auto workers strike over suspensions

By Arun Kumar and Deepal Jayasekera, 25 February 2016

The Nano workers’ strike is a sign of the growing social unrest created by the deteriorating living and working conditions of workers throughout India.

Downsizing begins as Fiat Chrysler seeks merger partner

By Shannon Jones, 25 February 2016

The plans by CEO Sergio Marchionne to eliminate small car production as part of a potential merger call into question the future of thousands of jobs at the company’s US operations.

In Detroit visit, Sanders promotes the UAW and economic nationalism

By Jerry White, 17 February 2016

Just months after the UAW rammed pro-company deals past the opposition of rank-and-file autoworkers, the self-described “democratic socialist” praised the discredited organization.

In wake of VW scandal European Parliament relaxes emissions regulations

By Jan Peters and Dietmar Henning, 16 February 2016

Last autumn, it was revealed that Volkswagen manipulated the emissions readings in 11 million diesel vehicles and hundreds of thousands of petrol models.

UAW President Dennis Williams denounces role of “outside groups” in 2015 auto contract negotiations

By Shannon Jones, 13 February 2016

The remarks expressed the concern of the UAW leadership over growing signs of militancy and social anger in the working class in Michigan and throughout the country.

More recalls of Takata exploding airbags

By Shannon Jones, 6 February 2016

Recalls have proceeded in a piecemeal fashion since 2008, when Honda first publicly reported the deadly defect.

“GM will do anything for profits and stockholders”

US autoworkers speak on record profits

By our reporter, 4 February 2016

Workers said the record profits being recorded by the Detroit automakers were paid for by the blood and sweat of workers.

GM skilled trades worker killed at Defiance, Ohio factory

By Shannon Jones, 4 February 2016

50-year-old Terry Bodenbender, father of two, was working on an overhead crane when he plunged to his death Tuesday afternoon.

Autoworkers speak on Flint water crisis

By Shannon Jones, 22 January 2016

Workers expressed their solidarity with the people of Flint who are suffering from lead poisoning due to the criminal actions of state, local and federal authorities.

US auto companies announce big payout to stockholders

By Shannon Jones, 15 January 2016

The huge sums now being handed out to investors expose the lies by the UAW that there was no more money on the table in the 2015 auto contract negotiations.

Autoworkers support Detroit teachers’ fight

By our reporters, 14 January 2016

Autoworkers have spoken out in defense of Detroit teachers who have launched a series of sickouts in defense of public education.

Worker killed in Ohio Honda plant

By David Brown, 8 January 2016

The contract worker died as Honda draws large profits and continues to recall defective airbags responsible for nine deaths.

Freightliner announces nearly 1,000 layoffs at North Carolina plant

By Jerry White, 6 January 2016

The layoff announcement follows similar job cuts and UAW-sanctioned attacks on workers at Volvo, Navistar and other truck manufacturers in the US.

UAW local publishes blacklist of workers who opt out of dues payment

By Eric London, 5 January 2016

The anti-democratic move by Local 412 in suburban Detroit is aimed at victimizing workers who criticize the UAW’s collusion with corporate management.

2016 will be a year of escalating class struggle

By Jerry White, 4 January 2016

Class conflict will become an ever-more dominant feature of life in 2016 as the ruling classes in the US and around the world demand that workers pay for the global economic crisis.

Worker crushed to death after wall collapses at Chicago Ford plant

By Marcus Day, 4 January 2016

One worker was killed and another critically injured Saturday after a concrete wall collapsed at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, the company’s oldest continually operating factory.

Analyst says US auto contracts will not increase labor costs

By Shannon Jones, 31 December 2015

Despite claims by the UAW that the agreements were among the richest in history, the overall labor costs at the Detroit automakers will remain essentially unchanged.

Dictatorship conditions at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant: Part Two

With UAW complicity, Ford fires workers for voicing opposition

By Eric London, 30 December 2015

A local UAW official confirmed that at least a dozen workers have been fired from the Kansas City plant for comments posted on Facebook, and the union has done nothing.

Dictatorship conditions at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant: Part One

Autoworker crushed to death in conveyer belt catastrophe

By Eric London, 29 December 2015

The deceased worker leaves behind a wife and small children. Meanwhile, Ford keeps hush, the UAW blames workers and the government said it will not investigate the workplace tragedy.

Walter Reuther and the rise and fall of the UAW

By Tom Mackaman, 23 December 2015

Walter Reuther’s biography has much to teach workers about the transformation of the trade unions into reactionary adjuncts of the corporations and the government.

Nexteer workers denounce UAW after ratification of sellout deal

By our reporters, 22 December 2015

Just days after the UAW pushed through a new five-year agreement, workers at the former GM steering complex spoke out against the union-management conspiracy to push through the deal.

After the Big Three contracts

Auto companies cheat retirees while posting record sales

By Eric London, 21 December 2015

As auto sales hit new records, an autoworker at GM’s Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Indiana explained how workers are being cheated of their signing bonuses.

“They want this contract shoved down our throats”

UAW claims ratification of Nexteer sellout as lies exposed

By Shannon Jones, 19 December 2015

Broad sections of Nexteer workers remain opposed to the latest sellout in the face of UAW-company threats, lies and intimidation.

Widespread opposition as voting begins on second UAW-Nexteer deal

By Jerry White, 18 December 2015

Auto parts workers at the former GM complex in Saginaw, Michigan expressed their opposition to the UAW-backed sellout when they came to vote on Thursday.

Low-wage America

Detroit auto parts worker endures homelessness, surrenders custody of children

By our reporter, 17 December 2015

Dwayne Cole and Siretha Lattimore made the wrenching decision to hand their children over to state custody after being homeless for a year, despite Dwayne’s full-time job at an auto parts factory.

Vote “No” on UAW-Nexteer sellout deal!

Build factory committees to mobilize all autoworkers in a common struggle

By Jerry White, 17 December 2015

The new deal is not a “contract” in any real sense but a slave’s charter, with the UAW imposing management’s demands for poverty wages and a dictatorship on the shop floor.

Nexteer workers challenge UAW officials at contract information meetings

By Jerry White, 16 December 2015

Workers grilled UAW officials with angry questions Tuesday, amidst widespread opposition to a second sellout deal at the former GM steering complex in Saginaw, Michigan.

Volvo truck plant lays off 734 workers ahead of contract deadline

By Ed Hightower, 16 December 2015

The layoffs are a familiar tactic designed to wear down workers so they will accept a sellout contract.

After the contract at Fiat Chrysler: UAW and company cheat workers of pay

By Eric London, 16 December 2015

The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with workers at the Toledo North Assembly Plant in Ohio who said anger is widespread over the impact of the new contract.

“Everyone’s eyes are opening up now that they are reading the contract”

Nexteer workers express anger and opposition to new contract deal

By Shannon Jones, 15 December 2015

The United Auto Workers is holding so-called information meetings, starting today, with Saginaw, Michigan workers voting on the second deal Thursday and Friday.

UAW official pushing Nexteer sellout lashes out at Autoworker Newsletter

By Jerry White, 15 December 2015

Facing a rebellion over efforts to push through another rotten contract, a UAW International executive took to Facebook to denounce autoworkers and the WSWS.

Letter from Indiana autoworker to Nexteer workers: Contract is a bad deal for skilled trades

By our reporter, 14 December 2015

An Indiana autoworker who read sections of the Nexteer contract has a warning for Nexteer skilled trades.

Ten facts autoworkers need to know about the Nexteer tentative agreement

By Eric London, 14 December 2015

If accepted, the UAW-Nexteer contract will guarantee four-and-a-half years of poverty wages, dictatorial plant conditions and record profits for the company.

As details of new tentative agreement emerge

Workers oppose UAW-Nexteer divide-and-conquer tactics

By Eric London, 12 December 2015

The UAW is working with Nexteer to trick workers into voting for a sellout deal that will ensure high corporate profits at the workers’ expense.

Opel Bochum: Few new jobs a year after plant closure

By Dietmar Henning, 12 December 2015

2,500 former Opel workers will soon face unemployment.

Nexteer victimizes dozens of workers as UAW prepares new sellout

By Eric London, 11 December 2015

Nexteer management has fired up to 30 workers at its Saginaw, Michigan complex in a move to break the resistance of the rank and file to a new UAW-backed concessions deal.

Celebrating the sellout: UAW sends negotiators on paid vacation at exclusive Miami resort

By Eric London, 11 December 2015

The day after ramming through the sellout contract at Ford, the UAW sent out an internal memo to the UAW-Ford negotiators announcing a celebratory trip to South Beach on the workers’ dime.

“If you don’t put a stop to it now, it will never stop”

Kohler strike in fourth week

By Shannon Jones, 11 December 2015

Contract talks are in progress as the UAW continues isolation of the strike.

“If we as workers were to stand up, what kind of a statement would that make worldwide?”

Nexteer workers’ anger grows as UAW prepares to ram through new sellout deal

By Eric London, 10 December 2015

Workers at Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw, Michigan denounced the UAW for calling off a 20-hour strike without telling workers anything about the alleged new tentative agreement.

Video: Nexteer workers speak on the picket line

By our reporters, 10 December 2015

The WSWS spoke to strikers in Saginaw before the UAW called off the 20-hour strike, ordering them back to work without a chance to vote on a new deal.

“Your resolve to stand up… is something to be admired”

Ford workers call for joint struggle with Nexteer workers

By our reporters, 10 December 2015

As Saginaw, Michigan auto parts workers face the combined forces of Nexteer and the UAW, workers at Ford pledged their support and called for a common fight.

After less than 24 hours, UAW shuts down Nexteer strike

By Jerry White, 9 December 2015

With consummate contempt for workers, the UAW ordered Nexteer strikers to return to their jobs less than a day after the walkout began and before they could see the new agreement.

Nexteer autoworkers on strike denounce UAW-Nexteer contract

By Thomas Gaist, 9 December 2015

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter spoke to workers prior to an announcement late on Tuesday that the UAW was calling off the strike.

Over 3,300 auto parts workers strike in Saginaw, Michigan

The way forward for Nexteer workers

By Jerry White, 8 December 2015

The striking Nexteer workers deserve and need the support of all autoworkers and every section of the working class in the US and internationally.

After the “no” vote at Nexteer: A message from a Ford worker

By Eric London, 8 December 2015

The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter spoke to a Ford worker in Louisville, Kentucky on the struggle at Nexteer and the lessons of the contract fight at the Big Three auto companies.

Massive “no” vote by Nexteer workers rejects UAW sellout

By our reporting team, 7 December 2015

An overwhelming 97 percent of workers at the former GM complex in Saginaw, Michigan defeated the deal, which maintains poverty level wages.

Nexteer workers denounce UAW-company alliance following overwhelming “no” vote

By Eric London, 7 December 2015

Sunday’s 97.5 percent “no” vote is an overwhelming repudiation of the United Auto Workers and another sign of the deep anger and opposition in the working class as a whole.

Vote “no” on UAW-Nexteer sellout

Build a rank-and-file factory committee to fight the auto companies!

By Shannon Jones, 5 December 2015

The Autoworker Newsletter urges Nexteer workers to move immediately to build a rank-and-file factory committee as the true representative voice of workers in opposition to both management and their UAW stooges.

Resistance grows as UAW seeks to ram through Nexteer sellout

By Jerry White, 4 December 2015

There is widespread opposition to the UAW’s effort to impose yet another concessions contract on 3,400 auto parts workers at the Nexteer complex in Saginaw, Michigan.

Behind the UAW-IG Metall transnational partnership

By Shannon Jones, 3 December 2015

The pact between the United Auto Workers and the German labor federation is an alliance of corrupt bureaucratic apparatuses for the suppression of the working class.

UAW reaches sellout deal with Nexteer Automotive

By Jerry White, 2 December 2015

The UAW reached an agreement with Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw, Michigan, two days after sanctioning the closure of the Mitsubishi plant in Illinois, wiping out 1,250 jobs.

“This is a great agreement for our company”

Ford execs, Wall Street investors gloat over new UAW contract

By Jerry White, 1 December 2015

Ford boss Mark Field told investors the new agreement with the United Auto Workers would cost the automaker less than 1.5 percent more per year, below the current rate of inflation.

Report: UAW auto contracts no threat to Big Three profits

By Shannon Jones, 30 November 2015

The business press is gloating over the fact that the new contracts imposed on autoworkers by the UAW are tailored to the needs of the auto bosses.

Unifor prepares Canadian autoworkers for more concessions after UAW sellout deals

By Carl Bronski, 30 November 2015

Declarations that “job security” is the top priority of Unifor officials is coded language intended to convey that the union will attempt to push through more wage and benefit cuts.

UAW moves to wrap up concessions contracts for Nexteer workers, component drivers

By Shannon Jones, 28 November 2015

After pushing through sellout agreements at the Big Three, the UAW is planning similar contracts for parts companies.

“All our local union officials are ignoring us and hiding from us”

UAW, media silent on allegations of fraud in Ford contract vote

By Shannon Jones, 26 November 2015

It is nearly one week since the conclusion of the vote at Ford, and there has been no reaction by the corporate media or the United Auto Workers to widespread claims of vote rigging.

VW workers to bear the cost of emissions scandal

By Dietmar Henning, 26 November 2015

The VW group works council and the IG Metall union are working behind the scenes to pass the costs onto the workforce through job losses and wage cuts.

“It seems it was going to pass regardless.”

Accusations mount of UAW vote-rigging in Ford contract ratification

By Shannon Jones, 24 November 2015

Attention in particular is focused on UAW Local 600 in Dearborn, Michigan where a huge “yes” vote allegedly provided the margin for ratification by a razor-thin 51 percent.

The UAW’s illegitimate vote at Ford

Form rank-and-file factory committee to carry forward the fight!

By Jerry White, 24 November 2015

The resort to fraud by the UAW has taught thousands of workers that the United Auto Workers is nothing but a corporate syndicate of cheap labor contractors.

Lessons of the autoworkers’ battle

By Jerry White, 23 November 2015

The resort to gangster-like methods has further discredited the UAW and taught workers that the only way they can defend their interests is by casting off the dead weight of this corporate-labor syndicate.

“The workers will never forget what happened here”

Dearborn Assembly workers allege fraud in UAW-Ford contract vote

By Tim Rivers, 23 November 2015

Autoworkers reacted with disbelief, anger and profound skepticism to the United Auto Workers’ announcement Friday that its agreement with Ford had been ratified with 51 percent support.

UAW says contract passed at Ford amidst claims of ballot stuffing, intimidation

By Joseph Kishore, 21 November 2015

With only the Dearborn Assembly Complex still to finish voting, the contract was headed for defeat on Thursday, as the UAW required an overwhelming majority “yes” vote at the remaining plants.

UAW announces ratification of GM contract, overriding skilled trades vote

By our reporter, 21 November 2015

Skilled trades workers rejected the UAW-GM deal by nearly 60 percent, which according to the UAW constitution means the contract did not pass.

“I am not surprised…because that’s the way they treat us”

More autoworkers denounce UAW attack on WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reporters

By our reporters, 21 November 2015

Autoworkers from throughout the US are denouncing the actions of UAW officials in throwing Autoworker Newsletter reporters out of a press conference on Wednesday.

Toyota worker denounces union over shutdown of Australian car industry

By our reporter, 21 November 2015

“The only people who will win out from this closure are the company and the unions.”

The vote at Ford and the way forward for autoworkers

By Joseph Kishore, 20 November 2015

Whether or not the UAW succeeds in securing or manufacturing a “yes” vote, the developments at Ford have once again exposed the unbridgeable gulf between the UAW and the workers it claims to represent.

With contract facing defeat UAW bullies Michigan Ford workers to ratify deal

By Shannon Jones, 20 November 2015

Ford workers in Dearborn, Michigan are casting the deciding votes on the national contract as the UAW pursues a heavy-handed last minute ratification push.

Autoworkers denounce UAW attack on WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reporters

By our reporters, 20 November 2015

The forcible removal of WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reporters from a press conference exposes the UAW’s fear of and hostility to the workers that it claims to represent.

With Ford pact in jeopardy, UAW intensifies economic blackmail

By Jerry White, 19 November 2015

After Ford workers at two Louisville factories overwhelmingly voted “no,” the United Auto Workers held a hastily called press conference to threaten workers with plant closings and layoffs.

Injunction issued against Kohler strikers in Wisconsin

By James Brewer, 19 November 2015

The restraining order was issued by a Sheboygan County circuit court judge after the company filed a complaint charging that pickets were causing a traffic jam.

Video shows UAW officials grabbing cell phone, forcibly ejecting WSWS reporters from press conference

By Shannon Jones, 19 November 2015

The UAW’s thuggish actions against the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reflect its hostility to the working class and its fear of any exposure of its conspiracy with the auto companies.

“It’s pretty obvious that the UAW is a pro-company organization”

Chicago Ford workers reject UAW-corporate agreement

By our reporters, 19 November 2015

Workers who rejected the sellout agreement at the Chicago Assembly and Louisville Assembly plants spoke with the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter.

As vote tightens, Ford workers denounce UAW sellout

By Jerry White, 18 November 2015

Nearly half of Ford’s 53,000 workers began voting Tuesday at four major plants in Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, following the rejection of the contract at Kansas City Assembly.

Video report: UAW officials grab cell phone, forcibly eject WSWS reporters from press conference

18 November 2015

UAW officials from Local 600 in Dearborn, Michigan physically ejected two WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reporters from a press conference and forcibly took a cell phone being used to record the incident.

UAW contracts sanction moves to eliminate small car production in US

By Eric London, 17 November 2015

The United Auto Workers rejects any struggle to unify workers in Mexico, Canada and the US in a common fight against the transnational auto giants.

“It’s terrible, a slap in the face”

Kansas City autoworkers vote “no” on UAW-Ford contract

By our reporters, 17 November 2015

Opposition to the contract at Ford is widespread, with at least 45 percent of workers voting “no” thus far, including 54 percent at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.

“Ford is making record profits…and we’re living paycheck to paycheck”

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