Photos by Chris Todd.
“Tell Nissan: Labor rights are civil rights”
Last Friday, rapper Common performed a concert at Jackson State University in support of the workers at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant. He was joined by actor Danny Glover, local performance artists, Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN) members, Nissan workers, and student supporters from Mississippi Student Justice Alliance (MSJA) and Concerned Students for a Better Nissan (CSBN). Puff Daddy/Sean "Diddy" Combs lent his support to employees working for a union at Nissan's plant in Mississippi via video message.
The event was an expression of support for Nissan auto workers in Canton, Mississippi, who are fighting for a fair union election and a voice in their workplace at Nissan in coordination with the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).
Many at the plant have tried to push for a vote to join UAW for the last several years, but Nissan has fought unionization. A vote would be particularly significant on the heels of the failed vote at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant, where union activists have appealed the result, arguing that workers were unfairly intimidated into voting against joining. If successful, the vote will offer UAW another opportunity to represent its first foreign-owned plant in the South, and provide a launching pad for UAW.
Danny Glover, who is also a humanitarian and activist, said,
“Of all the worker struggles around the world, the Nissan workers of Mississippi stand out to me. For a place that’s one of the most important battle grounds of the civil rights movement to now be the center of the global workers’ rights movement is significant. I am committed to the campaign to win the right to organize for Nissan workers."
Workers and retirees in and out of the auto industry are following these events.
Retired UAW member and president of the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans, Scott Watts said,
"As a UAW retiree, I know what it means to be able to collectively bargain for working conditions, wages and benefits, including a pension. Nissan workers will have a chance very soon to vote for union recognition at the plant which will mean, if successful, they will sit down with the corporation to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. I wish them a very successful election and collective bargaining agreement."
He continued,
"The ability to bargain collectively in many ways means the difference between leading a middle class life or falling below that, between having some semblance of economic security in your working years and in retirement or not. It also allows workers to contribute their valuable voice when it comes to safety issues on the job. This is so important. It's what we want for today's Nissan workers. If and when the Nissan workers are coerced or intimidated, we will speak out and take collective action to support them."
UAW retiree and Florida Alliance for Retired Americans president,
Tony Fransetta said,
"Nissan and other Japanese automakers cooperate with unions in Japan, but Nissan has fought the ability of their American plants to come together to form a union tooth and nail, denying the American workers the same rights that Japanese and other foreign workers have. They try to put an American face on the Nissan company while denying the American workers equal rights for a voice at work."
He added,
"American workers should not be treated as less than workers in Japan, Brazil or other foreign countries."
More info on concert & issue here and
here.