Call On Italian Government to Hold Company Responsible for Actions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A delegation of labor representatives and consumer protection advocates joined hundreds of protesters outside the Embassy of Italy in Washington today to call on the Italian government to hold Fiat/Chrysler accountable for waging an attack on thousands of good-paying jobs in the U.S. carhaul industry by shifting work to cut-rate, inexperienced companies to transport new vehicles.

Representatives from the Teamsters Union, the Australian Services Union and Consumer Action delivered a letter from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the presidents of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies. In the letter, Hoffa expressed concern that billions in taxpayer dollars on both sides of the Atlantic are not being used to establish a sustainable recovery at Fiat/Chrysler, and calls on the Italian government to hold Fiat/Chrysler and its chief executive, Sergio Marchionne, accountable for the company's actions.

"Fiat management is seeking to transform the auto transport industry from one that provides stable jobs that support drivers and their families into a cut-throat, low-cost, low-quality segment of its supply chain," Hoffa wrote. "In the United States, Fiat/Chrysler has recently embarked on an effort that transforms how automobiles are delivered to dealer showrooms. The results are disturbing from the perspective of both business and consumers."

The delegation also gave embassy representatives a copy of the report "Damaged When Delivered? How Bailed-Out Auto Giants are Ripping Off American Consumers," a revealing look at the risks to vehicles and consumers when car companies use cut-rate and inexperienced carhaul drivers to transport new automobiles.

"Not only is Fiat/Chrysler attempting to destroy thousands of good jobs in the carhaul industry, but they are contracting to brokers that hire improperly trained workers. These inexperienced drivers are securing new vehicles in such a manner that the automobiles are at risk of being damaged while being transported to the dealerships," said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Automobile Transporters Industry Division. "The consumer is not only getting a product that is not in the same condition it was when it came of the line, but may in fact be at risk of injury due to the damage inflicted on these automobiles by inexperienced carhaul drivers."

Demonstrators at the protest expressed their solidarity with Fiat workers in Italy, who are likewise fighting for their rights, pay and against mass layoffs.

"I also want to express the Teamsters Union's solidarity in these trying times with our brothers and sisters in Italy who work at Fiat and along its supply chain," Hoffa wrote. "We share your concern for the 12,000 workers currently laid-off at Fiat."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters