BY TIM MAILHOT
DETROIT - Eighty members of the United Steelworkers of
America (USWA) on strike against Titan Tire traveled here for a
day of activities May 20 to publicize their fight against the
union busting efforts of company president and CEO Maurice
Taylor, Jr. A busload of strikers came from Local 164 in Des
Moines, Iowa, where workers have been striking since May 1,
1998, and another from Local 303L in Natchez, Mississippi, on
strike since September. They were joined by 25 members of the
Workers Justice Committee, composed of members of the unions
who struck the Detroit News and Free Press in July 1995, and
other unionists from the Detroit area.
The center of the day's activities was the annual shareholders meeting of Titan International, the parent company of Titan Tire. Early in the morning the unionists gathered in the parking lot of USWA District 2 offices before heading over to the shareholders meeting. Fighters from the two striking locals also had time to renew friendships and update each other on their strikes.
Carl Minor, a 10-year veteran of the Natchez plant, commented, "The unity keeps me going, even when we're sitting in buses 10, 12, 14 hours, leaving our families behind. I know we will succeed. Taylor's just a thug businessman."
The USWA International has been targeting the shareholders to convince them that Taylor's union-busting strategy is destroying their investments. For the first time, Titan International lost money in the fourth quarter of 1998. In addition, its first quarter 1999 pre-tax income is down more than 98 percent compared to 1998.
Security guards unsuccessfully tried to prevent the unionists from entering. About 120 workers walked into the room, surrounding the handful of regular stockholders in attendance. A stockholder in Titan International had signed over a share to each unionist so they could gain access.
Following opening comments from Taylor on how Titan's prospects were looking up for the rest of the year, the boss opened the floor for questions. Strikers immediately began asking why Taylor is dragging his feet on negotiating a contract when he could settle and get experienced workers back on the job. Taylor answered by attacking the negotiating committee as liars and union members as fools.
Leo T. Bradley, president of the USWA local in Natchez, was given the microphone by Taylor to address the shareholders about their strike. After a few minutes, Taylor became agitated, accused him of lying, and tried to take the microphone away, shouting "This is my meeting!"
As strikers continued to press him to answer their questions and quit lying to the shareholders, Taylor became more agitated. Finally he stalked out the door, ending the meeting.
The unionists next held a noisy picket outside the offices of MascoTech Inc., the largest shareholder in Titan International. After lunch, they visited Grosse Pointe Farms, a private gated community outside Detroit where Taylor has a house. With picket signs in hand, the strikers and their supporters marched in for another picket line, only to be stopped by private cops a few houses short of reaching Taylor's. The strikers marched out blowing whistles and chanting, "Hey Morry, this is your wake up call. Settle up now!" An impromptu rally was then held on the highway in front of the entrance to the private community, drawing the attention of local cops and honks from supporters passing by.
Tim Bartlett, a mill room worker with 11 years in the Des Moines plant, summed up the day's efforts this way: "I think he [Taylor] knows where we stand now, that it's not just John Peno [Local 164 president]. If we don't do something, our kids will have it like it was in the 1930s and '40s. Going back is not an option."
Tim Mailhot is a member of USWA Local 310 in Des Moines.