Re: Union production of hybrids?
I followed Dave's link and found a list which included the Toyota Corolla, which was marked with an asterisk, and there was the following note:
"However, those vehicles marked with an asterisk (*) are sourced from the United States and/or Canada and a third country. When purchasing one of these models, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN.) A VIN beginning with “1,” “4” or “5” identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; “2” identifies a Canadian-made vehicle. Not all vehicles made in the United States or Canada are made by union-represented workers. The Toyota Corolla, for example, is made in the United States by UAW members, but the Canadian model is made in a nonunion plant and other models are imported from a third country. To be sure you have a union-made vehicle, buy one of the vehicles on this list."
So Dave says that if Toyota builds a hybrid plant in the US it will be non-union, but is that necessarily right? If they've built a UAW plant in the past, then could they be planning something similar this time? It's my understanding that the Camry hybrid is going to be built in Kentucky, although it was all speculative in the story I read. I didn't see the Camry on the UAW list now, but since the rumored hybrid Camrys wouldn't be built here until October, it is hard to say. Still, I don't know of any reason why there wouldn't be unions in Kentucky.
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