Rally for Worker’s Rights April 29th
From the UNITED STEEL WORKERS
April 10, 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
As you’ve probably heard, I’ve requested that every Local in R/PIC send representatives to Charlotte, North Carolina, for an April 29 rally to demonstrate support for our Brothers and Sisters at Local 850. President Gerard is tentatively planning on attending this rally. Let me explain why.
Our Brothers and Sisters there have been under attack for more than six months. The company’s all-out assault extends far beyond our Local 850 members and retirees. If Continental Tire succeeds in imposing its “slash and burn” policy in Charlotte, it would undercut the living standards we’ve all worked to establish in every R/PIC contract.
Conti has long pursued an unfair competitive advantage in labor costs in the U.S. Now its failed business strategies are forcing it to flee the North American market. It’s bad enough that Conti is seeking drastic cuts in wages and benefits to replace our production by financing its plan to expand non-union facilities and build new plants offshore. It’s even worse that Conti is looking to run away from its pension and health care obligations to its retirees.
Flat-out, we can’t and won’t let this happen–not to our retirees and not to our active members employed in our industry. We need to stand strong together and demonstrate our Solidarity to Conti.
I strongly encourage you to bring as many people as possible to the April 29 Charlotte rally. It’s a fight that none of us can afford to lose.
Rally, hotel and contact information is enclosed.
In solidarity,
Ron Hoover
USW Executive Vice President/R/PIC
enclosure
ec/ International Officers
Executive Advisory Committee
District 9 Director Connie Entrekin
Staff Representative Larry Murray
Local 850 President Mark Cieslikowski