Re: Roy Exum: The UAW's New Scab List
Thank you, Roy, for tweaking my anger and disgust just enough to generate one more note about VW and the UAW.
One element in the equation of winner and loser that has been forgotten in the question of union representation at the Chattanooga plant is that of the buyer, or more inclusively, the market for VW's products. Hand the plant over to UAW and you are done with this family and its past ownership of three VW's. I wonder what kind of crowd we could generate in opposition to UAW if push came to shove and the exercise of our power of the purse insofar as how our PILOT money is being used. Chattanooga State may be a good place to start in view of recent published articles.
I took the word of Mr. Winterkorn as fact when he said during the announcement in Germany of the SUV being made at the Chattanooga plant that there would not be a union at the plant "unless all employees wanted it." I am beginning to question what that meant.
Charlotte Parton
Chattanooga
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I read in contemptuous amusement the article of my friend Roy Exum, entitled "The UAW's New Scab List" and Ms. Parton's response to it and felt a need to respond.
This "scab list" tactic sounds exactly like what the Chamber of Commerce, a union itself, does on an ongoing basis, targeting the non-dues payers who are benefiting off their efforts of making the area "such a wonderful place to do business." Their failures are many and nepotism prevails. Other organizations, churches included, do much the same. So I really fail to see the substance in your obviously biased opinion piece, fairness being totally lacking.
And for the record, I am non-union and came from that same background. Unions, certainly the UAW have had their faults and still do but I am a firm believer that without them the quality of life for working Americans, and in other countries as well, would be much less, perhaps abysmal.
And no, the UAW did not destroy Detroit as is often heard, recently over the airwaves from the disingenuous and often dishonest, much more relevant in her own mind Robin Smith (please WGOW don't do that again) made such a statement. Soundly and adamantly refuted in such wildly liberal pubs as Forbes and the Wall Street Journal among others. Management decisions, purely profit driven, sent automakers off shore and huge tax breaks in the South (yes Chattanooga) and other areas drew assembly plants from Michigan where they had been rooted. Many of these are thriving, just look to Louisville and the Ford plants in our neighboring state to our north. Something like 5,000 UAW workers and their city has a lower unemployment rate than Chattanooga. Roy, Robin and your ilk, how could that be?
Ms. Parton, I have owned a number of Volkswagens in the past and currently still have one. All were German made, union made, and they all have performed exceptionally well. You did not state if your VWs were union or not. I have had numerous Fords, (currently), GMs and Chrysler (currently) that have been excellent vehicles and were assembled by American union workers. The worst of the bunch, a Chevy from the early 80's was a poor product, each of the problems be directly related to management, poorly designed, poorly engineered and poor choice of materials. Put together well on delivery, those unionites did well. Other problems down the road of fit and finish, mechanical as well all fell on the management end.
So, Charlotte, when local workers are given a right to have input in the workplace, go ahead and get rid of those VWs and never buy another. Might hurt locally but so what, you are making a stand. And then purchase other autos that have never been touched in any way by any union. Good luck doing that.
Michael Lawrence