UAW On Strike

[bwframe]

Thousands of UAW Hoosiers to join nationwide strike against GM

Wondering how many INGOers are affected by this?

 

[bwframe]

https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruh...ffer-job-security-to-auto-workers-69045317643

 

[Sigblitz]

GM was preparing for negotiations when they closed a plant. I believe they did it last time too. They play games when it's time to negotiate a contract. SSDD.

 

[Rookie]

I think the games are aimed more at the union members. "We fought hard - just ignore the fact that we're stealing from you".

 

[Super Bee]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck. As I was told this morning by friend number two, GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

 

[churchmouse]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

I was raised in a UAW family. Most all of them. Lever pulling mindless robots. But the job took care of me and the siblings. It also made for a large group of brain dead mindless lever pulling robots. Dem lever that is.
I worked at the plant for a shift and a half. Took no longer than that to see the politics of dancing. Found the door and went home. This fits some people like a glove. But not me. If you are a free thinker and a self motivator with skills the free market has a place for you.

I broke from the mold and was pretty much ostracized from that side of the family. As time wore on it became clear that was really no big deal.
You should have heard them scream when -O was elected. OMG what a pack of hateful animals.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck. As I was told this morning by friend number two, GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

From each according to their ability. To each according to their needs. Where have I heard that before...

 

[JettaKnight]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck.

Nevertheless, the still make good money for a factory job.

As I was told this morning by friend number two, GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Shades of socialism there.

 

[Thor]

something...something...hand that feeds you.

If the employees who make an hourly wage as agreed up on want a greater 'share of the profits' then they should get some skin in the game and buy some stock; that way they can, you know, get a greater share of the profits like those people who have already invested in the company. If all they really intend to do is suck the life out of the company (for their own greed and benefit) they can laugh all the way to the unemployment line.

 

[HoughMade]

I've heard a little bit about the issues and I don't like to pre-judge whether a strike is warranted or wise. There will be negotiations ans strikes from time to time and everyone will have their complaints.

I did hear a few things. For instance- one issue is "affordable healthcare". I'll try to keep a straight face. I would like to know what the average GM-UAW worker pays on a monthly basis for their own healthcare and what the benefits are. I have a feeling it will be spit-take worthy. One UAW guy I know (Ford) is a big advocate for "Medicare for all". I wonder if he understands what he would be losing.

Another issue I heard about is trying to get GM to allocate products (vehicles) to plants so that they don't shut down.....brilliant. Striking to try to entice GM to keep your plant going- building no cars to try to build cars. I get it- the unspoken arguments was to bring plants back from Mexico or Canada....but until the U.S. plant builds the product in an economically viable way, good luck. It used to be that you could count on American workers to turn out a better product faster, justifying the higher labor cost than the foreign counterpart. I'm afraid that this advantage does not exist to the extent it used to. It's not just manufacturing techniques, foreign workers are getting better and American workers just don't hold much of an advantage anymore.

Anyhoo, no matter what anyone says, it's wages and benefits- it always is. GM will pay more than it used to and the UAW will get something for the worker to show it has a purpose....and will keep complaining nonetheless. It's their job.

Personally, I wouldn't want to lock myself into a job that ensures that I will be a cog and the cogs with more time in the machine will always get treated better even if they suck at being cogs....but that's me. Let's face facts, for a lot of people, that's as good as it's ever going to get. To them- I say, I hope this all works out for you.

 

[KittySlayer]

GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Then dig into the union coffers, buy some land and machinery, and start your own factory and build a line of cars. Just think of all the people lining up to buy the new UAW line of automobiles. Or as someone else mentioned, buy more stock in GM.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

I watched the union destroy the Fort Wayne economy for a decade or more as they made it impossible for International Harvester to carry on production.

And for those that do not believe in trickle down economics, watch how quickly non-GM workers are impacted by this strike. Be it delivery guys hauling just in time inventory, subcontractors, local eateries, etc.

Was a strike really necessary or could production and work continued during negotiations and then make any wages, benefits, etc. retroactive once an agreement was reached. Maybe the union leaders needed some excitement in their life.

 

[NHT3]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck. As I was told this morning by friend number two, GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

You are not wrong... When I still worked there I became very disturbed with UAW and started looking into what I could on my own. At that time 2010, payroll for the UAW international (Detroit) was over 70 million dollars. Over 200 International officers and their minions making over 100 grand a year. It became obvious to me UAW International and GM have been in bed together for MANY years. When the UAW started sanctioning "signing bonuses" it was obvious they were in the tank. Keep people on strike for a month or so and then offer them a crappy 4 year contract with a 3000 dollar signing bonus and it's no surprise that there's enough desperate people to get it passed. Many people live paycheck to paycheck and even though they know a contract is coming up they can't or don't save some money in case there's a strike. It's the UAW/GM against the workers and the workers have lost the game before it starts. If the UAW wasn't in the tank they would negotiate a good enough contract that it would pass without the signing bonus but I doubt that ever happens again.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

You are not wrong... When I still worked there I became very disturbed with UAW and started looking into what I could on my own. At that time 2010, payroll for the UAW international (Detroit) was over 70 million dollars. Over 200 International officers and their minions making over 100 grand a year. It became obvious to me UAW International and GM have been in bed together for MANY years. When the UAW started sanctioning "signing bonuses" it was obvious they were in the tank. Keep people on strike for a month or so and then offer them a crappy 4 year contract with a 3000 dollar signing bonus and it's no surprise that there's enough desperate people to get it passed. Many people live paycheck to paycheck and even though they know a contract is coming up they can't or don't save some money in case there's a strike. It's the UAW/GM against the workers and the workers have lost the game before it starts. If the UAW wasn't in the tank they would negotiate a good enough contract that it would pass without the signing bonus but I doubt that ever happens again.

I think there are still people in the rank and file that truly believe "the union will take care of us". Is it any wonder with a mindset like that, that they tend to vote for Democrats? I see very little (or no difference really) between that and "the government will take care of us."

Say what you will about the Japanese car manufacturers, but they take care of their workers without a union. They know that if you take care of your workers, your company will thrive, and they emphasize the team concept - that when the company succeeds, the workers succeed. That's why they have surpassed U.S. companies in sales here in the U.S..

 

[Big Flounder]

I'm going to be terribly outnumbered here on the forums, I know, but I have worked at the Fort Wayne plant for almost 20 years and am a proud UAW member. My coworkers are all hard working, good people and not "lever pulling mindless idiots" as suggested earlier by someone. I'm also a proud NRA member and Desert Storm veteran. There's things about the UAW I agree with and some I don't but this strike is one thing I do agree with. The temp employee situation is out of control and needs to be addressed. Just my opinion.

 

[Kutnupe14]

I have several family members and two close friends who work for the GM truck plant here in Fort Wayne, I even had a job for myself out there at one time. My one buddy can not stand the UAW. He is not happy as he is losing his overtime. My other buddy says the strike is for all of the temps who they feel should be permanently hired. To be fair, they are working for less money and do not have the benefits of the standard GM employee. Well that is noble of the UAW, wanting what is only fair to these poor temp workers. . . it has zero to do with the UAW wanting more of someones paycheck. As I was told this morning by friend number two, GM is having record profits, they need to share the wealth.

Who knows, maybe I am wrong. But the stories I hear from friends and family out there does not make one have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the UAW, the locals anyway.

Didn't the UAW make concessions during the auto bailout? I think they did. If between now and the Trump tax restructuring, those workers weren't raised at least to the where they were, then I would think they have a fair argument if the GM is making record profits.

 

[Kutnupe14]

I'm going to be terribly outnumbered here on the forums, I know, but I have worked at the Fort Wayne plant for almost 20 years and am a proud UAW member. My coworkers are all hard working, good people and not "lever pulling mindless idiots" as suggested earlier by someone. I'm also a proud NRA member and Desert Storm veteran. There's things about the UAW I agree with and some I don't but this strike is one thing I do agree with. The temp employee situation is out of control and needs to be addressed. Just my opinion.

Being on the front lines, you opinion, I dare say holds a bit more weight than others.

 

[Big Flounder]

Being on the front lines, you opinion, I dare say holds a bit more weight than others.

Thanks Kutnupe14, I appreciate that.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I'm going to be terribly outnumbered here on the forums, I know, but I have worked at the Fort Wayne plant for almost 20 years and am a proud UAW member. My coworkers are all hard working, good people and not "lever pulling mindless idiots" as suggested earlier by someone. I'm also a proud NRA member and Desert Storm veteran. There's things about the UAW I agree with and some I don't but this strike is one thing I do agree with. The temp employee situation is out of control and needs to be addressed. Just my opinion.

First of all, than you for your service! If I was the one you were talking about regarding "lever pulling mindless idiots", please don't take that personally. You have to admit though, that on the whole, the UAW and other unions have typically supported Democrats. With that out of the way, I should explain my viewpoint on unions, especially the UAW.

Back in 1978 -1979 I worked for Detroit Diesel Allison here in Indy, as a co-op student at General Motors Institute. I worked in several areas, but the two that stand out were Time Study and Production Processes. I wasn't management or Union, but the Union employees viewed me (an 18 year old kid) as management). When I was in Time Study, carrying around a clipboard with 3 stopwatches on it, I was told that it was very important that I told the union employees that I was only doing what were called "floor to floor checks" to make sure they were within the standard times for their duty, and NOT affecting their standard times. Once I explained that, the operators seemed to relax a little bit, but when walking through the plant? Man... if looks could kill, I'd be a dead man.

In Production Processes, we had a very high failure rate for torque converters in test. We tracked it down to one guy on the transmission line. The torque converters had these little "retainer washers" (spring steel with slits in the inside diameter) on the studs of the torque converter. When this one person was installing them into the transmission, he was spinning them clockwise to get them to drop down onto the splined shaft of the transmission by grabbing the studs. This resulted in the retainers "unscrewing" themselves from the studs.

As a result, when the transmission was bolted up to the testing machine, these retainers would flatten themselves out and fail test. When I pointed out what he was doing and explained why it was a problem (all he had to do was spin it counter-clockwise to correct it), he shut down the whole assembly line and called his foreman over. Now, they had PALLETS of transmissions that had failed test and had to be reassembled, all due to what this guy was doing. Guess who the foreman stuck up for? That pretty much soured my view of unions, especially the UAW.

 

[jamil]

I'm going to be terribly outnumbered here on the forums, I know, but I have worked at the Fort Wayne plant for almost 20 years and am a proud UAW member. My coworkers are all hard working, good people and not "lever pulling mindless idiots" as suggested earlier by someone. I'm also a proud NRA member and Desert Storm veteran. There's things about the UAW I agree with and some I don't but this strike is one thing I do agree with. The temp employee situation is out of control and needs to be addressed. Just my opinion.

Maybe it would help if you could explain the temp employee situation. What is the complaint, and what is the remedy sought by the UAW.

 

[KittySlayer]

...I have worked at the Fort Wayne plant for almost 20 years and am a proud UAW member...

...The temp employee situation is out of control and needs to be addressed. Just my opinion.

Would appreciate your insight on understanding the Temp employee situation. My guess (and why I am asking you) is it is not a situation of GM trying to remain nimble in an ever changing market. Instead I wonder if GM is keeping employees classified as temps for months (years?) at a time to avoid paying them wages/benefits that equal to the union guy doing the same job? If GM hires on a temp as a regular employee are they able to lay them off or terminate them as the market changes? Are the temp employees members of the union? Is the union focused on grabbing bodies/members and if not why has it taken them so long to address the temp issue?

As always there are two (or 3 or 4...) sides to a story and it is good you are willing to share your knowledge with those of us sitting on the sidelines guessing, looking at our past experiences or the worst - relying on the media to tell us the truth.