A new, state-of-the art factory has been built across town to replace the 90-year-old factory and produce a new jeep model. DaimlerChrysler (DCX) originally said the new plant would be run on three shifts when it begins production in March. Now the company says it will have only two shifts, eliminating some 1,500 jobs. The Cherokee and Wrangler jeep production will be cut back earlier than expected at the old plant, which now employs more than 3,000. Larger layoffs than originally planned are anticipated. Friday, February 2 was the last workday for the night shift.

In response to the job cuts in Toledo, 40 members and supporters of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 12 rallied outside of the Toledo Auto Show in downtown Toledo February 4. The rally was planned by a group of jeep workers, and had the support of the union.

"Transitional employees" helped initiate the action. These are around 350 jeep workers who were hired to work at the jeep plant through temporary agencies. Until they are hired by Chrysler after 120 days of work, they are paid less, are not on the seniority list, and don't get benefits. The company would lay off many workers after 119 days, forcing some to remain temporary for several years. Once hired in by Chrysler, workers thought they had the same union rights as everyone else. But when the company announced plans for taking bids into the new factory, these workers were told they had no seniority bidding or recall rights. After a series of protest meetings organized by these workers, the company granted them seniority rights.

Rally participants applauded and cheered when Tiffanee Watson, a young "transitional employee" who was hired last year announced, "We won our recall rights and our bidding rights, and we can win our jobs too, if we stick together. Just keep your heads up, and don't let it stress you out." Watson carried a sign that read, "26,000 layoffs, that's union busting."

The job cuts in Toledo are part of DaimlerChrysler's moves to restructure its auto division. The company is closing five plants in Toluca and Mexico City, Mexico; Cordoba, Argentina; and Campo Largo, Brazil.

The Mound Road engine plant in Detroit is also being shut. It is an old plant and has been on the chopping block for some time. Production shifts will be eliminated at five plants in the United States and Canada. Line speed will be reduced at two North American plants.  
 
Attempt to divide workers
O'Dene Carroll, who has worked at the Parkway plant for 16 years, carried a sign that said, "Fight Now or Starve Later--Chrysler Workers Unite," as he was interviewed by TV reporters. He told the Militant that Chrysler's decision to completely shut down plants in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil was an attempt to divide workers. "It was a strategic decision," he said. "They're going to use it against us. They'll say, if you're not willing to work hard and sacrifice, we can always find workers in South America who will. And at the same time, the company hopes they can make the South American workers willing to work for even less than they're paid now." Carroll told participants in the rally, "This is just the beginning. We have to keep up the fight."

The job cuts are also a big topic of discussion at Textron Automotive Corp., which supplies plastic molded parts to several DaimlerChrysler plants in the United States and Canada. Textron is DaimlerChrysler's fourth largest supplier.

After learning about the march of 10,000 to protest job cuts in Britain, one worker said, "This is what we need to do. Maybe we could win back our jobs if we all got together and put up a fight."

Another production worker expressed doubt about the effectiveness of public protest. "Layoffs are something we should expect in the auto industry. But maybe it would work. It's better than doing nothing."

There have also been debates on DaimlerChrysler's decision to close plants in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, where workers get paid much less than in the United States.

The Detroit News carried an article titled, "DCX scores with union leadership--UAW, CAW credit company for sparing U.S., Canada plants." The article quotes the director of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor who said, "They certainly win points with the UAW and CAW [Canadian Auto Workers] by going after Mexico and South America. Otherwise you'd have probably heard some noise by now."

Ilona Gersh is a member of United Auto Workers Local 157, and works at Textron Automotive Corp. in Westland, Michigan.  
 
 
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