About two months ago, BMW faced some issues with 68 union workers from the parts distribution center in Ontario, California. At that time, Senator Barbara Boxer, the chairwoman of the Ethics Committee said that BMW is looking forward to fire these experienced workers in order to hire a cheaper workforce which is unfair, in her opinion. The contract of the 65 workers which are part of Teamsters Union Local 495 expired on August 31, BMW refusing to renew their contracts which led to a protest.

Tim Kitchens, one of the 68 Ontario workers said: “I need this job and the health insurance to take care of my family. Many of us have worked here for decades and have helped make BMW the most profitable luxury car company in America.”

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa claimed that this agreement shows what Teamsters can do when they are standing together and fighting back. Well, the Ontario workers reached an agreement with the Germans from BMW as their contracts will be renewed for the following six months.

The workers even created a webpage called BMW Ultimate Misery where they claim that after taking $3,6 billion in secret bailout loans, BMW decided to make a mockery and replace the experienced Ontario workers with outsourced workers.

Even the union workers obtain new contracts for the following six months, the union said that BMW and Teamsters will work on finding a solution for long-term employment at the Ontario plant, which means that the 68 union workers are fighting to extend their contracts for more than six months.

It remains to be seen if the German company will find the appropriate solution for these workers. Bob Lennox, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 495 added: “They were facing foreclosures on their homes and loss of their health insurance at a time of record unemployment in Southern California.”

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW to extend the contracts for Ontario Workers appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

It seems that the Germans from BMW are having a hard time firing 65 employees at the parts distribution facility in Ontario, California. Senator Barbara Boxer, the chairwoman of the Ethics Committee wrote a letter to BMW North America CEO Jim O’Donnell telling him that replacing the loyal and experienced workers from the Ontario facility would be an unfair decision mainly considering that the Germans are looking forward for cheaper workforce, this being the main reason for this decision, according to the American Senator.

The 65 workers are part of the Teamsters Union Local 495, their contract with the German company expiring on August 31. To be more precise, we are not talking about firing but BMW said it will not renew the contract but will look forward to cheaper employees.

Teamsters Union Local 495 alongside Barbara Boxer showed very unsatisfied about this decision and claimed that the current workers at the Ontario facility are way more experienced than the new company which follows to be hired. Moreover, Senator Boxer added that BMW’s 2011 first quarter earnings raised to $1,78 billion comparing to the last year, which means that there is another reason behind the decision of firing Teamsters Union Local 495 than the financial issues.

“I need this job and the health insurance to take care of my family,” said Tim Kitchens, one of the Ontario workers. “Many of us have worked here for decades and have helped make BMW the most profitable luxury car company in America. We stood by them in the dark days of 2009 and now they’re throwing us out on the street so they can hire cheaper, inexperienced workers, and pocket the difference.”

Barbara Boxer claimed that this situation could not happen in Germany and also claimed that the American employees are not treated well comparing to the German workers. U.S. Congressman Joe Baca joined the discussions as well stating that this decision will surely affect the local economy which already faces the highest rates of unemployment in the region.

“When taxpayers gave billions of dollars in bailout money to auto companies, they expected to grow the economy and save American jobs, but just the opposite has happened,” said Randy Cammack, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42, “BMW got bailed out with nearly $4 billion in top-secret low-interest federal loans and in exchange, they mock America’s plant closing laws and try to destroy working families.”

About Post Author

Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW faces troubles in firing 65 employees at the Ontario distribution center appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.