From: nyt%nyxfer%igc.apc.org@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu (NY Transfer News)
Subject: Unemployment Up or Down? GM Layoffs Tell Real Story
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: The NY Transfer News Service
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:16:17 GMT


Via The NY Transfer News Service * All the News that Doesn't Fit


Up or Down? GM layoffs tell real story

By Lyn Neeley

Because of a small decline in November's unemployment figures,
the government claims the economy is really perking up. For
working people, however, a truer economic picture can be seen in
the massive loss of full-time, higher-paying, union jobs with
full benefits that were won through years of struggle by workers
here.

On Dec. 3, General Motors announced plans to close nine plants,
eliminating 18,000 jobs. GM management's ultimate goal of 23
plant closures in the U.S. means the permanent loss of 80,000
union jobs.

Last month, official unemployment eased two-tenths of a point to
7.2 percent. It's reported 105,000 jobs were created. Nearly half
of these jobs--45,000--were temporary Election Day appointments
at polling places. The other new jobs are predominantly
non-union, part-time or seasonal work with little or no security
or benefits. They are primarily low paying jobs in the service
sector.

GENERAL MOTORS

Of the nine GM plants soon to close, seven produce auto parts. At
its height GM profited by producing the majority of parts used
the manufacture their own cars. Now, however, GM management is
searching the world for the cheapest auto-parts suppliers. These
are non-union plants in the U.S., Japan and other countries like
Mexico where many of the GM plants have moved.

Companies like these are able to produce low-cost parts because
of the extremely low wages they pay workers.

GM plans on "becoming a leaner company" by reducing production
capacity in the U.S. by 25 percent. They hope to make up the $5.4
billion loss they claim in the last seven quarters out of the
hides of the GM workers. Most of the planned reductions are in
the auto-parts division.

United Auto Workers member Diane Mathiowetz, who works in a
Buffalo GM auto-parts plant, told Workers World "the lay-offs
have caused tremendous anxiety among all the workers."

Mathiowetz works in a plant that is "supposedly" staying open.
"But," she said, "extensive plant closures has caused a ripple
effect because of the increased pressure on those of us left who
are forced to work harder--to produce more with fewer people.
I've been working a great deal of overtime since February and
we're looking over our shoulder the whole time."

UNITED AUTO WORKERS

The gains of unionized labor, now under attack, were won in major
struggles beginning in the 1930s.

The UAW was born out of a fierce class struggle against GM that
culminated in a series of sit-down strikes in November 1936.
Thousands of auto workers at GM plants in cities across the U.S.
refused to be victimized by low-wages, speed-ups and oppressive
working conditions. Supported by huge picket lines of thousands
of women, children and union men from all over the mid-west,
workers at four plants in Flint, Mich., initiated a crucial
sit-down strike that lasted 44 days.

GM officials, the cops, Flint's Mayor and national troops
viciously attacked the strikers and picketers. They threatened
mass murder of the sit-downers, used tear-gas and shot into the
crowds, wounding women and children. Because of the strikers
relentless strength, stamina and unity they were victorious and
the UAW was  established. It was the first big industrial union
to represent all the workers in the industry.

The Labor Department boasts that as of November only 9.2 million
people are out of work--800,000 fewer than in June. But job
security and conditions for workers won through unions like the
UAW are eroding.

Mathiowetz commented, "After Clinton was elected, the message he
gave poor and working people was to be patient, wait, give him a
chance to solve the economic problems that can't be solved
overnight. But," she said, "Clinton is not telling GM, American
Airlines or IBM to be patient and postpone laying off workers
until he solves the economy."

Mathiowetz said what workers need is to "tell Clinton we can't
wait. Poor and working people need full-time union jobs which
include benefits so we can afford the increases in food and
housing." She said, "We need to build a working class movement
capable of defeating the corporations that are gnawing at the
gains we once made."

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted
if source is cited. For more info contact Workers World, 46 W. 21
St., New York, NY 10010; "workers" on PeaceNet; on Internet:
"workers@mcimail.com".)


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