Quote Of The Day: Jobs, Justice And Peace Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

We have made a decision at the UAW that to do the best job taking care of our membership we’ve got to be out there in the streets fighting for social and economic justice

Newly-minted UAW President Bob King kicks off a “Jobs, Justice and Peace” campaign with Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, by feeding the Freep some seriously idealistic rhetoric at a news conference announcing a march commemorating Martin Luther King’s Freedom Walk. But, as King confirms to Automotive News [sub], the best way to live up to these high-minded ideals is to demonize Toyota.



Confirming his decision to target the best-selling foreign brand in America, he says “bannering” of Toyota dealers is taking place in California and New York… despite the fact that the UAW has been going after Toyota, since 2007, and has had access to at least one Toyota plant since December of last year. Meanwhile, the facts that GM first doomed the NUMMI plant (while Toyota footed the bill) that inspired the California protests, and is generally turning away from the UAW for coveted “green jobs” is allowed to go unprotested, because the UAW’s VEBA account needs to make money on the GM IPO. For more of King’s breathtaking ability to wrap venal self-interest in the cloak of unselfish ideals, check out this recent interview with Democracy Now.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Invisible Invisible on Jul 13, 2010

    breker? Anywho...This is actually good news for Toyota. Most people despise the UAW. This is like free advertising for Toyota that they are now UAW free! Kudos Toyota for kicking the Detroit Mafia to the curb, and sticking to your convictions.

  • Wsn Wsn on Jul 13, 2010

    Not surprising to see president Obama in the photo.

  • Oboylepr Oboylepr on Jul 13, 2010

    "Regarding “The Rat”, the last one I walked by was inflated by a Honda powered generator. I asked the union protester about it and asked him if that wasn’t being hypocritical, you know not being American made. He gave me a blank stare and walked away…" Reminds me of the CAW sponsored 'made in Canada matters' and 'buy domestic' stickers all over local GM cars where I live. Most of them are not made in Canada and many of them were not made in North America even. I did as you did and asked one of these geniuses who pulled into the parking space in his Chevrolet Optra with several of these stickers on it, if he knew his car was made in Korea. He answered "so what", "where was your Toyota made, Japan?". When I told him it was made in Ontario he just grunted and walked away. I would prefer that they were at least a little bit honest about it and say "Union made matters" and let Canadians decide if it does or not. But that would be telling the truth and we cannot have that!

  • Oboylepr Oboylepr on Jul 13, 2010

    Toyota got a kick in the butt all right but it was from a combination of government gangterism and union thuggery. The recent hoopla over Toyota is over nothing worse than what ALL other automakers do/havedone/will do. Toyota's worst sin was to be the biggest non Detroit 3 seller. BTW, Toyota have and continue to build and sell very reliable and good quality cars and as geeber said very few Toyota owners are unhappy with their cars. Also, they are in fact, laughing at the UAW, their pet rats and their inability to spell simple english words.

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