OPINION: A new ‘Alabama Way?’ YES please!

By DARIN GILLEY
UAW Local 2250

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey shares her interesting perspective on who gets a “say” in her state. In a recent opinion piece, “Standing up for jobs as unions target auto manufacturing,” published Jan. 11, she frets about the UAW, whom she describes as an “out-of-state special interest.” 

She is concerned that a worker’s rights organization will infringe on the “Alabama way.”  In her words “these are out-of-state special interests and their interests do not include Alabama or the men and women earning a career in Alabama’s auto industry.”

Obviously, she is anti-union but if her main objection is folks from out-of-state being a problem, is it more acceptable if special interests from out-of-country come to Alabama?

Gov. Ivey mentions five auto companies that have set up plants in Alabama. In case the good governor forgot let’s look at these firms and where they come from:

• Mercedes-Benz – Germany.
• Toyota – Japan.
• Mazda – Japan.
• Honda – Japan.
• Hyundai – South Korea.

PLENTY OF TAXPAYER GIVEAWAYS
It seems Alabama wasn’t opposed to these out-of-country special interests. In fact, the good citizens, workers, and taxpayers have given these five manufacturers over a billion dollars in incentives in the form of tax credits, grants, and infrastructure assistance.

The company-specific packages totaled $169,000 per job at Mercedes and $117,000 per job at Hyundai.

The irony of her position is driven home when Gov. Ivey asks, “Do we want out-of-state special interests telling Alabamians how to do business?”  

UAW HAS ALREADY HELPED
She may not want to recognize it, but many Alabama autoworkers are already benefiting from the UAW.

The Stand-Up strikes of last year resulted in record contracts with record raises for UAW members that changed the lives of all UAW members at the Big 3.

But what the governor refuses to admit is that even without going on strike, many Alabama autoworkers are reaping the rewards from these contracts because most of the non-union automakers responded to these record contracts by offering raises in an attempt to keep pace: Toyota received raises of nine percent, Honda 11 percent and Hyundai ponied up 25 percent! 

A NEW ‘ALABAMA WAY’
Let me suggest to the governor a new “Alabama way?”

A way that involves more than just shoveling taxpayer money to corporations. A way that values the contribution of the men and women actually doing the hard work which prioritizes higher wages, a better work life and stronger communities in the Heart of Dixie?

A new Alabama way? Yes please!