Thread: Hyundai sends letter on possible immigration protests to US dealerships

Hyundai sends letter on possible immigration protests to US dealerships
1:38 AM, Feb. 28, 2012

One of Alabama's largest foreign-owned manufacturing companies has sent a letter to all of its vehicle dealerships in the United States warning them there might be protests at dealerships concerning Alabama's new immigration law.

The letter from Hyundai vice president of national sales, Dave Zuchowski, said the company had learned that various groups plan demonstrations at Hyundai dealerships and at dealerships of other foreign-owned car companies.

The letter goes on to defend Hyundai's record when it comes to human rights and civil rights. Hyundai spokesman Chris Hosford confirmed Monday that the letter was sent to the dealerships by Zuchowski.

"Most recently, a coalition of civil rights organizations and labor unions, including the United Auto Workers (UAW), have reached out to Alabama foreign automakers, Hyundai included, to urge them to use their influence to convince lawmakers to repeal the law," the letter said.

Last year, the Alabama Legislature passed a law that has been called the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in the country. In a separate statement, officials with the South Korean company said the power to change the immigration law rests with the Alabama Legislature.

Supporters of the immigration law have said they would support efforts to make minor changes, but have said they would oppose any effort to repeal the law.

The letter to dealerships goes on to say that Hyundai, which has a large manufacturing plant in Montgomery, has installed a hotline so that dealers can report protests or any questions they might have.

The dealerships are instructed to try to maintain business as usual and to not confront the protesters.

Republican State Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, Senate sponsor of the immigration law, said he felt any effort to demonstrate at foreign car dealerships would be an effort by "pro illegal immigration groups to make sure states don't enforce laws against illegal immigration."

He said he has no problem with the international companies like Hyundai that are in Alabama and doesn't believe they are hurt by the immigration law.

"These are international companies. They deal with much more stringent laws in other countries," Beason said.

Mary Bauer, chief attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has gone to court to fight the law, said the Hyundai memo is a sign that the immigration law could affect Alabama's ability "to continue to bring good-paying jobs to hard-working Alabamians."

In the letter and the statement, Hyundai does not take a position for or against the immigration law. But the statement points out the contribution Hyundai has made to the Alabama economy.

"Hyundai is a significant contributor to the Alabama economy. Our Alabama manufacturing facility and suppliers are responsible for more than 34,000 full-time equivalent jobs statewide and in 2010 generated a total impact of $3.8 billion to the state's economy," the statement said.

Montgomery Advertisor

Let the LAW Stand and be Upheld 100%

Labor, civil rights groups seek Hyundai's support to overturn Ala. immigration law
Updated March 15, 2012 |


By Greg Gardner

Detroit Free Press Business Writer

A coalition of American civil rights and labor groups will meet Friday in Seoul, South Korea, to ask Hyundai executives and shareholders to help overturn Alabama's law aimed at reducing illegal immigration.

Led by Wade Henderson, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Eliseo Medina, secretary-treasurer, Service Employees International Union, the group will ask Hyundai, Daimler and Honda to break their silence on Alabama's H.B. 56. The three automakers and their suppliers support about 45,000 jobs in the state, according to a news release from the group.

Last November, Mercedes-Benz executive Detlef Hager was arrested after he could show a police officer only his German identification card during a traffic stop in Tuscaloosa.

Under Alabama's immigration law, considered the toughest in the nation, everyone in Alabama must carry a valid identification card, including U.S. citizens. Before the new law, a citation would have been issued and the driver would have been sent on his or her way. Now offenders are taken to jail.

Shortly after Hager's arrest, Honda workers on assignment at the company's Lincoln, Ala., plant were issued citations and not jailed for not having proper identification.

A U.S. appeals court in October blocked Alabama from enforcing part of its new immigration law, including a controversial provision that permits Alabama to require public schools to determine the legal residency of children upon enrollment.

But the court ruled that the state could continue to authorize police to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally.

Hyundai has assembly and engine plants in Montgomery. So far no Korean employees of the company have been arrested or ticketed under the Alabama law, a company spokesman said.

The group said in its news release that after meeting with South Korean news media in Seoul, it will conduct similar events at Daimler and Honda shareholder meetings later this year.

Contact Greg Gardner: 313-222-8762 or ggardner99@freepress.com
Labor, civil rights groups seek Hyundai's support to overturn Ala. immigration law | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Led by Wade Henderson, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Eliseo Medina, secretary-treasurer, Service Employees International Union, the group will ask Hyundai, Daimler and Honda to break their silence on Alabama's H.B. 56. The three automakers and their suppliers support about 45,000 jobs in the state, according to a news release from the group.

Amazing that this SEIU thug is going to companies that have intentionally located their operations in a right to work state in order to avoid the money sucking unions This smacks of Union racketeering to me.

Corporations should not get involved with the laws of the countries that they are allowed to operate in and should not even meet with people that are conspiring to undermine Federal and State laws.

HYUNDAI OPENS SHAREHOLDER MEETING IN KOREA TO LATINO ACTIVISTS THREATENING TO PAINT THEM AS RACIST HATE MONGERS - DAIMLER AG, HONDA ARE NEXT

Mary Bauer, chief attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has gone to court to fight the law, said the Hyundai memo is a sign that the immigration law could affect Alabama's ability "to continue to bring good-paying jobs to hard-working Alabamians."

I hope that Alabamans run the Southern Poverty Law Center out of their state for trying to attack American jobs in support of illegal alien invaders.

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

I hope that Alabamans run the Southern Poverty Law Center out of their state for trying to attack American jobs in support of illegal alien invaders.

W

=============================================

Actually, this highly predictable LaRaza power grab is going to land them on a very reluctant mainstream media in a very bad way.

We have derelict congressmen running from state to state championing the (unlawful) rights of illegal alien criminals, illegal aliens being openly disorderly and publicly crashing government meetings (and getting off scot-free), and now LaRaza (the race) trying to force multi-billion dollar automobile manufactures to close their huge plants in Alabama at the peril of being branded as 'racist' and boycotted by millions more illegal aliens.

I love it!