The “Drama” of Workers’ Rights

…But no matter how far the plant is from the Motor City, Toyota officials must come to terms with the influence of the U.A.W., whose president, Ron Gettelfinger, has said the plant would benefit the state.

Organizing its work force also would benefit the union, which has failed to organize workers at any of the major factories built by foreign automakers in the United States in the last 25 years.

Still, Toyota has dealt with the union at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture plant owned by G.M. and Toyota in Fremont, Calif. At the plant, known as Nummi, formerly a G.M. site, workers operate under a special contract with more flexible work rules than other U.A.W. contracts, and the plant operates under Toyota's production methods.

Toyota can easily avoid such drama by picking another plant site. But it can score points in its drive to be seen as a good local citizen by helping a state that can meet its economic needs and arguably needs its assistance the most - Michigan.

Micheline Maynard, “Michigan’s Job No. 1: Recovery,” New York Times, 12/27/05. [emphasis added]