United Auto Workers Union and Sierra Club Team Up Against New CAFE Proposal

[Bruce Levinson]

The Executive Director of the Sierra Club and the President of the U.A.W. wrote a joint op-ed article in today's (2/18/04) New York Times opposing NHTSA's proposal for revising fuel economy standards.

The primary concern expressed about the NHTSA proposal is that establishment of a "series of vehicle weight categories, with a separate standard for each category" would result in manufacturers adding "weight to all of their vehicles to make them qualify for heavier weight categories." The U.A.W. and Sierra Club are concerned that the overall result of the NHTSA proposal would be:

1. A "reduction in overall fuel economy and an increase in pollution." and

2. Placing "the jobs of thousands of Americans who work, either directly or indirectly, on the production of small cars" in jeopardy.

Clearly, before making any changes to the current regulations, NHTSA needs to carefully and accurately evaluate and publicize the impact of their proposal on the environment and the economy. Furthermore, the

[quaddriver]

Originally Posted by Bruce Levinson

The Executive Director of the Sierra Club and the President of the U.A.W. wrote a joint op-ed article in today's (2/18/04) New York Times opposing NHTSA's proposal for revising fuel economy standards.

The primary concern expressed about the NHTSA proposal is that establishment of a "series of vehicle weight categories, with a separate standard for each category" would result in manufacturers adding "weight to all of their vehicles to make them qualify for heavier weight categories." The U.A.W. and Sierra Club are concerned that the overall result of the NHTSA proposal would be:

1. A "reduction in overall fuel economy and an increase in pollution." and

2. Placing "the jobs of thousands of Americans who work, either directly or indirectly, on the production of small cars" in jeopardy.

Clearly, before making any changes to the current regulations, NHTSA needs to carefully and accurately evaluate and publicize the impact of their proposal on the environment and the economy. Furthermore, the

Name one single EPA tier proposal or CAFE requirement that the UAW ever supported? This time it just so happens that the sierra club is on board for proper reasons.

[Bruce Levinson]

What makes the joint op-ed article interesting is that it is so rare to see the U.A.W. and the Sierra Club taking a common position on a given environmental regulatory proposal. As the op-ed states, although the two organizations do not "always" agree on automobile policy, they do agree that the NHTSA proposal would "would destroy American jobs, reduce fuel economy and increase global warming emissions — and add to the burdens of an already struggling auto industry."

The real significance of the op-ed article is that it demonstrates that diverse stakeholders are concerned about the CAFE reform proposal and that the agency needs to be very cautious about proceeding with what may be a seriously flawed idea.

I would also note that while the UAW and Sierra Club concerns are germane, they are not the only issues that need to be explored. The impact of the NHTSA proposal on consumer choice and safety, among other factors, also needs to be considered. That is why we are encouraging the agency to reach out to and solicit the views of diverse stakeholders, not just those who read Federal Register notices.