TOYOTA GIVES WORKERS THE SHAFT

"Moving Forward." That's how Toyota describes itself to customers. But on the treatment of its workers, the company is stuck in reverse.
Toyota has received $371 million in state and local tax subsidies since 1986, according to publicly available records. In return, the company promised to bring quality manufacturing jobs to states like Kentucky.
But Toyota isn't keeping its promise. At a town hall forum March 31, workers at the plant in Georgetown, Ky., told about co-workers who were injured on the job and then never came back to work. Employees told about full-time workers being replaced with temporary workers--who get paid half what regular team members earn and cannot afford health insurance.Tim Unger, an 18-year veteran Toyota worker, said:
"Shoulders would wear out, wrists would require surgery and back and hands started to fail. It seemed as if the good people who contributed to the success of Toyota were being used up and disposed of like garbage."
Added Noel Christian Riddell, a 10-year veteran skilled-trades worker:
"We executed model-change activities faster than any other manufacturer. I truly felt my contributions played a role in the company’s success. But something happened. After only a few years, training ceased. Suddenly, I had no sick days. My raises became smaller. My benefits were cut. My group’s manpower was slashed. And the number of temporary employees steadily grew. "

source: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/toyota_respect_workers