Jacobin Radio: GM Shutters Plants; Life at the US-Mexico Border

Jacobin Radio

Jacobin

Socialism, History, News, Left, Jacobin, Alternative, Socialist, Politics

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 December 2018

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Suzi speaks first with Mike Parker, author, rabble-rouser, and union activist, who worked for thirty-tow years in auto in Detroit, about what is behind GM’s decision to close five plants, four in the US and one in Canada, affecting some 15,000 workers and their families as well as the towns and cities from Lordstown in Ohio to Detroit in Michigan. Ed Broadbent, former NDP Leader and Member of Parliament from 1975–1989, brings the Canadian perspective and reaction. Ed hails from Oshawa, Ontario, the site of the GM plant in Canada to be closed. His father was a clerk at GM and his still living uncle, at 104, was on the GM picket line in Oshawa in 1937 in the strike that brought industrial unions to Canada. We hear what Ed, described as the “best Prime Minister Canada never had,” thinks the political leaders should be doing now that GM — bailed out with billions from Canada — has turned its back on its workers. Plus: LA Taco’s editor Daniel Hernandez, just back from Tijuana, reports on the harrowing conditions inside the migrant refugee camp near the US-Mexico border, where thousands are sheltering, with hopes of entering the US.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Jack of In radio and I'm Susie Wiseman.
0:08.0	Giam has announced the closing of five plans, four in the U.S. and one in Canada,
0:15.0	affecting some 15,000 workers and their families,
0:18.0	as well as towns and cities,
0:20.0	from Lordstown, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan Michigan to Oshawa, Ontario in Canada.
0:25.0	We talked to Mike Parker, who worked 32 years in Auto in Detroit,
0:29.0	is Rabelrauser Union Activist and writer of several books about the Auto Industries
0:34.0	reorganization and its effect on its workers to get his understanding of what
0:39.3	led GM to close these plants and the Union's reaction.
0:43.4	We then hear from former NDP leader and member of Parliament
0:46.8	Ed Broadbent, who hails from Oshawa, Ontario,
0:50.4	the site of the GM plant in Canada to be closed. Ed's father was a clerk at GM and his
0:56.0	still living uncle at 104 was on the GM picket line in Oshawa in 1937 in the strike that brought industrial unions to Canada.
1:06.5	We'll get Ed's reaction and what Ed described as the best Prime Minister Canada never
1:10.8	had thinks the political leaders should be doing now.
1:14.0	Plus, L.A. Taco's editor Daniel Hernandez, just back from Tijuana, reports on the harrowing
1:20.1	conditions inside the migrant refugee camp near the U.S. Mexico border
1:24.2	where thousands are sheltering with hopes of entering the United States. Daniel reports
1:29.4	they are positive and optimistic despite the squalid conditions.
1:34.0	They've made the several thousand mile trek from violence torn Honduras in search of asylum, safety,
1:39.0	and the promise of a better future.
1:41.0	All this, when Jacobin Radio returns in just a moment. Welcome to Jack
	...

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