The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.43           December 8, 1997 
 
 
Auto Parts Workers Strike For Better Pay  

BY BOB MILLER
NEWARK, New Jersey - Workers at Mackie Automotive Systems plants in Arlington, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are on strike seeking substantial wage increases, improvements in benefits and working conditions. The 250 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 129 in Arlington walked out at midnight, the morning of November 18, while the 91 members of UAW Local 286 in Oklahoma City set up picket lines at 5 a.m. the same day.

The parts workers' strike has hampered production at General Motors assembly plants in the two cities, causing production cutbacks and delays. GM workers in Arlington, members of UAW Local 276, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that they built 150 trucks November 18 and 115 then next day, instead of the usual 480 over two shifts.

"I think we're making a tremendous impact," Local 129 striker Mark Alfano said. Jim Neal, a forklift operator and member of Local 286 in Oklahoma City explained, "I believe we're fighting for what is fair, and the issues, such as wages and benefits, haven't been done. But I'm willing to stay out here as long as it takes."

The UAW called its action as an unfair-labor-practice strike, charging that Mackie has refused to bargain. Local 286 member Laurene Ross, who works as a mirror sequencer, said union members support the strike. "We've been negotiating since June. I hope it's only for a short time, but I'm here or the duration."

Workers at Mackie earn between $6.50 and $7.50 an hour and are demanding $12 to $15 an hour. "Maybe Mackie thinks that because we make $6.65 an hour we don't know any better. But they're mistaken," Trevor Cooper pointed out. Another key demand is full-time employment for temporary workers.

The Mackie facility in Arlington opened earlier this year as GM converted its assembly plant there from car to truck production and moved to "outsource" work. Wages at the GM plant are $20 an hour. The Arlington Mackie plant was organized into the UAW in August. The strikers are fighting for their first negotiated union contract, as are the members of Local 286 in Oklahoma City. Jim Banks, president of Local 286, said health and safety issues led to the strike.

Various parts are processed into subassemblies at the Mackie plant and sent to GM in the sequence they are matched with the vehicle. Radios and door mirrors are sequenced at the Oklahoma City plant, and bumpers and dashboards in Arlington. Since the parts are delivered on a "just-in-time" basis, the strikes had an immediate effect on the GM plants. The GM workers are supportive of the strike. "If you're union, you're union," said Kevin Kittrell, a second shift worker at the Arlington GM plant.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that on November 18 "at least 100 workers were picketing the plant ... braving the chill to demonstrate their newfound solidarity."

Bob Miller is a member of UAW Local 980 in Edison, New Jersey.

 
 
 
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