the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Aug 22, 2011
Ford workers had a better idea in 2009–they didn’t accept the arbitration clause. And they didn’t go along with the argument that they had no choice–because the “pattern” had been set at GM and Chrysler. They ran the top International union officials out of the plants, and the workers forced their own decision on the apparatus and on Ford management.
It’s obvious that in 2011, the UAW apparatus will try to put the Ford contract at the end–hoping to prevent Ford workers from repeating their 2009 NO vote. But why should they wait to see what the “pattern” will be at GM and Chrysler? Why should Ford workers feel bound by any “pattern” today?
The auto companies have made it clear that they intend to continue the concessions. Workers will throw those concessions back only if they prepare for a fight. That’s true at Ford, it’s true at GM, it’s true at Chrysler.
And if Ford workers prepare right now to make a fight, if they let it be known they won’t cave in, they can influence what happens at GM and Chrysler.