UAW, GM slash workers’ wages by half at Michigan plant

Original article, UAW, GM slash workers’ wages by half at Michigan plant, by Tom Eley via World Socialist Web Site:

Setting a new wage-cutting precedent, the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Sunday announced that 40 percent of current workers at the General Motors Lake Orion plant will work at about $14 per hour, half the standard wage, once the temporarily idled Michigan factory begins production on a new line of small cars.

And so it continues. The blood-sucking ownership of GM continue to drain from their workers' pockets to enrich themselves. On top of it all, the UAW has become a company union. Period.

This marks the first time that the $14 per hour wage, which was broadly imposed on new hires through the Obama administration’s reorganization of the auto industry last year, will be forced upon existing workers. Workers with 11 years or less of seniority—about 500 of the plant’s 1,300 workers—will reportedly be relegated to the “Tier Two” category

Did the workers, whom the UAW exists to serve their interests, get to vote on the deal? No! The UAW worked hand-in-hand with the ownership, of which they are part. Now you can understand why Ford workers voted against a similar contract, against the wishes of the UAW.

The deal is based on vague language in the 2009 labor contract—forced on members with the threat of bankruptcy—that allows GM and the UAW to administer “innovative labor agreement provisions” related to the production of small cars. Obama’s Auto Task Force reportedly insisted on the provision as a condition of the auto bailout.

I'll let you read the rest of the article. Expect more of this, and don't expect any help from the Obama administration. Without the right to strike during the next contract negotiation, GM and Chrysler workers can only look forward to more draconian cuts to their wages and benefits, while the owners (including the UAW) seek to pad their wallets and pocketbooks. It will be interesting to see how the Ford negotiations pan out.

Millions march in France against austerity as opposition to Sarkozy grows

Original article, Millions march in France against austerity as opposition to Sarkozy grows, by Antoine Lerougetel via World Socialist Web Site:

The growing mass opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension cuts was expressed Saturday on the streets of France—between a million and 3 million people participated in 240 demonstrations throughout the country.

Compare this to the perhaps 100,000 who were in Washington on Saturday. Also not that the protests were not just a a single site. Worker anger in Europe is being mobilized. As Lerougetel, the bosses in Europe are worried that it might become an organized continent wide movement.

Government claims that popular opposition to its pension “reform” legislation was subsiding were given the lie, with 71 percent of the population supporting the protests, according to opinion polls, up from 68 percent for the previous day of action September 23.

The "reform" legislation is comparable to what the Social Security Commission is considering here in the US. Note that the bosses are going after part of what workers actually work for: A good retirement. It's disturbing.

WSWS reporters spoke to students in Paris holding a banner proclaiming: “I want to retire at 60—student at 20, unemployed at 25... still without a proper job at 67? No thanks!” One of the students, Jocelyn, said: “We live in a globalised world. Capital exploits without borders and creates these conditions, so we need also need a perspective to unify the European and world’s workers to fight against their attacks.”

I'll let you read the rest of the article. The struggle right now is against exploitation, as it always is. The bosses, bankster frauds and mainline politicians continue to exploit the working stiffs around the world for the improvement of the lives of the bosses, bankster frauds and mainline politicians. They will continue to do so as long as the workers allow them to. The question is if workers will stand up for their rights? If not, the exploitation will only increase.

Coup in Ecuador thwarted

Coup in Ecuador thwarted, by Eva Gollinger via socialistworker.org:

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa gave a nighttime speech from the balcony of the Presidential Palace as thousands of jubilant supporters celebrated his rescue from a hospital where he was held by police rebelling against the Correa's left-wing government.

Another defeat, for the time being, of the reactionaries. This is good, as Ecuadorians rose up to defend their democracy. The forces of the right, and of imperialism, have been thwarted for the time being.

Correa was rescued by security forces loyal to the government and rushed from the police hospital where he was being held, amid heavy gunfire, according to an Al-Jazeera report.

The major question, for those of us in the US, is what role was played by the US. As in Honduras, Correa's government runs counter to the wishes of the bosses. It's a government of Ecuadorians for Ecuadorians, not just a government for the rich. It's no surprise that there was a coup attempt.

Earlier in the day, groups of police held violent demonstrations against a law that the claimed cut their benefits. Correa tried to speak to officers at a police barracks, but was physically attacked. After being overcome by tear gas, he was taken to a police hospital, where he was essentially held captive by officers who Correa said tried to break into his room, possibly to kill him.

But thousands of ordinary Ecuadorians mobilized to defend Corrrea, surrounding the hospital. Correa appeared at an upper-floor window of the building, shouting to supporters, "If they want me, here I am," and then ripping his necktie loose. Meanwhile, according to journalist Stephan Kueffner, "In front of every police station, there are tires burning, with smoke rising into the evening sky."

I'll let you read the rest of the article. The people of Ecuador have spoken in their rallying to Correa's defence. Only time will tell if the bosses are listening, or if they will continue their moves to have Central and South America revert to their private playgrounds.