"US Army Might Break Goodyear Strike"

[Severian]

Originally from the Financial Times (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16226231/)
Excerpt:

The US Army is considering measures to force striking workers back to their jobs at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant in Kansas in the face of a looming shortage of tyres for Humvee trucks and other military equipment used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A strike involving 17,000 members of the United Steelworkers union has crippled 16 Goodyear plants in the US and Canada since October 5.

The main issues in dispute are the company's plans to close a unionised plant in Texas, and a proposal for workers to shoulder future increases in healthcare costs.

An army spokeswoman said on Friday that "there's not a shortage right now but there possibly will be one in the future".

According to Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House of Representatives armed services committee, the strike has cut output of Humvee tyres by about 35 per cent.

Mr Hunter said that the army had stopped supplying tyres to units not related to the Central Command, which is responsible for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tyres were also not being provided to army repair depots.
....
According to Mr Hunter, the army is exploring a possible injunction under the Taft-Hartley Act to force the 200 Kansas workers back to their jobs.

He proposed that they return under their current terms of employment, on the understanding that any settlement would be extended to them.

Which, of course, would greatly reduce the workers' leverage to make Goodyear settle.

This is, among other things, an illustration of the reality that strikes - and workers' unwillingness to answer patriotic appeals for wartime sacrifice - can have a bigger material impact than middle-class peace protests.

Other comments?

[Xiao Banfa]

This is brilliant. This is a great illustration of how the forces of class contradiction could be used to force demands on the bourgeois state.

I would say the demands should be troops out of Iraq as well as a pay rise, but I'm not a US unionist so I'm not certain whether that would destroy the union.

The working class has got advance strategically and yes, sometimes incrementally.

I'm sure some would refer to that as "three-worlds theory contradiction", but what can one struggle by a weak trade union movement do to end the war?

An anti-imperialist strike would come only as a result of hightened class conciouness.

[Pawn Power]

This is, among other things, an illustration of the reality that strikes - and workers' unwillingness to answer patriotic appeals for wartime sacrifice - can have a bigger material impact than middle-class peace protests.

I agree that striking can hold tremendous wieght on war. However, as I understand it the workers are not striking against the use of tires in an imperilist war but against their own exploitation. Nevertheless their struggle should be supported but the relation between worker exploitation should be tied to capitalism and war. Stikes like these are often a first step to this relationship and consciousness.


I would say the demands should be troops out of Iraq as well as a pay rise, but I'm not a US unionist so I'm not certain whether that would destroy the union.

That would be nice if those were the demands but I think it could destroy or weaken the union at this time, not that we shouldn't strive for that! But, judging from the location of the factory, Kansas, I would guess they could loose a lot of community support and might loose community support if the US plays their "national security" and "patriotism" card.

All solidarity should be with these workers with or withour direct aimes against the war. It is encouraging to know that they haven't "given in" to patriotic appeals and war time sacrifice as Severian said.

[blake 3:17]

Holy fuck! I am rather stunnned by this...

People might want to read up on the Taft-Hartley Act: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft-Hartley_Act

Edited to add:

Steelworkers updates on Goodyear strike. (http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=639&modules_ID=642)

Judge puts limits on Topeka's picket lines (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/16262176.htm)


Strikers Picket 150 Goodyear Stores
Dec 17, 5:09 AM EST
By NATE JENKINS
Associated Press Writer
Members of local unions, Frank White, left, and Mike Sowicz, show support for striking Goodyear workers outside a Goodyear store, in Philadelphia, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Union members battling Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. took their picket lines to about 150 tire retailers in the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, making their case directly to consumers for health care and retirement benefits.

...

"We know what it takes to build tires, and unskilled workers just can't do it," said Gary Schaefer, 54, vice president of the United Steelworkers Local 286 in Lincoln. "We do not want the general public riding their lives on temporary workers."

Story. (http://www.columbian.com/news/APStories/AP12172006news84977.cfm)

[Red October]

this is a good sign. it would be wonderful if workers in other military related industries went on strike too. imagine if the auto workers who make the humvees, the uniform makers, the gunsmiths and aircraft manufacturers went on strike! im not sure how realistic that idea is, but if it happened things could really change quickly.

[blake 3:17]

During the Vietnam War, workers who made the 'body bags' went on protest strike actions in mid-shift!

[YSR]

If the government does indeed act under Taft-Hartley, I think we'll see a very interesting response from the U.S. population.

Should the people side with the government, we'll know that the post-9/11 patriotism is still a powerful force to reckon with. Should the people side with the strikers, we'll see some terrific class consciousness developing.

I'm a pessimist, so I see the former taking place. Unions are really marginalized in this country, particularly by the media.

[Ol' Dirty]

What can be said? This is nothing new.

[Dimentio]

During the French Indochine war, the French soldiers faced empty grenades with notes in them: "We are on the side of the Vietnamese, French women's union against the war".

[blake 3:17]

Steelworkers Canada on this. (http://www.usw.ca/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=638&modules_ID=638&sub=638&lan=en)

This is an excellent momenet for anyone involved in anti-war/imperialist politics to get active in supporting the USW and the Goodyear boycott. If you're part of a peace group ask a Steelworker to speak at a teach-in or rally. If you're involved in labour, ask a peace group member to talk about the connection between the drive for war and the drive for profit.

[Red October]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17, 2006 05:04 pm
During the French Indochine war, the French soldiers faced empty grenades with notes in them: "We are on the side of the Vietnamese, French women's union against the war".
that must suck when you really need to frag someone and all you have is a piece of metal with a note inside.

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by blake 3:[email protected] 17, 2006 05:18 pm

This is an excellent momenet for anyone involved in anti-war/imperialist politics to get active in supporting the USW and the Goodyear boycott. If you're part of a peace group ask a Steelworker to speak at a teach-in or rally.
Thats all good, but I dont think the workers are striking in protest or to hinder US imperialism:


The main issues in dispute are the company's plans to close a unionised plant in Texas, and a proposal for workers to shoulder future increases in healthcare costs.

Not that we shouldn't support them because of this but opposing imperialism does not seem to be one of their proposals.

[blake 3:17]

QUOTE (blake 3:17 @ December 17, 2006 05:18 pm)

This is an excellent momenet for anyone involved in anti-war/imperialist politics to get active in supporting the USW and the Goodyear boycott. If you're part of a peace group ask a Steelworker to speak at a teach-in or rally.


Thats all good, but I dont think the workers are striking in protest or to hinder US imperialism

Thta's why these links need to be made in a conscious way! The strikes are about basic economic issues. I wouldn't underestimate workers opposition to this stupid war and folks like us can link the issues in a way that the USW isn't gonna.

I've worked on several international labour solidarity campaigns, and it is amazing where strikers consciousness can go. But it means being part of solidarity and moral supports, coalition building, and winning against the bastards!

[Guerrilla22]

What is the army going to do? Force them to work at gun point?

[Janus]

Isn't it official government policy that strikes are not allowed to occur in industries deemed important to the nation and national security.

[Severian]

Originally posted by Pawn Power+December 17, 2006 11:51 am--> (Pawn Power @ December 17, 2006 11:51 am)
This is, among other things, an illustration of the reality that strikes - and workers' unwillingness to answer patriotic appeals for wartime sacrifice - can have a bigger material impact than middle-class peace protests.

I agree that striking can hold tremendous wieght on war. However, as I understand it the workers are not striking against the use of tires in an imperilist war but against their own exploitation. [/b]
Sure, of course. That would be a whole different kind of overall political situation.

But to strike in wartime, especially in a war industry: workers do have to put the fight against exploitation ahead of all kinds of calls for patriotic sacrifice.


Janus
Isn't it official government policy that strikes are not allowed to occur in industries deemed important to the nation and national security.

I don't think there's a standing law forbidding all strikes in some set of strategic industries. But they are quick to ban strikes on the railroads, for example. And "national security" is one of the more common excuses.

[blake 3:17]

DUNLOP STRIKE: Presents on the picket line

Area union members deliver donations and support to striking Dunlop workers

By Cortney McMahon
The Tonawanda News

It was crowded on the picket line in front of the Goodyear-Dunlop plant in the Town of Tonawanda on Monday.

Union members from across Western New York joined Local 135, the area Steelworkers union chapter, on the picket lines — and they came loaded.

“We’re here to support to our brothers and sisters,” said Paul Siekjak, president of United Autoworkers Local 686, which represents workers at Delphi in Lockport.

Local 686 bussed in about 900 pounds of canned food, a van full of toys, gift cards, cash and a $500 check, Siekjak said.

“There will be no bare Christmas trees,” he said.

This is the third time Local 686 joined the Dunlop strikers. In the past, the union brought donations as well, including frozen hamburgers and hot dogs, Siekjak said.

It is important for union members to stick together because they are all in the same boat and fighting for the same cause, Siekjak said.

“The only way it is going to stop is by sticking together,” he said.

UAW Local 774 members, from the Tonawanda Engine Plant, also took up a collection last week for their union brothers and sisters at Dunlop, said Peter Masich, UAW Local 774 president. The members raised about $7,500, he said.

“Unions are in trouble,” Masich said.

If one union goes down, they all go down, said Eric Martin, a member of UAW Local 1097 from Rochester.

Full story. (http://www.tonawanda-news.com/thetonawandas/local_story_353144749.html?keyword=topstory)

[Severian]

Update: The strike's been settled (http://www.themilitant.com/2007/7103/710355.html)

The terms are pretty bad - including the introduction of a two-tier system (lower wages and benefits for new hires.) And the closing of the Tyler plant.

The terms aren't as bad as the company originally tried for, so it is better than if they hadn't struck and simply accepted whatever the companies asked for...

[EwokUtopia]

Why not use Oskar Schindler tactics? That is intentionally making humvee tires that blow out at every speedbump. That would be nice.