View Full Version : UAW halts free parking for reservists.
Marines at nearby Marine Corps Reserve Center say on Tuesday morning, the director of security at the UAW told them that while they support the troops, Marines driving foreign vehicles or sporting a President George Bush bumper sticker were no longer welcome to park there
UAW parking lot off limits to reservists (http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/0,2132,WXYZ_15924_3608005,00.html)
I am not exactly fond of unions but realize they have a purpose. But this is pathetic. I am sure all the UAW members can afford nice, shiny new American made cars, but a little latitude towards reservists serving this nation is not asking too much.
This appears to be from a BLOG. Has anyone SNOPed it out?
NousDefionsDoc
03-15-2005, 06:55
UAW Now Says Marines Can Park In Lot
Foreign Cars, Bush Bumper Stickers Previously Not Welcome
POSTED: 7:01 pm EST March 14, 2005
UPDATED: 7:17 pm EST March 14, 2005
After telling Marine reservists who drive foreign vehicles or display pro-President Bush bumper stickers they no longer could use a parking lot at the United Auto Workers headquarters, union officials have changed their minds.
The union, which has offices near a Marine Corps Reserve Center in Detroit, reversed its decision after some people said it reflected a lack of support for the Marines and the service of reservists.
"I made the wrong call on the parking issue and I have notified the Marine Corps that all reservists are welcome to park at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement released by the union.
Gettelfinger noted that he had served in the Marine Corps Reserves.
Officials for the Marine Corps Reserve Center could not immediately be reached for comment.
The UAW has a history of barring foreign-made cars from its lots.
Complete Statement From UAW
Here is the statement that Local 4 received Monday by UAW President Gettelfinger on Marine Reservists parking at UAW headquarters.
"I have reconsidered and reversed my decision not to allow Marine reservists to park non-union made vehicles or vehicles displaying Bush stickers at Solidarity House on weekends.
"Some people may have thought my orginal decision reflected a lack of support for the Marine Corps and the service of Marine reservists.
"That certainly was not my intention. Having served in the Marine Corps Reserves myself, I fully appreciate the sacrifices and contributions made by America's reservists, National Guard members and active duty military personnel and their families.
"That said, I made the wrong call on the parking issue, and I have notified the Marine Corps that all reservists are welcome to park at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years.
"I regret that the controversy over this decision has overshadowed the many good things the UAW and our members are doing to support and express our appreciation to America's service men and women and veterans."
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/4284497/detail.html
The Reaper
03-15-2005, 08:30
Wonder how he would feel if the Marine Corps made a decision to buy only non-UAW assembled vehicles, or to not protect people who voted for Kerry?
What an assclown.
TR
Team Sergeant
03-15-2005, 08:44
This appears to be from a BLOG. Has anyone SNOPed it out?
This has hit major news media nation wide. It would appear that the UAW has stepped on its crank.
The US Marines back down from no one, not even the UAW. :rolleyes:
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=uaw
Dominic Roti, a 64-year-old Farmington retiree who worked 37 years for Chrysler, credits the UAW with setting the benchmark for America's standard of living.
"They're the ones who are putting bread on the table," Roti said. "We're accustomed to live a certain way. ... You have a car to go from work, to home, to the stores -- not like in a lot of European countries. ... The UAW made it that way for us. We're thankful to them."
What have you done for us lately, say in the last 40 or so years?
This shows how short-sighted some people can be. SA sucked on this incident. I'm giving the guy in charge a no-go.
The union has no idea how precarious their situation is. Stocks are down and they pull this shit.
Stupid.
Assclowns is right.
Doc
Agreed. And unions wonder why they are having such a hard time nowadays?
Let's see... who's going to win (in the court of public opinion or any other comparison), the United Auto Workers, or the United States Marine Corps? That's a tough one. :lifter
NousDefionsDoc
03-23-2005, 14:12
By Eric Mayne
Special to the Marine Corps Times
DETROIT - The United Auto Workers union waved a white flag March 14 in its parking skirmish with neighboring reservists. But leathernecks with 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, are not accepting surrender.
Facing intense criticism, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger reversed his decision to ban Marine reservists from driving foreign cars or displaying pro-President Bush bumper stickers from parking at the union's Solidarity House headquarters in Detroit.
"I made the wrong call on the parking issue, and I have notified the Marine Corps that all reservists are welcome to park at Solidarity House as they have for the past 10 years," Gettelfinger said in a statement.
Wounded by what they consider an unpatriotic ambush, the Marines rejected the union's olive branch and secured an alternative parking lot.
"I talked to Ron; I let him know that I understand he has rescinded his decision," said Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge, commanding officer of the battalion's active-duty instructors. "However, I've made my decision - either you support the Marines or you don't."
The UAW has a long-standing policy prohibiting nonunion-made vehicles from the parking lots at its plants and meeting halls.
Until recently, the union made an exception for the Marines who parked at Solidarity House on weekends. The battalion's headquarters is nearby.
While both sides say the dispute has been overblown, it revealed the depths of the UAW's antipathy toward the Bush administration and its concern over the rise of foreign automakers in the U.S. market.
Gettelfinger and other top UAW International officials say Bush is blatantly anti-labor and has opposed measures that could have benefited working men and women.
UAW leaders backed Democratic challenger John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards in last year's election.
The UAW's March 14 reversal followed a barrage of criticism from both union members and nonunion members. The dispute became instant fodder for such Web sites as The Drudge Report and various radio programs.
The Detroit News, after reporting the story, received hundreds of e-mails starting March 13 about the controversy, the majority criticizing the UAW's decision.
"I have never belonged to the unions, but I've always bought [domestic] brand cars," said Jenny Pulcerm, 74, of Harrison Township. "Right now, I'm driving a Chrysler. But the next car will definitely not be union-made."
Outside the Marine reservists' headquarters, it wasn't hard to find signs of hard feelings.
A Chevrolet pickup truck marked as a Toyota parked in front of a phalanx of military Humvees sported three bumper stickers. One touted "Semper Fi," the second was a Bush/Cheney campaign sticker and the third an anti-UAW sign.
The UAW decision to ban Marines struck a nerve with many who say U.S. armed forces deserve more respect, especially during a time of war.
And certainly, some said, Marines should be able to support their commander in chief without facing repercussions.
"The Marines who fought at Iwo Jima - including yours truly - and those who are now in Iraq, took an oath to defend this country and its citizens," said Russ Paquette, an 87-year-old lawyer from St. Clair Shores and former commanding officer of 1/24. "There is nothing in the oath which indicates that we Marines will only fight for citizens who drive certain automobiles, or who voted in the last election for a certain president."
Gettelfinger, himself a former Marine reservist, said his initial decision should not be viewed as a lack of support for the military.
"That certainly was not my intention. ... I fully appreciate the sacrifices and contributions made by America's reservists, National Guard members and active-duty military personnel and their families," his statement said.
Gettelfinger also acknowledged that the decision reflected poorly on the UAW, which historically has supported the U.S. military.
"The controversy over this decision has overshadowed the many good things the UAW and our members are doing to support and express our appreciation to America's servicemen and women and veterans," he said.
Some supported Gettelfinger's call.
"It took a lot of guts," said Phil Davis, a 58-year-old real-estate agent in Tampa, Fla. "It was based on principle."
Dominic Roti, a 64-year-old Farmington retiree who worked 37 years for Chrysler, credits the UAW with setting the benchmark for America's standard of living.
"They're the ones who are putting bread on the table," Roti said. "We're accustomed to [living] a certain way. You have a car to go from work, to home, to the stores - not like in a lot of European countries. The UAW made it that way for us. We're thankful to them."
But many of those who weighed in said the episode changed their opinion of the UAW. Bill Reiber of Vista, Calif., whose son is serving in Iraq, is trading in his Chevrolet S-10 pickup for a vehicle made by a foreign automaker.
"I'm looking at the Toyota Tacoma," he said. "What [the UAW] did, it just wasn't right. These are Marines, and they have a right, like anybody else in America, to express their First Amendment rights."
Rutledge said he's anxious to get past the dispute and get back to business. Owners of a nearby apartment complex agreed to allow reservists to park on their premises.
"I know people are incensed by this thing," Rutledge said, "but in the big scheme of things, what I do is train Marines, and I'm preparing these guys to go overseas."
Eric Mayne is a staff writer for The Detroit News.
The Reaper
03-23-2005, 14:48
Can you say declining market share, poor quality, shoddy assembly, increased costs of production, and layoffs?
Well done, UAW leadership.
TR
Bravo1-3
03-23-2005, 16:44
By Eric Mayne
"I have never belonged to the unions, but I've always bought [domestic] brand cars," said Jenny Pulcerm, 74, of Harrison Township. "Right now, I'm driving a Chrysler. But the next car will definitely not be union-made."
Chances are, if that Chrysler was made in the last 5-6 years, that it was made in Canada (Minivans, 300m's, 300C's, Intrepids, Stratus and Neon) or Mexico (PT Cruiser and a good portion of the pre-assembly)... so a lot of good the UAW does there!
On the other side of the coin, about half of the cars sold in the US by Honda, Toyota, BMW, Nissan and Mazda are made in the United States, by Non-Union Labor. Time for the UAW to get their heads out of their asses.
Team Sergeant
03-23-2005, 17:03
"I talked to Ron; I let him know that I understand he has rescinded his decision," said Lt. Col. Joe Rutledge, commanding officer of the battalion's active-duty instructors. "However, I've made my decision - either you support the Marines or you don't."
Well said LTC Rutledge!
Well said.