http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UAW_KING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-03-15-02-45 TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- United Auto Workers President Bob King urged industry leaders on Thursday to reject what he called a multi-billion-dollar campaign to destroy organized labor. He said strong unions will boost vehicle quality and improve the bottom line for companies as well as workers.
With talks under way to replace contracts with General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, King said the union had discarded its confrontational approach to bargaining from the past century and was committed to reaching agreements that will make those companies stronger.
"We now know that the only true job security comes from producing the best quality products and services at the best value for consumers," he said in remarks at an annual conference of industry leaders and parts manufacturers in northern Michigan. "We are fully committed to the success of our employers. Therefore, the UAW embraces flexibility, innovation and joint creative problem solving."
But King said the UAW's more business-friendly approach - which some other unions have scorned - would succeed only if management goes along. If not, "the more adversarial models of unionism will displace our vision," he said.