BY BARB GRAHAM AND LEA SHERMAN
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma -Lots of rain and cold weather hasn't dampened the spirits of the 3,600 members of United Auto Workers Local 1999, who went on strike against General Motors (GM) here April 5. GM is the largest auto maker in the world.

Oklahoma City workers make the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu and the Oldsmobile Cutlass. The Malibu model was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. Both models are "key to regain market share in U.S. sales of midsize cars," according to the Associated Press.

The union hall, right across from the plant, is a hubbub of activity. At the eight picket sites surrounding the car plant, strikers were upbeat and wanted to talk about the issues in their strike - the first walk-out in the union local's 18-year history.

By the April 5 deadline, workers were ready to strike. "I don't think that management thought that we were going to walk," said UAW member Shirley Lester. "Everybody wore black T- shirts and walked out at 11:59, day and night shift together, skilled trades, everybody."

Johnny Lee, who works in the trim department, said, "The Teamster drivers and railroad workers who haul freight in and out of the plant are honoring the picket lines." Many workers in the area have stopped by with sodas, donuts and coffee to show support.

UAW members here have been without a local contract since last September. They are not alone, as GM has more than 30 UAW locals without local agreements. Although the national UAW-GM contract was signed in December, it did not settle questions such as manpower, health and safety questions, outsourcing, and other local issues.

"The biggest issue in the strike for me," said Marcus Long, who works in the body shop, "is getting jobs back and not getting people cut." The workforce, now around 3,600, is down from 6,000 in 1986.

Several strikers explained that in August 1996 GM laid off 900 temporary workers. The company claimed that the new car, which began production in September, required less labor and parts to assemble. To prepare for the new model GM brought in upgraded automation and cut jobs to the bone. The union says there are 480 "overloaded jobs," so they are demanding that the company hire 500 workers to alleviate the situation.

Health and safety is another major concern to strikers. "We fight for our health more than anything else," said striker Karl Moyer.

"They are pushing people too far," said Jeannie Lewis, who has almost 18 years in the plant. "Three years ago I got hurt on the line and had to have shoulder surgery." Lewis was harassed for going to the medic.

"To me, the safety violations are the most important issue," said Adolph Long, who works in the body shop. In describing his job, Long explained that he grinds silicone in weld joints, which causes a lot of dust. Workers have to breath the dust, a real health hazard. Long said it would be safer if the cars were washed down, thus removing most of the dust.

According to the Daily Oklahoman, "As many as 3,000 workers compensation court cases are pending against the GM plant." About 4,000 cases have been filed against GM there in the past 12 years.

Don Wolf, a member of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and a professor at the University of Oklahoma, said the Oklahoma facility "has the worst safety record of any plant owned by GM."

Strikers report that it is difficult to get vacation time. "I put in for two weeks vacation and got two days approved," said Gary Breeden, who has been in the plant since it opened in 1979. "In the paint department, 195 people put in for vacation and only 4 got a complete week's vacation."

The big-business press now refers to the strike as a "showdown" with wide consequences for what Time magazine called "GM's brutal cost-cutting crusade." GM is in the midst of a $45 million advertising blitz for the new Malibu. Despite this, according to an article in the Daily Oklahoman, GM said "it would rather lose production - and risk sales in the crucial spring selling season - than reverse productivity gains that have made Malibu and Cutlass profitable where their predecessors lost money."

Oklahoma City strikers expressed a variety of opinions on the strike. "I think we've got the upper hand on 'em here, because they want what we're producing," said Jerry Richardson, who works in the paint department.

"We keep losing and losing every year," said Dennis Meyers, who transferred to the plant from Flint, Michigan. "We're down from 6,000 to 3,600 people. We've given back too much to the corporation and we're not getting a fair deal. We're doing the same work with 3,600 as when 900 temps were working.

"It's a privilege for me to be out here," he continued. "My grandfather and father were both out here 30 years ago on strike at other auto plants."

"The strike should have happened sooner. I'm disappointed that it went this long before it came to this," said Thomas Rodarte, from the trim department.

Ed Johnson, of the body shop, said the union should have struck back in the early 1980s, when Roger Smith, the company's former CEO, was around. "We gave away too much," he stated. Referring to the strike, Johnson said, "This is the best thing that has happened to our local, going out now."

Lea Sherman is a member of the International Association of Machinists Local 15 in Houston Texas. Rich Stuart and Melissa Harris contributed to this article.  
 
 
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