FA, AFT 6157 Supports
United Auto Workers of NUMMI
By Frank Espinoza, FA, AFT 6157 Vice President

On a Saturday afternoon, January 30, 2010, our AFT Local 6157 President, David Yancey and Vice-President, Frank Espinoza and other labor leaders joined the picket line in front of Stevens Creek Toyota, in support of United Auto Workers (UAW) from the NUMMI plant located in Fremont, CA. Strong messages of, “Save my Mommy’s Job” and, “We need California Jobs” were but a few messages shared that afternoon.

A nationwide campaign has been in effect in an attempt to prevent the NUMMI auto plant in Fremont, CA from shutting down. Rallies and picket lines are taking place throughout the United States to avert the potential closure of the NUMMI plant that directly affects approximately 5,000 autoworkers from the Fremont plant.

It is estimated that the closure of the plant will not only have a devastating effect on thousands of UAW workers but also on other related businesses throughout the Bay Area that provide service and products to the NUMMI plant. While autoworkers understand that keeping the plant open is highly improbable, efforts must continue in order to convince Toyota executives not to shut down the only Unionized Toyota manufacturing plant in the United States.

The AFT Local 6157 leadership gives its full support to the United Auto Workers, fellow affiliates of the AFL-CIO, in their effort to keep the Fremont NUMMI plant from shutting down. While keeping the plant open is a slight possibility, faculty union AFT Local 6157 is committed to supporting the struggle of both the autoworkers and their families.