The auto industry has made its case and Congress has a plan. Loans of up to $15 billion to GM and Chrysler. A substantial Government ownership stake and a direct role in the industry’s restructuring. There’s talk of a car Czar. But what’s in it for workers?

On GRITtv we speak to Brian Schneck President of UAW Local 259, Marissa Colon-Margolies a contributor to The Nation Magazine, Frank Hammer Former President and Chairman of UAW Local 909, James Theisen a truck driver for Chrysler, Wendy Thompson former president of UAW Local 235, and Tony Browning a member of Local 1700 on what the proposed plan will mean for workers and American manufacturing.

The plan will give the companies enough cash to meet obligations for the next few months, during which time they are expected to draft a long-term management plan. But is it enough?

According to Margolies, the money will only plug holes. It’s a wake up call but only a first step. If the bridge loan is not part of a larger economic recovery project, it will be a bridge to nowhere. The cost of doing nothing? Thiesen says that if the auto industry goes under many truck drivers will lose their jobs. That’s in addition to the more than 3 million auto industry jobs at risk.

Meanwhile, Workers at Republic Windows in Chicago have been staging a sit down strike for nearly a week, protesting the company’s abrupt closure and failure to pay vacation and wages owed under the WARN act. Leah Fried, a field organizer for UE, says that no formal settlement has been reached and negotiations are on going. We spoke to Fried and Vice President of UE Local 1110 Melvin Ricky Maclin. Maclin says though it's unlikely workers will reopen the factory, there's always a chance. 

Finally, workers in Immokalee, Florida have won an important victory over Subway, compelling the fast food giant to impose an industry wide surcharge on tomatoes to increase wages for tomato pickers. Workers will now receive 72 to 77 cents for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes, up from 40 cents. According to Cruz Salucio of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, wages have been stagnant since 1978 and the victory is a product of local organizing, community radio, and weekly meetings. When every buyer participates he says workers’ wages will nearly double. Now that they’ve taken on the big fast food chains—Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Burger King—they have their eyes on the big supermarket chains. You can find more information at the coalition’s website. The video "With These Hands" also comes from the Coalition.

Thanks to causecast for video in tonight's show.