GE to IUE: 'So long, it's been good to know ya'

[Charlotte Kates <ckates@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>X-Sender: ksm@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 21:13:59 -0500
>To: labr.newsline%conf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>From: Scott Marshall <scott@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: GE to IUE: 'So long, it's been good to know ya'
>
>**GE to IUE: 'So long, it's been good to know ya'**
>
>(Reprinted from the May 18, 1996 issue of the People's
>Weekly World. May be reprinted or reposted with PWW credit.
>For subscription information see below)
>
>By Dave Mallisk
>
>Historically, the South has been a haven for so-called
>runaway shops - factories that moved to the South to avoid
>pro-labor legislation and strong unions. General Electric
>opened a plant in Hickory, N.C. in 1956. For the past 40
>years, this factory, which is organized by the International
>Union of Electronic Workers (IUE), has made electrical
>transformers.
>
>Recently the union received notice that the factory was to
>be shut down, not because the product was no longer needed,
>but because operations were being moved to Monterey, Mexico.
>The following is a short interview I had with Gary Hefner,
>the president of IUE Local 182, the union that represents
>the workers at this General Electric plant.
>
>Q: How many years of service does the average worker have at
>this plant?
>
>A: 22 years, and many were around in 1969, when we struck GE
>nationally for over three months. Presently, there are 345
>employees on the floor. At its peak employment, the union
>represented over 1,400 employees.
>
>Q: When is the plant closing going to start?
>
>A: Aug. 1, 1996, with the least senior employees being let
>go first.
>
>Q: What is the average wage for the plant, and for the area?
>
>A: On average, the unionized employees make $15.00 per hour
>plus benefits. The mostly nonunion workers in the area
>average $7 per hour.
>
>Q: Why do you think the plant is closing?
>
>A: Essentially, to extort labor in Mexico. As bad as the
>labor laws are in this country, we do have some rights. In
>Mexico, it is much harder to form independent, democratic
>labor unions. As such, General Electric can pay the Mexicans
>$1.29 per hour including benefits. G.E. management admits we
>are more productive in Hickory, but we can't compete with
>$1.29 per hour.
>
>Q: What do you think can be done to prevent this from being
>done to other communities and workers?
>
>A: First, we need to change NAFTA. The labor side agreements
>in NAFTA are worthless. I am not against the Mexican worker.
>What we need is a law that allows all workers in all three
>countries to organize freely, and openly, without fear of
>reprisal or dismissal.
>
>Until then, there are going to be these gross differences in
>pay scale. The end result is that the Mexicans stay poor,
>and to compete the American worker is going to have to lower
>their wage scale, which means the standard of living will
>fall, as is already happening.
>##30##
>
>
>

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    Charlotte L. Kates     ckates@xxxxxxxxxxxx        Collingswood, NJ

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