Oct 01 2008
Toyota Drivers Beware: Exploited Workers Created Your Car
With sales of their Hybrid vehicles skyrocketing amid high gas prices, Toyota Corporation is racing past auto giants like General Motors. The company enjoys a reputation for investing in modest design, reasonable prices, and environmentally friendly cars. Many progressives, including myself, have bought Toyota Prius’s in order to use less fossil fuels, and lighten the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment. And with nearly 45 miles to the gallon, its easier on the wallet! But, behind the unassuming facade, lies a disturbing underbelly of worker exploitation, guest worker trafficking, and union busting. A new report released by Corpwatch details Toyota’s labor practices in Toyota City, Japan, the Philippines, Burma, and right here in the US. The report is authored by Barbara Briggs, assistant director of the National Labor Committee.
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One Response to “Toyota Drivers Beware: Exploited Workers Created Your Car”
Here’s my story about Arlington Toyota..Approximately 3 months ago I went to Arlington Toyota to get an oil change. I use them because I have the “Free Tires for Life”. I was told I could not get the Free Tires for Life if I did not get the 30,000 mile check up. So, I did. I then asked them to check my air conditioner because it gradually lost cold air. They charged me $49.00 for the diagnosis and came back and said the compressor clutch was bad and it would cost $700.00 to fix. I said I did not have that kind of money and declined. I also told them my tires were bad (they have been on the car for almost 4 years and we were putting air in everyday). They plugged one tire and said they still had some tread left and they could not give me tires at this time. I said ok. My husband was a mechanic years ago and decided to fix the air conditioner. He bought the part for $350.00 from Avenues Toyota. When he went to fix it he noticed the compressor clutch was not bad at all. Someone had ripped the wiring out. He put the wiring back together and the air conditioner now works. Avenues Toyota took the part back and refunded our money. Meanwhile the pressure light on the tires went on every day even though we kept putting air in the tires. My husband said the tires are bad. He went to Arlington Toyota and told them about the sabotage to my air conditioner. They just did not care and said they would not refund the $49.00 for the misdiagnosis. He asked for new tires for my car under the contract I have for “Free Tires for Life”. They said no because 2 tires were bad and they had to average out all 4 tires. I went to Sun Tire today and Tire Kingdom. Both companies said the tires are bad.