Teamsters Protest Cummins, Inc. at Mid-America Trucking Show

[Staff]

Workers Call on Cummins to Act Socially Responsible

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, dozens of Teamsters swept through the event hall at the Mid-America Trucking Show, one of the world’s largest heavy-duty trucking events, to protest diesel engine manufacturer Cummins, Inc. (NYSE: CMI)

Wearing t-shirts reading, “What’s Wrong with Cummins?” workers decried Cummins’ recent attempts to slash health care for employees at its South Charleston, West Virginia plant. The protesters also cited Cummins’ repeated labor law violations and history of restructuring moves that deprive workers of union representation.

Mocking the company’s ad campaign, which is pegged to the performance-related slogan, “Every Time,” Teamster protesters passed out fliers titled, “Every Abuse.”

“‘Every Time’ is a great slogan, but we want Cummins’ investors and customers to know about each and every time this company abuses American workers and their families,” said Ken Hall, President of Teamsters Local 175, which represents 60 workers at the South Charleston and Fairmont, West Virginia Cummins facilities.

“Cummins touts itself as a socially responsible company, but that image is shown to be a sham every time a Cummins worker’s family loses health care coverage, every time a Cummins employee is denied a decent and secure retirement, and every time basic human rights are violated at Cummins facilities,” Hall said.

Hall noted that Cummins has posted record sales across its operations—which include vehicle and power generation engines as well as engine components—for three consecutive years.

“This company posted a $550 million profit in 2005, yet it’s abusing instead of rewarding the workers who helped it outperform its competitors,” Hall said.

On January 10, workers at the South Charleston plant authorized a strike over the company’s U.S. labor law violations, threatening a possible disruption of service to Cummins customers. Teamsters represent 600 Cummins workers at more than 37 locations throughout North America.

Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters