NUMMI Workers to Hit the Streets

Workers, union leaders, community members and politicians will hold a rally on Thursday to support efforts to keep the New United Motor  Manufacturing, Inc. vehicle assembly plant open.

A Japanese newspaper reported over the weekend the plant would close in March of next year and that sparked the planning of the protest. 

Toyota, which is still making Toyota Corolla cars and Toyota Tacoma trucks at the Fremont facility, has said that it is also considering  withdrawing from the joint venture but that a final decision hasn't yet been  made.

TC Wilson, the interfaith and mobilization director for the Central Labor Council of Alameda County, said Wednesday that the rally will be  held from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at United Auto Workers Local 2244 headquarters  at 45201 Fremont Blvd. in Fremont, across the street from the NUMMI plant.

NUMMI, which employs about 4,700 people, is a 25-year-old joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. GM announced in June that it would  withdraw from the partnership.

UAW Local 2244 officials said in a statement that their members have been producing high-quality cars and trucks for GM and Toyota at the  NUMMI facility plant for 25 years.

They said the plant has won praise for its high productivity and quality, green innovation and cooperative labor-management relations.

UAW Local 2244 Bargaining Chair Javier Contreras said, "If they're  going to sell vehicles here - and Toyota sells a lot of them in California - they ought to build them here."

Bay City News

Contact Us