Assembly Line Concert, March 19 - April 3, 2011

Many have heard that I am involved in the world's longest concert, Assembly Line Concert at AJs Music Cafe, next month.  The entire 360 hours will be U-Streamed live and people all over the world will be watching.  Some of you may wonder what this concert is about and how it got started.  Last year's "2nd Shift," was for me, an opportunity to make new friends and explore new music from a fine collection of Michigan artists.  However, it was the dire economy that started A.J. on this path.  Read below the story of the Assembly Line Concerts. - Cheryl

Local Activist Renews his Challenge to Big 3 Auto to Support America's Workers.

Ferndale , Michigan; Feb. 22., 2011. In a show of support for union protests to strip collective bargaining rights (the process of voluntary negotiations between employers and trade unions,  aimed at reaching agreements which regulate working conditions,mechanisms and rights to participate in workplace or company affairs)  in Wisconsin and Ohio,  AJ O'Neil, owner of AJ's Cafe,a popular grass-roots coffee shop-music cafe in this suburban Detroit community,  has announced that he has once again reached out to corporate sponsorship of his upcoming Guinness world record attempt "Assembly Line Concert, 3rd Shift ," slated to begin March 19th and run for 360 hours consecutively until April 3, 2011.

The first Assembly Line Concert in 2009 made worldwide news and reached millions of on-line viewers who were encouraged to support the Detroit-born auto industry and its workers while earning a Guinness record for concert longevity.

O'Neil coincided the concert with his "IPledgeAmerica" campaign which asked people to make a vow; "on my honor, the next car I buy will be a domestically-built, Detroit-born automobile." He believes over 10,000 pledges were made online and in his cafe.

"The other part of the pledge was the corporate side, which was not widely publicised" O'Neil stated.  "That part of IPledgeAmerica was the  understanding that we should strive to live in a "cross-trickle" economy."

'The way I see it, the producer/worker and the consumer are one and the same, and the economy is best served when the relationship between the producer/consumer and the employer is whole. What sense does it make to have an employer obtain relative short-term cost savings by sending jobs out to foreign labor, when the end result is a lost consumer base as well as  lost domestic jobs."

“Doing business without consideration of cross-trickle economics hurts our employment, our economy and our country," O'Neil added. "I have reached out to Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Their commitment to join the Assembly Line Concert is an endorsement of the continued effort to rebuild Detroit and Michigan through sound economic practise."

O'Neil explained that his past efforts to enlist the corporate viewpoint were not strongly sought because the paramount concern was to the viability of the domestic auto industry and the establishing of our domestic manufacturing industry as a backbone to our nation’s economy.

It's in everyones best interest to see this incredible rebound by Ford, GM and Chrysler. We applaud their initiatives and their determination to keep the American auto industry alive and thriving. We want the same for all Americans."

"The  concerts have always been about the need for strong relationships between  workers, who are the producers and  who really are the true engine of our national economy. By extension, this  includes customers of your barber shop, salon, department store, body shop...and of my cafe, " We are all in this together, we all have to be a part of the solution if we are to return our communities to viability’.

“Let's hope that the domestic auto industry and the foreign transplants understand that it is in their best interest to provide as many good paying middle class jobs in America as it is for them to build vehicle in countries to which they intent to market,” O’Neil reiterated.

'I hope that  domestic manufacturers see that cross-trickle economics is a vital part of what is in everyones  best interest, including the corporate side.  I'd love to be hanging up some  Big 3 banners at AJ's for the Assembly Line Concert, which will attempt to regain our Guinness world record for the longest concert, now held by a suburban Atlanta pizza pub," he added.

O’Neil expressed optimism that he still has the support of the community and the everyday folks who work so hard to make the concert possible. “This is a very difficult record to attempt. But, it also has a history of bringing a very important message of solidarity. I can only hope that we’ll have what we need to get this done,” O’Neil said.  

To become involved in the Assembly Line Concert, 3rd Shift, go to http://assemblylineconcerts.com/ or call AJ’s Cafe (248) 399.3946