DPCC Co-Chair Dingell: House Democrats Are Fighting to Protect Manufacturing Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, appeared on MSNBC Live with Chris Jansing to discuss the UAW strike and workers' rights. Dingell underscored the validity of the union members' grievances against General Motors and reiterated the importance of keeping a manufacturing base in the United States. Congresswoman Dingell emphasized that Democrats are fighting For the People to bring back jobs and rebuild our infrastructure. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"This fight began last November when GM suddenly closed four plants without any notice and people were stunned…If, in reality, workers were the ones that came to the table to save these companies ten years ago, [then] in real terms they've taken a pay cut when you adjust for inflation. You've got a two-tiered salary wage system inside of some of these plants which is causing tension. The health care, all of them want to make sure that they've got health care benefits, [and] the health care offer that was initially put on the table which I now understand has been pulled off would have increased their health care costs incredibly… [T]hey want job security, they don't want to see more jobs moving to Mexico, they want those jobs to stay in America. So, all those issues are there and they're very serious. I pray that both sides will come to the table, but this could go on for a while."
"Right now, everybody is intense, and people have to come from both sides and have to sit down and negotiate in good faith. Michigan will suffer the consequences. People need to understand that the workers will get some pay. It will be $250 a week [but] they've got mortgages, they've got car loans to pay, they've got to put food on the table, but they feel this strongly about how they've been treated, and they are prepared to stay out. General Motors has got to invest capital to make sure they're staying at the forefront of innovation and technology. We want all three auto [original equipment manufacturers] to be strong American companies, but how do we do that so that the worker is treated like part of the team, how do we address these issues, and what do we need to be doing in Washington to have policies that support both sides and the success of these companies in our country."