A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2

 
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A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Vol. 2

 A publication for Nissan workers who
 are campaigning for a fair election

                             OUR VOICE 1
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
COMMON Joins Workers
        in Campaign to Organize Nissan

          Danny Glover and Common with Nissan workers in Canton, Miss., August 3.

          G   rammy award-winning singer, actor and activist Common traveled to Canton,
              Miss., August 3rd and 4th to join his friend and fellow actor and activist Danny
          Glover in a meeting with Nissan workers who are campaigning for the right to
          organize a union free of intimidation. The two men met with and listened to
          numerous workers explain why they’re organizing a union and what the company has
          been doing to fight their unionization efforts for years. Common spoke to workers,
          student activists and community supporters on Saturday and explained that he
          believes in their fight to have a voice on the job like workers have in other auto
          plants around the world and that he will do what he can to support them.
            Common, who was invited to join in the meeting by longtime UAW supporter Glover,
          spoke directly with the workers about his feelings towards the labor/civil rights
          movement. “Earlier today I was reading my Bible and the chapter talking about God
          is love. I’m a real advocate for love and spreading love. It was talking about when
          you operate out of love, there is no fear. I see everybody that is committed to this. I
          feel love in this room. There is no fear anymore, we’re ready to stand up for what we
          believe in and stand up for justice.”
            Mr. Glover also reported to workers on his trips to South Africa and Brazil, which
          included delegations from Mississippi. He described the strong union support for
          their campaign in those countries and said the support actions included a dealership
          leafleting action by trade union activists. “It’s important to build a coalition,” said
          Glover. “Building support, whether that support is international or whether that

2 OUR VOICE
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
“I feel love in this
                    room. There is no
                  fear anymore. We’re
                  ready to stand up for
                 what we believe in and
                       stand up for
                         justice.”

support is local.” Student supporters also attended the meeting with Common and
Glover. Student Justice Alliances in support of the auto workers have been growing
throughout college campuses around the country into a national movement called
Concerned Students for a Better Nissan. Hundreds of university students have
signed up for and volunteered to work on the organizing campaign in support
of workers, including actions at auto shows, campus demonstrations and, most
recently, a student-led dealership project that includes a consumer education
campaign. The consumer education campaign is directed not at Nissan’s products,
which students say are high quality, but toward Nissan’s labor practices. Students
are asking car dealership customers to go to their website, choosejustice.com,
and support their efforts. “We are going to use all of our creative resources
to make the public aware of what is going on at Nissan, and we don’t plan on
stopping until there is justice for the Nissan worker,“ said Mississippi Student
Justice Alliance member Tyson Jackson. Workers believe having a union would
provide them a voice at the table with management and the ability to address
safety and other issues without fear of retribution from the company. “All we
want is a chance to express ourselves and address some of the issues that are
concerning us,” says Canton Nissan worker Rafael Martinez. “That‘s all we want.”
 The call is for Nissan to respect its workers and their community by:
 • Treating workers with dignity and respect. Nissan continues to deny workers in
   the Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Miss., plants a fair union election and a safe
   working environment. Nissan has intimidated workers who are interested in
   having a union and want to speak up about safety concerns.
 • Making all temp workers permanent and making their pay equal to regular
   workers. Nissan employs a high percentage of temporary workers who for
   years receive less pay, limited benefits and have no job security. Nissan
   workers in the U.S. cannot rely on weak U.S. labor laws to adequately protect
   their fundamental right to organize. Nissan workers are asking the company to
   abide by principles for a fair union election, including:
      * Prohibiting the union or employer from disparaging the other side;
      * Providing equal time and access to union supporters to speak with workers
        when the employer holds a meeting against the union on company time;
      * Prohibiting the use of coercion, threats and intimidation to prevent
        workers from exercising their right to join or refraining from joining the
        UAW.

                                                                                     OUR VOICE 3
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Carrying the Story of Injustice in
  Mississippi to a European Auto Show
 By Pastor Melvin Chapman
  The Geneva Motor Show is Europe’s
largest exposition by carmakers, and I
traveled in March with a delegation to
Switzerland to bring Mississippi’s story
to European car buyers.
  Bearing witness with me were
Reverend John Allen of the Buck
Horn Missionary Baptist Church and
two Canton Nissan workers, Chip
Wells and Michael Carter. Michael is
a 10-year employee working in the
truck department. Chip is a night
shift worker in the paint department
who has extensive travel experience
from his membership in the National
Guard for which he has traveled to
Afghanistan and Iraq, among other            Pastor Melvin Chapman (left) with Reverend John Allen in
places. Together we were able to             Geneva, Switzerland, at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
publicize Nissan’s unfair treatment of
Mississippi workers.
  As pastor of the Sand Hill Missionary Baptist
                                                          We distributed leaflets, held a press conference at
Church for almost 16 years, my role is to provide
                                                          the United Nations and delivered a letter to Nissan
moral leadership and spiritual guidance. When I
                                                          headquarters asking the company to insist that
learned from my parishioners and members of the
                                                          Nissan managers in Mississippi stop their program
community that Nissan was trying to prevent its
                                                          of intimidation and fear tactics. We wore t-shirts
workers from exercising their right to join a union,
                                                          translated into German and French telling people to
I recognized that I had to take action. I became
                                                          “look beneath the shine” of Nissan’s new cars to see
part of the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan
                                                          the fear tactics underneath.
(MAFFAN). I support the Alliance because it stands
on the side of right and justice for workers and the       We held a beautiful ceremony outside the convention
community.                                                center where the auto show was taking place. We held
                                                          hands, prayed and planted a tree to symbolize the
  I believe strongly that Nissan should not be
                                                          growth of global solidarity.
implying that if Mississippians form a union they will
stop bringing work to the plant. These kinds of scare      The response of the people we met was
tactics are wrong for Nissan workers and wrong for        heartwarming. Europeans do not believe that Nissan
the Mississippi community. Nissan works with unions       should intimidate and threaten workers to prevent
at its plants all over the world. We are not second-      them from having a union. People were shocked that
class citizens. Our workers are entitled to a voice on    this was happening in America.
the job like workers in every other nation. The right
to join a union is a civil right.                          It is a blessing to have seen how humanity all over
                                                          the world cares about injustice in our small Mississippi
 In Switzerland, we engaged in numerous activities        town. We are truly one, and justice will triumph.
to draw attention to Nissan’s conduct in Mississippi.

 4 OUR VOICE
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
NAACP Passes Resolution Calling on Nissan and Foreign
   Automakers to Give Workers a Voice on the Job
   During the NAACP’s 104th Annual Convention in            threatened or intimidated; and
Orlando, Fla., in July, delegates unanimously passed a        WHEREAS, it is problematic and a violation of human
resolution reaffirming the Association’s commitment to      and civil rights when foreign automakers operate in the
fair labor practices and calling for foreign automakers     United States and deny or suppress Americans the same
to allow employees to organize a union and engage in        union and collective bargaining rights as workers in
collective bargaining. The resolution was put forward by    Japan and other countries all over the world; and
the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP.                WHEREAS, these workers rights violations by foreign
  “The American middle class is the engine of our           automakers are most prominently occurring in the
economy and deserves fair wages and treatment in the        southern part of the United States whereby local and
workplace,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin         state governments usually give tax and other incentives
Todd Jealous. “This resolution reaffirms our commitment     to the automakers; and
to ensuring that employees of foreign automakers are          WHEREAS, workers around the country including
not treated as second-class citizens.”                      most recently Canton, Mississippi of international
  The resolution states, in part that, “…the NAACP          automaker giant, Nissan, have expressed interest in
requests that Nissan, and other foreign automakers,         being treated as workers in other countries by having
abandon their anti-union agenda and treat American          a union in order to have a voice on the job and to
workers with the same human rights to organize a union      address issues of fairness and safety; and
and engage in collective bargaining that they provide         WHEREAS, these workers are interested in setting a
around the world…”                                          precedent which would benefit workers in other states
  Support for the resolution coincided with the             by successfully forming a union as a positive step that
convention theme “We Shall Not be Moved,” and               would support their rights, show mutual respect and
discussions centered on modern day attempts to roll         aid in the company’s success through collaboration and
back the progress of the civil rights era and the efforts   partnership; and
of civil and human rights advocates to combat these           WHEREAS, Nissan-Canton, much as other foreign
efforts.                                                    automakers, has responded to the union interest
  “We are proud of this longstanding partnership with       activity by suppressing union activity, and having
the civil rights community and our shared commitment        individual and group meetings to show videos implying
to fairness for all,” said UAW President Bob King. “This    that there would be negative consequences and
sends strong message of support to the struggling Nissan    potential loss of jobs if the workers exercised their
workers in Canton who want a solution that gives them       right to unionize; thereby reducing U.S. citizens to
dignity and fairness on the job as they create quality      second class members of its international workforce.
products at the best value for customers.”                    Therefore Be It Resolved, that the National
  The resolution stems from the associations growing        Association for the Advancement of Colored People
concern about fair labor practices by foreign               reaffirm its commitment to the right to fair labor
automakers.                                                 practices and unionization by demanding that Nissan
   Here is the full text of the resolution:                 and fellow foreign automakers afford its American
                                                            workers that same employment rights as those
  2. Fairness in Labor Practices in the Auto Industry       extended to its workforce in other countries around the
        Mississippi State Conference (Unit 5632)            world; and
                 Concurred as amended                         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP requests
   WHEREAS, the National Association for the                that Nissan, and other foreign automakers, abandon
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is concerned          their anti-union agenda and treat American workers
about the growing income inequality and the decline of      with the same human rights to organize a union and
the middle class living standards in our nation; and        engage in collective bargaining that they provide
   WHEREAS, the hollowing out of the middle class is        around the world; and
directly related to the decline in unionization, since        BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP will
unions are a vehicle to turn low wage jobs into middle      work with units, community leaders, clergy, students,
class jobs; and                                             civil rights leaders and other partner organizations
   WHEREAS, the United Nations’ International Labour        to demand that Nissan and other foreign automakers
Organizations (ILO) Declaration of Fundamental              respect the workers right to a free and fair election to
Principles and Rights at Work states that the right to      unionize.
organize unions and participate in collective bargaining      Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest
is a universal human right; and                             and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its
   WHEREAS, it is the duty, responsibility and continuing   members throughout the United States and the world
mission of the NAACP to support the right of working        are the premier advocates for civil rights in their
people to freely organize unions without being              communities.
                                                                                                       OUR VOICE 5
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
UAW President Addresses Baptist Convention

               At the invitation of Rev. Dr. Isiac Jackson Jr., president of
              the Mississippi General Missionary Baptist State Convention,
              and chairperson of MAFFAN (Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at
              Nissan), UAW President Bob King addressed the Mississippi Baptist
              Convention on July 24.
                To a group of over 3000 religious and lay leaders from more
              than 300 churches, President King drew on the rich history of the
              civil rights movement to express why he believes Nissan workers
              in Mississippi will be successful in winning a fair union election.
              President King reminded the group that Dr. Martin Luther King,
              Jr. died while supporting workers on an organizing drive and
              that Dr. King always believed that the struggles for civil rights
              and economic justice were inextricably linked. President King
              explained that workers in Mississippi are making the right organize
              a civil rights issue.
                President King also pointed out that like during the civil rights
              movement, today religious organizations, community groups,
              like MAFFAN, and students are standing side-by-side with workers
              at Nissan. Religious leaders like Rev. Jackson and hundreds of
              students from dozens of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and
              Universities) in Mississippi and throughout the U.S. have been
              beside them every step of the way.
                Many of the church leaders in attendance vowed to bring
              the struggle of Nissan workers back to their congregations by
              sharing their stories from the pulpit and joining students who are
              leafleting at auto shows and Nissan dealerships.

6 OUR VOICE
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Message to Nissan:
Miss. workers deserve better
By the Rev. Dr. Isiac Jackson Jr.

      When Nissan opened its plant in Canton,             I have spoken with
     we welcomed the corporation with open               Nissan workers in

                                                                                                              CHRIS TODD
     arms, delighted for the opportunity for our         Canton. They say
     neighbors and congregants to demonstrate            they simply want to
     their outstanding skills and work ethic. We         have the same voice
     provided generous tax incentives. Hard-             at work as Nissan         Rev. Isiac Jackson Jr.
     working Mississippians dedicated themselves         workers in Japan and
     to making Nissan successful. I am learning,         across the globe.
     however, that management in the Canton              Workers believe that
     plant is not treating Mississippi employees         with a union, they will feel secure to speak up
     with the respect and fairness that Nissan           about safety, quality and ways to make Nissan
     affords its employees all over the world.           even better and more successful.
       Nissan’s conduct shows that it sees                Nissan management is aware of our
     Mississippians as second-class citizens. Nissan     community leaders’ concerns. Nissan has
     is allegedly increasingly turning to labor          reached out to me and others to ask what they
     contractors to provide “temporary” workers at       can do for the community. While it is noble that
     lower pay and with fewer benefits than Nissan’s     Nissan attempts to support financially various
     regular workforce. These temporary workers          community programs, we do not want “gifts”
     work side-by-side regular Nissan employees          and “favors.” We do not want paternalism. Our
     for years, typically doing the same jobs, but       dignity is not for sale. Our equality is not for
     without job security or ability to plan for their   sale. Our rights are not for sale.
     futures. Nissan also seems to lack concern           We are calling upon Nissan’s American
     about injured workers and pays Canton workers       management to abide by the global labor
     less than those at its other U.S. facilities.       standards widely accepted by your company
      Because of such workplace issues, Nissan           and other companies throughout the world.
     employees began efforts to join the United           I, along with other representatives of the
     Auto Workers. They see a union as a way to          pro-union Nissan workers, will continue to
     collaborate, cooperate and problem-solve with       champion this cause.
     Nissan in a positive, constructive manner. The
                                                          For too many years, the people of Mississippi
     company has fought back fiercely, implying
                                                         were denied the dignity and respect that is our
     that it would take away jobs if the workers
                                                         due as Americans and as human beings. The
     continued to stand up for their rights.
                                                         struggle for equality and fairness demanded
      Nissan recognizes and bargains collectively        sacrifice and struggle. We did not shrink from
     with unions in Japan, as well as in Mexico,         this challenge but rose to meet it.
     Russia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia,
                                                          My fellow citizens, we are on the road to
     South Africa and other locations around the
                                                         equality, but we have not yet arrived.
     world. The company has formally taken a
     position to endorse global labor standards of        Now is the time when we must summon our
     the United Nations, which call on companies         courage yet again to speak truth to power.
     to uphold the freedom of association and             The Rev. Dr. Isiac Jackson Jr. is chairperson of
     the recognition of the right to collective          the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan
     bargaining.                                         Committee.
       It is troubling that Nissan is denying workers     This was originally published in the Clarion-
     in Mississippi their rights to a fair union         Ledger. Visit clarionledger.com to see it.
     election.

                                                                                                OUR VOICE 7
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Organizing in the South

                                                                                                                      CHRIS TODD
           CHRIS TODD

By Joe Atkins for the Jackson Free Press                         “I pastor people who work at Nissan,” Bishop Ronnie
Feb. 13, 2013                                                 Crudup of the New Horizon International Church
   TOUGALOO - I’m a Catholic now, but I grew up in            told the crowd. “I’m outraged that in 2013--this is
the Pentecostal Holiness Church. My grandfather was           not 1930--intimidation and threats could be used on
a Holiness preacher. I know about revivals. Preachers         citizens in the state of Mississippi. We say to Nissan,
exhort, and people respond. They sing, they shout,            `This is unbecoming (of) you. Allow the union to give
they come to the altar and they pray.                         their side, and allow workers to hear both sides.’”
   Everything seems possible at a revival. People can            The rally at Tougaloo College--a place rich in civil-
conquer the world at a revival. They feel they’re not         rights history--was the latest community response
alone. They look around and see the spirit flowing            to the United Auto Workers’ years-long organizing
through the congregation. When it’s over, they file           effort. The Nissan plant in Canton is ground zero in its
out into the night like so many Christian soldiers            struggle to break through the wall of non-unionized,
“marching as to war.”                                         foreign-owned auto plants in the South. Success or
   That revival spirit invigorated civil-rights activists     failure could be pivotal not only to the UAW’s future
in the 1960s. Think of all the reverends who led that         but also the future of the labor movement in this
movement: Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy,            country.
Hosea Williams. The march on Selma in 1965 began in              Nissan’s worldwide workforce is largely unionized,
a church. Think of all the churches the racists burned        but CEO Carlos Ghosn has strongly resisted union
hoping to kill the movement.                                  efforts here in Mississippi and Tennessee. Workers in
   Any social movement in the South needs religion as         Canton say they’re subjected to endless anti-union
part of its DNA if it’s going to succeed. What was true       meetings with management, though Nissan has denied
for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s is true for        these allegations.
the labor movement today. Labor organizing in the                “Plant closings and layoffs are things they talk
South must be a “civil rights crusade,” Congress of           about,” Nissan worker James Brown said. “If Nissan
Industrial Organizations leader Philip Murray said many       has an anti-union video, we’re asking the UAW to show
years ago.                                                    a pro-union video. It’s not just about money. It’s about
   The spirit of revival certainly was in the air at          retirement, health care.”
Tougaloo College’s Holmes Hall Jan. 29, where a crowd            It’s also about respect and human dignity, workers
of 200 or more gathered to show support for Nissan            said at the rally. They told of arbitrary decisions by
workers seeking a union election at the giant plant           management to reduce pension benefits, change work
in Canton. Preachers, workers and activists talked of         hours, delay or eliminate pay raises, and expand the
labor rights as civil rights. A men’s choir fired things up   plant’s temporary workforce. Nissan officials insist that
with “Look, Oh Happy Day” and other songs.                    direct relations between management and employees

8 OUR VOICE
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Spotlight on a Community Supporter:
  Pastor Horace McMillon
    When you first meet Horace McMillon, pastor of the      than those from lesser
  Open Door Mennonite Church in Jackson, Miss., he          circumstances. We
  immediately impresses as someone who is poised and        need social structures
  soft-spoken, yet quietly self-confident and assured       and institutions to
  as he speaks for social justice. Once you know Pastor     give everyone broader
  McMillon’s background, you easily understand that         opportunities. Unions

                                                                                                                    CHRIS TODD
  his choice to stand with the Nissan workers seeking       can play an important
  justice is well-grounded in the real-life experiences     role in providing those        Pastor Horace McMillon
  and knowledge he has gained first hand in the world       opportunities.
  of work.
                                                              Later Horace studied at a seminary in Chicago. At
    Horace was born and raised in Omaha, Neb., and          various times he also has worked full-time at non-
  his father was a minister in the Missionary Baptist       religious jobs in order to make ends meet.
  Church. Horace earned a college degree from
  Oberlin College in Ohio. Oberlin is close to Lorain,        Along with his wife Monique and their two
  Ohio, which has seen a stark decline in steel, auto       children, Pastor McMillon came to Jackson eight
  and other manufacturing jobs over the past thirty         years ago to serve as pastor of the Mennonite Church
  years. There he saw at close range what happens           here. (His mother has since moved to Jackson,
  to a formerly thriving community when the job             also.) There are several Nissan workers in his
  base starts to erode, and he came to the conclusion       congregation and his discussions with those workers
  that for years now the American middle class has          have deepened his conviction that faith, life and
  been stagnating at best, declining at worst. His          social justice are all connected. Pastor McMillon is
  experience in higher education also convinced him         convinced that companies have social responsibilities
  that those who come from privileged backgrounds           to their workers and communities. That is why he
  have significantly better opportunities to succeed        feels compelled to take a stand for the workers.

are best, not “third party” representation by a union.      that right.
   Ironically, Mississippi’s anti-union governor,              Back in the 1930s, the lowest-paid workers in the
Republican Phil Bryant, has actually encouraged outside     southern economy--sharecroppers and tenant farmers-
(also known as “third”) parties to help prevent unions      -organized together as the biracial Southern Tenant
from coming to Mississippi auto plants, reported the        Farmers’ Union, and they won key battles in getting
Memphis Commercial Appeal.                                  plantation owners in the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta
   When the Freedom Riders arrived in Mississippi           to recognize their rights. They did this despite gun-
a half-century ago, their task to integrate what            toting vigilantes who tried to stop them.
historian James Silver called the “closed society” must        A STFU rally was like “a southern evangelical
have seemed impossible to most. Nowhere was the             revival,” Mississippi-bred historian Elizabeth Anne Payne
resistance to racial integration stiffer. To succeed they   has written. “Fiery sermons, passionate exhortations,
had to appeal to the nation’s conscience, its sense         and emotional hymns ... gave testimony about the
of right and wrong. Theirs had to be a broad social         power of the STFU in Holiness style, witnessing that the
movement that involved more than integrating a water        Holy Spirit could instantly transform lives through the
fountain or theater.                                        union.”
   To succeed, the labor movement must be about                I saw some of that spirit at Tougaloo College Jan. 29.
more than paychecks. “Human rights are worker rights,          A veteran journalist who teaches at the University
and worker rights are human rights,” Mississippi’s pro-     of Mississippi, Joe Atkins is author of “Covering for the
labor, fighting priest, Rev. Jeremy Tobin, told the crowd   Bosses: Labor and the Southern Press” and winner of
Jan. 29.                                                    the Mississippi Association for Justice’s 2011 Consumer
   Workers have a legal and a human right to                Advocate Award. His blog is laborsouth.blogspot.com.
organize, to speak as one voice across the table from       He can be reached at jbatkins@olemiss.edu.
management on issues that affect their lives. They             Reprinted with Permission
should not be intimidated and threatened for exercising
                                                                                                      OUR VOICE 9
A publication for Nissan workers who are campaigning for a fair election - Vol. 2
Solidarity in Brazil
  By Carl Patton                                                highest labor court.

                                    T   o know that
                                        people in
                                    other countries
                                                              • Gilberto Carvalho, the top secretary to
                                                                the President of Brazil, met with us at the
                                                                Presidential Palace to talk about the right to
                                    care about us and           organize a union.
                                    will take action          • One of the highlights was meeting with the
                                    on our behalf is            former president of Brazil, Lula, who had
                                    truly moving. To            previously spoken about our campaign at a
                                    see this global             UAW convention.
                                    solidarity in action
                                    is a life-changing        There was a huge amount of press coverage in
                                    experience.            Brazil of our visit. Danny Glover attracted a lot of
                                                           attention and appeared on the most popular talk show
                                         As part of a      in Brazil to speak about Nissan’s anti-union activities.
                                      delegation to
                                      Brazil, I was           We met so many awesome people who became
                                      overwhelmed          more than friends; they are our sisters and brothers.
          Carl Patton                 and inspired         They all pledged to keep a focus in Brazil on Nissan’s
                                      as hundreds          anti-union attacks in the U.S. through support
                                      of workers           activities at car dealerships and elsewhere.
demonstrated at plant gates and dealerships in support        I was fortunate to see firsthand the generosity,
of our struggle to have a free election at Nissan in       warmth and strength of the people and unions of that
Mississippi. Union leaders, workers, legislators, judges   beautiful country. I will never forget the people I was
and even the former president of the country welcomed      honored to meet who showed the true meaning of
us with open arms and pledged to carry our message         global solidarity. If working-class people everywhere
throughout Brazil.                                         stick together, there will be justice, freedom and
   Our delegation included my co-workers Morris Mock,      peace.
Wayne Walker and his wife Cherce, Mississippi NAACP
President Derrick Johnson, UAW President Bob King and
the wonderful Danny Glover. We participated in many
incredible events during our visit.                                 News Clips on JAW Spring
  To name just some of the things we did:
  • The Sao Paolo State Legislature held a seminar           FROM Financial Times March 21: In the car industry…10
                                                             of the 12 biggest companies awarded the bonuses unions
    on worker rights at which we spoke.
                                                             were asking for, which was the best result for eight
  • Over 600 Renault workers came to a rally                 years says Hidenari Hori, assistant general secretary of
    to ask Nissan to respect workers’ rights in              the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions
    Mississippi.                                             (JAW).
  • Hundreds of workers held demonstrations                  See: http://bit.ly/FinTimesMarch21
    outside Nissan dealerships in Sao Paolo.                 From The Asahi Shimbun March 14: There are signs
  • The national board of CUT, the major trade               that this year’s “shunto” spring labor negotiations are
    union federation, invited us to discuss                  shaping up to become a major turning point in the wage
    solidarity activities. We also met with                  trend in this country. The climax of the first half of the
    other union groups, including the ABC Metal              negotiations came on March 13 when many automakers
    Workers, Forca Sindical and CNTM. We’re                  and electronics manufacturers announced they will fully
    also very appreciative of the help we received           accept their unions’ demands for higher bonuses.
    from UGT federation which did a great job                See: http://bit.ly/AsahiShimbunMarch14
    mobilizing for the large dealership action,              From The Wall Street Journal March 14: TOKYO—Japan’s
    participated in other actions in Brazil and              top industrial labor unions won their biggest annual
    helped host our delegation in Brazil.                    compensation gains in years, the latest hopeful sign that
  • We spoke at a meeting of a community                     the economy is starting to pull out of its long stagnation.
    organization in Heliopolis.                              Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s largest manufacturer, said
  • Our struggle was discussed at a meeting of the

10 OUR VOICE
South Africans Embrace Us With Their Amazing Spirit
    By Betty Jones                                                                              representation.
    I was blessed to be                                                                            One of the most
  part of a delegation                                                                          heartwarming and moving
  that just returned from                                                                       experiences of my life
  an unforgettable visit                                                                        was when the workers
  to South Africa, where                                                                        literally embraced me
  the warmth and love we                                                                        with song and dance,
  received from everyone —                                                                      encouraging us to keep
  especially union members                                                                      up our struggle and never
  at Nissan — will sustain us                                                                   give up. They promised
  as we continue to stand                                                                       their full support and
  up for our rights and                                                                         pledged to do everything
  dignity.                                                                                      they can to convince the
    Our delegation included                                                                     company to allow a free
  the Reverend Dr. Isiac                                                                        union election in the
  Jackson Jr., president of                                                                     United States.
  the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN),      The South Africans organized a march and a public
  Derrick Johnson, head of the Mississippi NAACP, as well     demonstration at the Japanese embassy to publicize
  as several UAW representatives including President          the company’s attacks on worker rights in the U.S.
  Bob King. We were thrilled to be joined as well by our      I know that these warm and friendly people will
  amazing supporter and dear friend Danny Glover.             continue to engage in public actions until Nissan agrees
    There were so many incredible experiences. I spoke        to treat us equally to their unionized facilities all over
  to a large meeting of 800 workers from Nissan, who          the world.
  are members of the South African auto union, NUMSA,            We had many important meetings. We met with Nissan
  and they gave us a wonderful reception. It is incredible    management to ask them to share our concerns with the
  that the company works cooperatively with the union         company’s executives. We also met with other union
  in South Africa while implying to us in Mississippi         leaders, including leaders of the COSATU federation, the
  that we might lose our jobs if we also seek union           garment workers’ union and the soccer players’ union.
                                                              They all endorsed our campaign and will support us.
                                                              Leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) also
                                                              heard our story and offered to help. There is clearly a
Offensive Negotiations                                        strong bond between the UAW and the unions of South
                                                              Africa, because for many years the UAW was a leader in
that it would grant its workers a bonus equal to nearly       the fight against the apartheid government. The UAW
six months’ of base pay, a 15 percent increase over last      took many actions to support workers fighting for the
year’s bonus and the highest such offer in five years.        right to have unions in South Africa and to have the right
See: http://bit.ly/WSJMarch14                                 to equality and democracy.
From Japan Times March 13: Major automakers fully                We visited Lilyfields Farms where the leaders of the
accepted their unions’ bonus requests for fiscal 2013         anti-apartheid movement were arrested. The person
on Wednesday amid growing expectations of earnings            who hosted our delegation was Ahmed Kathrada, one of
recoveries on the back of the yen’s depreciation,             the ANC leaders who was arrested and put on trial with
while electronics makers told their unions they would         Nelson Mandela. He spent 26 years in prison. In 1994
maintain regular seniority-based wage increases…              he was elected to Congress in the country’s first free
Five major domestic automakers — Toyota Motor                 elections.
Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. — fully              It is almost impossible to imagine the courage and
accepted their unions’ bonus requests while Mitsubishi        perseverance of these heroic people. They suffered
Heavy Industries Ltd. did so for the first time in 16         greatly for decades but never gave up. Even after
years. See: http://bit.ly/JapanTimesMarch13                   going through so much hardship, they remain loving
                                                              and warm and positive.
From Reuters March 12: Japan Inc. to pay bigger
bonuses, cautious on higher base wages. Toyota Motor             I will never forget the people I met and their
to pay out biggest bonuses in five years.                     generous spirit. And they will always be a model to
See http://bit.ly/ReutersMarch12                              me of grace, dignity, courage and the quest for human
                                                              dignity. I will carry this spirit inside me forever and try
                                                              to live up to their inspiring example.

                                                                                                          OUR VOICE 11
The voice from within:                                                                     “Your voice is your
                                                                                            power. Use it. It
It wants to be heard but is unable,
 although it is one that everyone
                                                                                          should not be taken
should listen to because it has good and                                                 from you. Many great
meaningful things to say. It wants to rise
and say, hear me for I have information                                                  men and women right
that is practical and beneficial for all
of us. Yet again, it doesn’t have the                                                   here in Mississippi have

                                                                           CHRIS TODD
strength to carry it out. But why?
                                                                                         given their lives for us
 And how can something so powerful
remain silent?                                       Rafael Martinez                    to have a voice today.”
    Is it the fear of man?
 Is it the fear of losing a position? Is it
the fear of losing a job?
    Or is it just fear itself?
 All of us are fearful of one thing
or another. However, our voice is not one to be             and pro-union without fearing that the plant will
compromised. It’s a precious gift that should be used       close or move away. Nissan does support their own
without fear or intimidation. Moreover, how do we           workers in many countries. And those workers at
strengthen our voices? Just by reading this booklet         these plants have a voice because they recognize they
you are already taking steps to do just that.               are valuable to the company. They understand their
                                                            worth. Thus, they can help improve the company by
  Also, talk to those who openly support the
                                                            making it better, bigger, and stronger, day by day.
UAW. These individuals at NISSAN CANTON openly
identified themselves as supporters by wearing               Nissan knows how valuable you are to the company.
T-shirts, hats, pins and even wristbands. They do so        So with this in mind, it only makes good sense that
without fear or intimidation because they have come         workers in this country should have a voice similar to
to learn and understand this is their legal right. That     those in foreign lands with a voice. We will no longer
same legal right allows all of us to have a voice at        just accept but we will begin to expect, just like the
NISSAN CANTON. We cannot be denied that right. It’s         Nissan unionized workers across the world.
the law.                                                     Don’t ever let another person or company see less in
 On the other hand, all of us at NISSAN CANTON are          you than you see in your self. Understand your value,
asking the same question: Why only a $.55 cent raise        recognize your worth. You are somebody.
when the company is so profitable? And we haven’t             Therefore, we can say it doesn’t matter how much
received a raise in over five years. How is this fair?      you were making before you came to Nissan or if you
Or even justifiable?                                        came from a small town or big city, working or not
 And why does upper management at NISSAN                    working. What’s important is knowing that your voice
CANTON continue to display such a hostile attitude          is the one instrument that can bring about change
toward unions by showing negative videos about              and justice along with fairness at NISSAN CANTON.
plants closing and blaming unions, when they know             Your voice is your power. Use it. It should not be taken
that bad management is what closes plants, not              from you. Many great men and women right here in
unions?                                                     Mississippi have given their lives for us to have a voice
 Because if unions caused those plants to close             today.
then NISSAN wouldn’t have plants in Japan, Mexico,           So, how you use your voice today reflects your
Spain, Great Britain, South Africa and soon Brazil,         appreciation for what others have done for you.
just to mention a few Nissan plants that are                  Again, always remember – don’t let anyone rob you
unionized and doing very well without the fear of           by fear or intimidation of your gift to exercise the
closing.                                                    right to use your voice.
    So in view of this it is possible to be pro-Nissan       Written by Canton Nissan worker Rafael Martinez.

12 OUR VOICE
Mr. Ghosn, you’ve got mail
Global unions express dismay at Nissan’s
anti-worker activity in U.S.
                                                          Left, Nissan Workers in Barcelona, Spain, are
                                                          represented by the MCA-UGT union. They stand
                                                          with Canton Nissan workers in their fight to win
                                                          union representation. Below, Nissan workers are
                                                          represented by the MCA-UGT union in Avila, Spain,
                                                          and stand with Nissan Canton workers in their
                                                          effort to organize a union.

 From Australia to Russia, from France to Brazil,
unions far and wide that represent Nissan and
Renault workers have written letters in support of a
fair, intimidation-free union election for workers in
Canton, Miss.
 The fact is, Nissan and corporate partner Renault
recognize and bargain with unions in most countries
where they produce automobiles.                          From Spain – Manuel Garcia Salgado, the MCA-UGT
                                                        union’s national secretary:
 So why does Nissan deny Canton workers the
chance to choose representation without fear of           “On behalf of the MCA-UGT, we want to express our
reprisals? Our sister organizations from around the     serious concern with this atmosphere of fear that
world are asking the same thing.                        is being created by local management in Canton,
                                                        Miss., and we urge you to intervene so that workers
 Here are a couple of excerpts:                         in Canton can be treated in accordance with the
                                                                 values and principles that dictate Nissan
                                                                 management conduct in Japan and Europe.”
                                                                  From France – the French Metalworkers
                                                                 Unions to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn:
                                                                  “The absence of a union at the Nissan
                                                                 plant in Canton and the prevailing climate
                                                                 of fear does not allow employees to defend
                                                                 their rights. … You can thus appreciate that,
                                                                 on a human level, we are offended by such
                                                                 methods and what is more, they are contrary
                                                                 to the principles laid down by the convention
                                                                 of the International Labor Organization.”
                                                                  Source: UAW International Affairs
Manuel García Salgado, center with fist raised – who is          Department
general secretary of Spain’s largest autoworker union,
the MCA-UGT – joined labor leaders from around                    To read the full text of these letters,
the world to show solidarity with Nissan workers in              please see pages 15 and 17.
Canton, Miss. The MCA-UGT represents thousands of
Nissan and Renault workers throughout Spain.
                                                                                                   OUR VOICE 13
Unite House			               Tel: 020 7611 2500128
     Theobalds Road
     Holborn
     LONDON
     WC1X 8TN

               Bob King President
               United Auto Workers
               December 19, 2012					By Email: Bking@uaw.net

                Dear Bob
                Nissan, Canton, Mississippi
                Unite is aware of the UAW’s organising campaign at the Nissan plant at Canton,
               Mississippi and that your Union is campaigning for a fair election process and an end
               to Nissan’s bullying and intimidation of workers.
                As we are aware Nissan negotiates with Unions throughout the world, notably in
               Japan but also here in the UK.
                They also are required under European legislation to have a European Works Council
               and although our relationships with the company are not perfect, we find the attacks
               on pro Union workers at the company unacceptable.
                As you will be aware a number of UAW staff met with Unite officials and organizers
               recently in London and Unite is committed to providing assistance and advice to the
               UAW in securing successful outcome in your campaign at Canton, Mississippi.
                Nissan should respect the rights of workers wherever they are should they freely
               decide to join an independent Trade Union.
                We are happy to support your campaign and I am sure you will receive the support
               of Unite Reps at Nissan in Sunderland, UK.

                Yours in solidarity

                Tony Burke
               Assistant General Secretary

               Len McCluskey
               General Secretary				www.unitetheunion.org

14 OUR VOICE
D. Frank Torres                                                               Madrid, April 24th, 2013
V.P. NSIO
Dña. Ruth Pina
Dtra. RRHH & General Affairs
Nissan España
Madrid, a 24 de Abril de 2013

      Dear Mr. Torres and Mrs. Pina:

        We have learned of the current situation in Canton Mississippi through our Global
      Union Federation IndustriAll, and through our sister union in the United States the
      UAW. It is our understanding that Nissan management is engaged in a campaign of
      intimidation against workers who would like to hold a union representation election
      at the plant.
       This company campaign includes Nissan holding (captive audience) meetings in
      which anti-union videos are shown and where implied threats are made that the
      plant will close if the company is forced to engage in the collective bargaining
      process.
       These tactics of intimidation run counter to the principles established by ILO
      Convention Number 87 in 1948 including the freedom to form a union, and ILO
      Convention Number 98 which reiterates the right to freely form a union and
      collectively bargain(with one’s employer). (The fore-mentioned tactics) also violate
      OECD guidelines. (Consequently), on behalf of the MCA-UGT, we want to express
      our serious concern with this atmosphere of fear that is being created by local
      management in Canton Mississippi and we urge you to intervene so that workers in
      Canton can be treated in accordance with the values and principles that dictate
      Nissan management conduct in Japan and Europe.

      Sincerely,

      Javier Urbina							Manuel García Salgado
      Director of International Affairs				 National Secretary

                                                                                         OUR VOICE 15
Dear Mr. Bob King,
      President
      The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of American (UAW)

      Firstly, we JAW and the Federation of All Nissan and General Workers’ Unions (Nissan Roren) would
      like to express our respects to UAW for your activities so far to protect the workers’ rights in the
      United States.
      With regard to the organizing of Nissan Canton Plant by UAW, JCM, JAW and Nissan Roren have
      conducted various activities in collaboration with President Bob King and UAW members since
      December 2011.
      Our stance on the organizing of Japanese businesses in foreign countries is universal as follows,

      1. Workers should be organized. To protect worker’s rights, unity among workers is indispensable. It
         is through constructive labor-management relations that we achieve healthy development of the
         company, industry, and fair society.

      2. When workers are organized, they should be able to make decisions based on their own will, in a
         democratic manner, without being interfered by any third party.

      3. When works are organized, the labor union that organizes them should be members of IndustriALL.

      Based on the above stance, we believe that organizing at Nissan’s Canton Plant should be conducted
      by UAW, a member of IndustriALL.
      We will continuously negotiate with the management of Nissan HQ that the above contents will be
      thoroughly realized and the local management will maintain a neutral and fair position at Nissan’s
      Canton Plant.
      We declare our solidarity to UAW as above and continue to provide support to realize fair organizing
      in close collaboration with each other.

      In solidarity,
      June 19, 2013

      Yasunobu Aihara, President
      Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ (JAW)

      Akira Takakura, President
      Federation of All Nissan and General Workers Unions (Nissan Roren)

16 OUR VOICE
Boulogne Billancourt, on December 5, 2012
                                                                                         Mr. Carlos Ghosn
Mr. President,                                                                       CEO-Chairman Nissan

  The UAW has called our attention on the situation existing at NISSAN CANTON (Mississippi) relating to
the situation of the workers in this plant and, in particular, with respect to their right to freedom of
association.
  We were invited to visit Canton, and those of us who were able to respond to this invitation spoke
directly to a number of workers of the plant. The numerous exchanges between the workers and the
French unions highlighted the many pressures exercised by local management as well as the methods of
intimidation directed against the workers to discourage them from requesting elections that could allow
the presence of a trade union of their choice in their plant.
  As such, many voiced compulsory “one-on-one conversations with their managers...”, during which it
was stated that there could “... be serious consequences ...”, if they sign “the card, the legal document”
that could allow them to hold an election. There are constant references to UAW plant closings, which
imply to Nissan workers that their plant will close if they chose the UAW. Videos have also been projected
in which there is real anti-union propaganda, which workers cannot escape as soon as there is a hint of
advocacy for the presence of a union in their plant. Some workers at Nissan feel compelled to wear anti-
union T-shirts on which is inscribed: “If you want a union, go back to Detroit.” Also, the workers supporting
the union have been denied equal time during work hours to counter company anti union meetings held
during work hours. Unfortunately, this list is not exhaustive.
  You can thus appreciate that, on a human level, we are offended by such methods and what is more,
they are contrary to the principles laid down by the Convention of the International Labor Organization No.
87 of 1948 concerning the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, the provisions
of ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, and the guiding principles of
the OECD.
  You are the CEO of Nissan and also that of Renault, groups to which you are committed through the
signing of the “Declaration of the RENAULT Group’s Employees Fundamental Rights” which is currently
being renegotiated. There is nothing that should call into question the fundamental freedoms, both for
employees of Nissan or Renault.
  The absence of a union at the Nissan plant in Canton and the prevailing climate of fear does not allow
employees to defend and negotiate their rights. In the current state of affairs and contrary to initial
commitments, local management discontinued certain pension benefits and replaced them with a 401k. It
also announced that, after the end of the year, the current medical coverage for retirees will be replaced
with a vastly inferior plan.
  To explain more precisely the situation that the workers at the Nissan plant are facing and to quickly find
a solution, we would like to meet with you as soon as possible.
 We look forward to your response.

Pour la CFDT                Pour FO                      Pour la Cgt                  Pour la CFE-CGC
Fred Dijoux                 Laurent Smolnick             Fabien Gâche                 Dominique Chauvin

                                                                                                 OUR VOICE 17
Brazilian unionists intensify campaign against
             anti-union practices of Nissan in the U.S.
  In a press conference,
leaders of three unions
announced new actions
in defense of American
workers, prevented from
organizing themselves
into their union, the UAW.

  In a press conference on
the morning of Tuesday,
March 12, the president
of the CUT, Vagner
Freitas, made it clear
that the trade union will
not tolerate disrespect
for workers’ rights

                                                                                                                        PHOTOS: UGT
anywhere in the world.
                                Above: Brazilian trade unionists hold banners at a
The statement was made
                                Nissan dealership in Brazil in support of Nissan workers
in the interview he gave,
along with Secretary
                                in the U.S. Right: UGT President Ricardo Patah speaks
General and International
                                to the unionists at the Nissan dealership.
Relations of the National
Confederation of                          them by implying that it will close    economic insecurity in the family and
Metalworkers of CUT John Cayres           the plant in Canton, Mississippi if    in the region.
and UGT unions and union workers,         workers  vote  for union membership.
                                                                                   John Cayres stated that the
to denounce the anti-union practices      The bosses are also meeting with
                                                                                 initiative of the Brazilian unionists
of Japanese automaker Nissan in the       metalworkers to pressure them. In
                                                                                 is part of this global campaign of
unit installed in the city of Canton,     a video produced by the automaker
                                                                                 the UAW, whose launch took place
in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The     for workers, the vice president of
                                                                                 in January in Mississippi and he and
direction of Nissan is preventing         corporate communications, David
                                                                                 the president of CUT participated,
employees of that unit from joining       Reuter said that “there is no union at
                                                                                 along with representatives of the
the labor union, the UAW (United          this company.”
                                                                                 parliament, civil organizations,
Auto Workers), by means of various          In the U.S., unionization is         universities and the arts. “It is
types of threats and intimidation.        guaranteed only if 50% plus one of     inconceivable that in a country
  After the conference, Vagner            the employees of a company vote           that considers itself the cradle of
Freitas, John Cayres, President           for representation, through a secret      democracy workers can not even join
of GWU, Ricardo Patah, and the            ballot. In order to get a free and fair   the union because their bosses do not
secretary general of the Union Force,     election, the UAW launched a global       leave,” said the general secretary
John Carlos Gonçalves (Juruna),           campaign against the anti-union           of International Relations and CNM /
signed letter to senior leaders of the    attitudes of the automaker, which has     CUT.
                                          used a variety of tactics to prevent
automaker, demanding that Nissan
                                          workers at Nissan from forming a
                                                                                                New visit
honor its commitment to respect                                                       The leader of CUT also stated
freedom of international trade union      union. According to officials, several
                                                                                    that he had signed a letter to
organization, fulfilling the principles   factors contribute to increasing
                                                                                    management asking it to allow union
of the Global Compact of the United       climate of fear at the automaker,
                                                                                    representatives to attend meetings
Nations and the ILO Declaration of        including: workers have no union
                                                                                    with the workers inside the company,
Fundamental Principles and Rights at      representation, have no collective
                                                                                    and that Nissan issue a statement
Work.                                     bargaining agreement, wages are low,
                                                                                    assuring employees who opt for
                                          working conditions poor, much of the
Campaign against threats                  staff is temporary - the employee
                                                                                    membership in the UAW that their
 To prevent the organization of                                                     rights will be respected without any
                                          does not know how long he/she will
workers, Nissan has threatened                                                      kind of retaliation. “Nissan’s anti-
                                          be used, which further fuels the

18 OUR VOICE                                                         UGT, CUT and Forca Sindical continued on page 19
We will not tolerate anti-union practices or
         disrespect for the rights of workers at Nissan
This was the message from Brazilian unionists, who               and to denounce the human rights violations of this
united in defense of the workers’ drive at Nissan in             metalworkers unit of Nissan.
the U.S. Written by: Marize Muniz                                 The leaders in their speeches highlighted the solidarity

T   he president of the CUT, Vagner Freitas, Brazilian           of Brazilian workers to U.S. workers and the need to
    unionists and others who participated on Tuesday, March      universalize the rights of workers to global fairness.
12, in São Paulo, in a press conference to denounce the            The president of the CUT was emphatic: “we do not
attacks of the Japanese automaker Nissan against workers         agree with anti-union practices anywhere in the world.
of the unit installed in the city of Canton, in the U.S. state   If Nissan can do this in the U.S., it can do it in any other
of Mississippi, made clear they will not tolerate disrespect     country. “
for workers’ rights anywhere in the world.                         Vagner noted that Nissan is building a plant in Resende,
  After the conference in which they denounced the               in Rio de Janeiro, and, here, the labor movement is
intimidation tactics used by Nissan U.S. to prevent workers      united to demand that workers’ rights are respected.
form organizing and fighting for their rights, Vagner, the        “We will not accept anti-union practices in Brazil and
president of GWU, Ricardo Patah, the Secretary General           we do not accept them in the U.S. Every trade union
of the Union Force, John Carlos Gonçalves, and Secretary         movement will be in Resende if this happens, “concluded
General CNM-CUT, John Cayres, signed a letter of support         the director.
for workers. In the document, the unions demand that
the automaker respect international standards that                Also participating in the conference were
guarantee freedom of union organization. The company’s           representatives of the UAW (United Auto Workers) union
management is preventing the organization of workers             representing U.S. autoworkers, Rafael Messias Guerra and
with threats. According to the leaders, the salaries of          Ginny Coughlin
many workers in Canton are very low, a large percentage                                  HISTORY
of workers are temporary and the union has limited rights          In January this year, the president and the Treasury
when it comes to representing employees in this category.        secretary general of the CNM-CUT attended meetings with
 They also announced the visit of a Brazilian delegation         the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN)
to Mississippi to support the struggle of the workers of the     to denounce the violation of human rights by the
carmaker. A delegation led by the President of Central CUT,      metalworkers unit of the Japanese manufacturer Nissan
was in the U.S. earlier this year to attend meetings with        installed in the city of Canton, Mississippi, USA.
the “Mississippi Alliance for Fariness at Nissan (MAFFAN)”,      Disrespect for workers at Nissan continued on page 22

UGT, CUT and Forca Sindical continued from page 18
union practices have lasted more than 18 months, so we call on
the Company to allow the UAW to have the same time to inform
workers about their rights guaranteed internationally,” said Cayres.

 At the press conference this morning, the union announced that
a Brazilian delegation will go to Mississippi to expand support for
the struggle of the metalworker. The leaders also stressed the
solidarity of the Brazilians and the Americans, and the need to
universalize the rights of workers to global fairness.

 “We do not agree with anti-union practices anywhere in the              Above: (L-R) John
                                                                         Cayres (CNM/CUT),
world,” emphasized Vagner Freitas, noting that Nissan is building a
                                                                         Vagner Freitas (CUT),
plant in Resende (RJ) and here that the union movement is united         Ricardo Patah (UGT),
to demand that workers’ rights are respected.                            Carlos Gonsalves
                                                                         (Forca Sindical).
 Also participating in the conference were Rafael Messias Guerra         Lower right: John
and Ginny Coughlin, UAW representatives in Brazil.                       Cayres participating
                                                                         in the activities of the
 (Source: Marize Muniz - National Treasury and the Holy Spirit           UAW campaign launch
Solange - CNM / CUT)                                                     in January.
                                                                                                               OUR VOICE 19
remain in this situation for years,
                                                                                  receiving half the pay of permanent
                                                                                  employees, and not having the same
                                                                                  benefits, including not having fixed
                                                                                  and fair working hours.

                                                                                   “Here in Brazil, workers are
                                                                                  protected by labor legislation that
                                                                                  should be improved and deepened,
                                                                                  but is still advanced. Temporary
                                                                                  workers can only be hired for a
Quote translation: “Open your mouth in favor of change, for                       maximum of 90 days, and after that
                                                                                  must be hired permanently or laid
the cause of all those who suffer. Open your mouth; judge
                                                                                  off,” explained Lucena.
righteously; and create justice for the poor and those who
                                                                                    Workers at Nissan-Mississippi are
need it.” Proverbs 31:8-9                                                         trying to organize a union, to open a
March 28, 2013 ­— Translation from Portuguese                                     discussion with management about
                                                                                  their rights and working conditions.
 Congressman Lucena reports on the situation                                      However, the local management of
                                                                                  the automaker has used a variety
    of Nissan workers in Mississippi (USA)                                        of tactics to prevent workers from
                                                                                  exercising their right to organize.
                                                                                  “Workers are pressured, have their
                                                                                  jobs threatened and even receive
                                                                                  implied threats that Nissan will close
                                                                                  the plant if they organize themselves
                                                                                  into a union. And these jobs are,
                                                                                  after all, some of the best paying
                                                                                  jobs in the state.”

                                                                                    For Roberto de Lucena, the right to
                                                                                  decent work should be an inalienable
                                                                                  right, constitutionally guaranteed.
                                                                                  “This attack on workers at Nissan is
                                                                                  absolutely horrendous,” he said.

                                                                                    According to the Congressman,
                                                                                  the struggle for civil rights, human
                                                                                  rights and workers’ rights is no

A   s part of a delegation of the
    General Union of Workers (UGT),
Congressman Roberto de Lucena
                                         plant in Canton.

                                           “Mississippi is one of the poorest
                                                                                  longer a local matter but a struggle
                                                                                  for everyone, everywhere in the
                                                                                  world: “We need to join hands across
                                         states in the U.S. It has had the
(Green Party-Sao Paulo) visited the                                               borders, and fight globally to end
                                         lowest per capita income in the
United States on an official visit                                                injustice and inequality.”
                                         country and is emblematic of the
representing the Brazilian House of
                                         struggle for civil rights and other        The Congressman said that the UGT
Representatives, March 17-22. Rep.
                                         social struggles. There we witnessed     is engaged in the Global Campaign
Lucena is also a vice president of the
                                         the struggle of workers at Nissan,”      led by the UAW and the Nissan
UGT. The congressman visited the
                                         said Lucena.                             workers to demand that the Japanese
City Council of Jackson, Mississippi’s
capital, as well as the State Capitol.                                            company, one of the largest and
                                          The Japanese automaker Nissan,
Lucena also participated in a meeting                                             most important in the world, respect
                                         whose global president Carlos
of union leaders led by UGT President                                             workers’ rights in Mississippi. “They
                                         Ghosn is Brazilian, faces a serious
Ricardo Patah, with leaders of the                                                love their jobs and they love Nissan.
                                         problem at its factory in the state of
UAW, a major labor union in the                                                   They are pro-union and pro-Nissan.
                                         Mississippi. The plant has about 4,500
United States, led by President Bob                                               They just want to organize and be
                                         employees, a large percentage of
King, and with workers at Nissan’s                                                respected by this great company,”
                                         which are temporary workers. Many
                                                                                  concluded Lucena.
20 OUR VOICE
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