By MIKE FLETCHER, Kokomo Tribune staff writer
Thousands of workers from all walks of life packed Johanning Civic Center Saturday to protest not only what Delphi Corp. is doing to local workers, but what they say the leadership of the city, state and federal government is doing to the American worker.
“Can you raise a family on $9 an hour?” Terry Thurman, UAW Region 3 director, shouted angrily to the crowd. “Can you put a roof over your head on $9 an hour?”
The workers replied with a resounding “no.”
The $9-per-hour wage is one of Delphi’s proposals to workers after it filed for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy Oct. 8, citing globally uncompetitive costs.
Thurman was one of nine union and Democratic leaders who addressed the workers at a labor rally sponsored by UAW Local 292 to rebuild solidarity amongst workers and fight back against Delphi Corp.
Local 292 represents Kokomo workers at Delphi.
Troy, Mich.-based Delphi is the nation’s largest auto supplier with about 185,000 workers in six divisions worldwide. Delphi spun off of General Motors Corp. in 1999. GM remains Delphi’s largest customer.
Kokomo is world divisional headquarters of Delphi Electronics & Safety and home to about 5,200 of its 29,900 employees.
Delphi workers are angered over what they call unfair wage and benefit-slashing proposals by the company while it pays top executives big bonuses.
Workers from all over the state and Kentucky attended the rally carrying signs reading “Delphi cooks the books/Workers get BURNED” and “MILLER MORALLY BANKRUPT.”
“From our police, firemen, construction workers, factory workers and service industry, we are all under attack as working Americans,” said Sona Camp, president of UAW 292.
In their fight against Delphi, union leaders drew up a petition signed by thousands of workers at the rally asking the bankruptcy judge to reconsider Delphi’s bankruptcy petition.
“It is time to stop the bleeding of good-paying American jobs in the manufacturing industry,” the petition read.
Tom Sugar, chief of staff for Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., said this is an attack on working people union or non-union.
“It’s not just about Delphi, it’s about the future of this country — the American dream,” said Sugar, a Kokomo native.
Thurman and others lashed out at Delphi CEO Steve Miller for rewarding Delphi executives while dramatically slashing the wages and benefits of blue-collar workers.
“How dare you!” Thurman shouted. “How dare you tell us we need to work for $9 an hour.”
Workers also are angered at Delphi and other businesses outsourcing U.S. manufacturing jobs and moving American jobs to China, India and Mexico.
The main message was to vote in 2006 to change the leadership to keep jobs here and pay fair wages and benefits to workers.
“This is not just a UAW 292 fight, or a UAW Region 3 fight, it’s a fight for all workers and their families,” said Greg Goodnight, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 2958.
Goodnight said the people need to vote for political leaders who will encourage businesses to rebuild in places like Kokomo and who help the average workers.
About that time, someone in the crowd shouted, “Where is the mayor?”
“There’s about 80 elected officials in Howard County and only three or four are here,” said Goodnight, a Democrat who also serves as vice president of the Kokomo City Council.
“They should be here.”