Teamsters Protest Fiat/Chrysler's Attack on American Carhaul Jobs Outside Embassy of Italy

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS195955+05-Nov-2009+PRN20091105

Thu Nov 5, 2009 11:15am EST

Teamsters Protest Fiat/Chrysler's Attack on American Carhaul Jobs Outside
Embassy of Italy

Call On Italian Government to Hold Company Responsible for Actions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A delegation of labor
representatives and consumer protection advocates joined hundreds of
protesters outside the Embassy of Italy in Washington today to call on the
Italian government to hold Fiat/Chrysler accountable for waging an attack on
thousands of good-paying jobs in the U.S. carhaul industry by shifting work to
cut-rate, inexperienced companies to transport new vehicles.

Representatives from the Teamsters Union, the Australian Services Union and
Consumer Action delivered a letter from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa
to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the presidents of the Italian Senate
and Chamber of Deputies. In the letter, Hoffa expressed concern that billions
in taxpayer dollars on both sides of the Atlantic are not being used to
establish a sustainable recovery at Fiat/Chrysler, and calls on the Italian
government to hold Fiat/Chrysler and its chief executive, Sergio Marchionne,
accountable for the company's actions.

"Fiat management is seeking to transform the auto transport industry from one
that provides stable jobs that support drivers and their families into a
cut-throat, low-cost, low-quality segment of its supply chain," Hoffa wrote.
"In the United States, Fiat/Chrysler has recently embarked on an effort that
transforms how automobiles are delivered to dealer showrooms. The results are
disturbing from the perspective of both business and consumers."

The delegation also gave embassy representatives a copy of the report "Damaged
When Delivered? How Bailed-Out Auto Giants are Ripping Off American
Consumers," a revealing look at the risks to vehicles and consumers when car
companies use cut-rate and inexperienced carhaul drivers to transport new
automobiles.

FULL story at link.