This is why the Nissan UAW vote has some people nervous

Seems that about 1,500 of the 6,500 workers were hired through a contractor, yet will have the same vote as those hired directly by Nissan.

LINK

A bid by workers at Mississippi’s Nissan Motor Co. plant for United Auto Workers representation could turn on a key voting bloc — 1,500 workers who are Nissan employees today, but were initially hired through contract labor agencies.

Those workers say they make less than longtime Nissan employees and have worse benefits, and UAW supporters say that’s a disparity they’d like to address through contract negotiations.

“I think it’s very unfair because we’re doing the same job,” said Shanta Butler, a union supporter who started as a contract worker at Nissan in April 2014. “I think we should be gradually allowed to make our way up to what they’re making.”

Nissan, for its part, refuses to discuss specific wage and benefit levels.


Unfortunately, the people who seem to know what this could mean are ineligible to vote:

Bailey said that joining Nissan’s payroll was great “morale-wise.” Because she’s a manager, she can’t vote in the election, although she opposes the UAW.

“I can put food on my table without worrying about having to pay my light bill,” she said, saying her family’s economic security is much improved.