Edition
2
Truth Finders
Truth Finders are TMMK team members just like you. We are not anti-union consultants as the
UAW supporters have claimed. We are
dedicated to distributing the truth to TMMK team members so that they may make
an informed decision about the UAW.
We are confident that once you learn the facts you will agree that TMMK
should remain
The UAW supporters claim that you can get rid of the UAW
if you want. The truth is that the
UAW Constitution (section 24, page 84) strictly forbids decertification
activity. In order for
decertification to occur a decertification petition containing valid signatures
from at least 30% of affected team members must be submitted to the National
Labor Relations Board. Once the
NLRB receives and validates the petition they will schedule a decertification
election. The catch is if anyone is
caught trying to gather signatures for decertification they may be kicked out of
the union and fired from their job (see section 12, page 79 of the UAW
Constitution). The NLRB does not
become involved in the decertification process until it has been presented with
the decertification petition containing the required number of signatures. For more information please contact
the NLRB or the
The UAW
supporters complain about the elimination of PIR days but during the last year
that PIRs were available 62% of TMMK team members had perfect attendance. In other words 62% of TMMK team members
did not benefit from PIRs. EVERY
TMMK team member benefited from the additional vacation day. As far as forced PTOs are concerned
TMMK’s 2 looks real good compared to the
The UAW supporters complain about outsourcing but the
UAW recently negotiated a contract with Daimler Chrysler which allows for the
outsourcing of the entire Body Weld and Paint processes at the Jeep plant in
Toledo, Ohio. Check out: www.fightbacknews.org/2003-3-summer/auto.htm
http://lists.iww.org/pipermail/iww-news/2003-June/002416.html
www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?aricle=6718
The UAW supporters complain about injuries at TMMK but
they fail to tell you that the UAW represented workers at NUMMI, Mitsubishi and
Ford have a higher incident rate than TMMK. The incident rate at Ford-Louisville is
near 65%. TMMK’s incident rate is
BELOW the industry average.
The UAW supporters would like you to think that the Big
3 have sick days but the truth is they cover absences with vacation time just
like we do at TMMK. The Big 3 DO
NOT HAVE SICK DAYS!
The UAW supporters would like you to believe that you
vote on everything, but under the provisions of the new UAW/GM contract GM
workers may override the votes of the
www.labornotes.org/archives/2003/09/b.html
www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0309/26/a01-281928.htm
www.nrlc.org/news/2003/NRL10/uaw_backs_down.htm
The UAW supporters claim that union stewards are elected
but the elections are conducted by the UAW and the votes are counted by the UAW
(just like having the fox guard the hen house). The union supporters initial every card
they get signed so the union bosses can keep score and determine who should be
given the union steward jobs. The
union supporters will claim they initial them to facilitate returning a card in
the event someone requests their card be returned. Why can’t they mail it? The Department of Labor will not
investigate a suspected fraudulent election unless it is presented with
compelling evidence that the election was indeed corrupt. To learn more about election fraud
within the UAW check out: www.freep.com/money/business/uaw19_20000919.htm
Did you know that ALL YOUR COMPANY PROVIDED BENEFITS
CEASE THE MOMENT A STRIKE BEGINS?
Strike benefits do not begin until the SECOND week of the strike! In the case of Accuride, the UAW denied
the workers strike benefits for over a year. Check out:
www.labornotes.org/archives/2002/05/f.html
Want to see how the UAW handles a plant closure? Read comments from the UAW workers who
are affected by the closing of a Ford plant. www.labornet.net/world/0202/fordnb1.html
Remember the American Automobile Labeling Act of 1992
(AALA)? The AALA was intended to
hurt the transplant factories by forcing car companies to place an
inaccurate US/Canada content label on the window of every new vehicle. The UAW hoped that they could use the
Buy American sediment to hurt import nameplate sales by understating their
The UAW supporters claim that a contract guarantees your
wages and benefits but a contract has an expiration date. When a contract expires
everything you have (wages, benefits, retirement, your job) goes “on
the table” again. In some
instances contracts are renegotiated before they expire. Many of the major airlines recently
renegotiated their labor contracts long before they expired. The negotiations included severe wage
and benefit concessions (reductions).
CONTRACTS ARE NOT A GUARANTEE.
Some team members who signed union authorization cards
before they had all the facts or because of deceptive UAW claims and promises
have asked us for information about withdrawing their cards. Also, as most of you are aware, the UAW
supporters have resorted to threats, intimidation and harassment in an effort to
get team members to sign cards. If
you have signed a card and wish to revoke it then here is how it’s
done.
1.
Write a letter, like the sample letter below, to the UAW
International, the local UAW organizer (if known) and to TMMK’s HR
department.
2.
The letter to the UAW International and the local UAW
organizer should be sent by Certified Mail, Return Receipt
Requested.
3.
The letter to TMMK’s HR should be sent via regular mail
or hand delivered.
Date:_____________
Ron Gettlefinger, President
Bob King, Vice President
8000
Dear Sirs:
Effective
immediately, I hereby revoke and rescind any authorization card that I may have
signed seeking to have the UAW represent me for purposes of collective
bargaining with my employer.
You are now on notice that I do NOT want UAW representation, and you may
NOT count any card that I signed as evidence that I desire such
representation. Please have the
courtesy to immediately return to me, by mail, any card that I may have signed
seeking or requesting UAW representation.
Now that you are on notice of my revocation and rescission of any and all
UAW authorization cards, you must inform any “neutral” or other person or entity
authorized to count authorization cards or conduct an election, including the
NLRB, that my card is null and void, and that such card may NOT be considered as
support for the UAW in any “card check” process, any similar request for
recognition, or any certification election.
Finally, this letter revoking my authorization for UAW representation
should be deemed to be irrevocable for one year from today’s
date.
Again, I ask you to give me the courtesy of a prompt written reply to
this letter.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name (printed)
Address