You're still butthurt that the council didn't grant you the rank of master.
Hey. I do all the dark dirty work and those *******s sit around and pontificate on their enlightenment. And they won’t make me a master?
You're still butthurt that the council didn't grant you the rank of master.
Let's talk about out of control costs...
Every so often, our machine platens need to be rebuilt. This process involves machining the platen, welding the platen with nickel rod, and machining it to true it up. It typically costs $250,000 and takes an outside vendor about a week. Our plant manager found a new vendor that charged half the price and only took three days. Everyone told him it was a bad idea, but he knew better. Sure enough, this vendor had it done in three days because they bought in this fancy mig welder that could run welds non stop instead of stick welding with nickel rod. Of course, they welded mild steel onto the platen - can anyone guess what 3500 tons of pressure does to mild steel? After two weeks of trying to run with ruined platens, the original company was brought in. They had to machine further than normal, weld twice as much, and machine it again at a cost of over $500,000. It took them four weeks. So, six weeks of lost production and $625,000 in costs instead of two weeks at $250,000.
Yup, we're the problem.
Yes, people suck. That's why I have a GSD and a malinois.Majority of the people suck.....doesnt matter if they have a union or not.
It is my understanding these temp workers seem to be a major issue the UAW wants to tackle, my question would be when or why did the UAW allow temp workers to perform union jobs??
My experience with unions is limited to USW and I know they would not allow temp workers in doing union jobs. (not a union member here , professional staff)
The follow up question to the original question would be if they UAW did allow the temp workers, why did they not build a structured path for these workers to become fully vested union members in the contract?
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.
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.
Dean, the union didn't allow temps but did agree to allow them to be vested into the system of a 6 month temp work status. There are "temps" that have been doing the same job as a regular UAW worker for 6 years. No same tier wage scale, reduced health care benefits, 3 days vacation, etc. They could quit but they need a job too. The union is only allowed to write a grievance. That's it because in the end it's this:
It's their company and they are allowed to run it as they seem fit. The union can disagree and write a grievance. That's it. Indiana is a right-to-work state and we(UAW) try to work within the parameters of our mutually agreed upon contracts with GM but in the end: It's their company and they are allowed to run as they deem fit. (Sorry no purple here)
Dean, the temp situation started changing with the bankruptcy. Prior to that, if you worked at the plant for 90 days as a temp, you were made full time by contract. Almost all of our "temps" at that time were hired strictly for the summer to help cover vacations and they were mostly college kids just needing a job for the summer. Then during the bankruptcy the UAW agreed to allow more temps in and dropped the 90 day thing, to help the company survive. It just never got changed back to the way it was and GM keeps wanting more and more temporary workers rather than hire full time. They save a ton of money with the temps. Oh, and the temps are UAW. They pay dues just like the rest of us. Dues are based on a percentage of your hourly rate. I think I mentioned it earlier but in my opinion the temp situation is a country wide problem and a tool that cooperate America is using to reap bigger profits. It hurts no one but the middle class. The small company my wife works at (non union plant) here in Huntington does the same thing...hire temps and keep them temps for years. Unemployment rates might go up and down, but the number of jobs with benefits and pensions has been on a steady decline for decades unfortunately.
Well...I just happen to be one of thhose teat sucking worthless union guys who actually know what is at stake and I am PROUD to have made a decent living as a skilled tradesman the last 29 years in Kokomo. If you'd like to hear the truth of what is going on on the salary side v.s. the hourly side, I could try to enlighten you but most of you have your own opinions and quasi-backyard politics figured out for you so I won't bother. I can't sway those of you they don't want to hear the truth or are butt hurt you can't get one of those shiftless union jobs. It's very much trying to sway gun-grabbing moms need action types to freedom loving staunch 2A supporters. Your mind is pre-determined no matter the truth.
In truth we can say this about a lot of things in this world outside of the Unions.
Bingo. I always tell people that it takes all kinds of folks to build trucks. Fort Wayne Assembly employs about 4,000 people. That's bigger than the town I grew up in. When you have a population of folks that is the size of a small town, you're going to have a few @holes, alcoholics, drug addicts, thieves, hillbillies, snobs, past sex offenders, felons, etc. I've seen them all but the vast majority of the people I work with are good, hard working Americans that have become like family to me. There are people at the plant I would take a bullet for. Of course, there is a couple that I would often like to shove into traffic too. Lol!
Dean, the union didn't allow temps but did agree to allow them to be vested into the system of a 6 month temp work status. There are "temps" that have been doing the same job as a regular UAW worker for 6 years. No same tier wage scale, reduced health care benefits, 3 days vacation, etc. They could quit but they need a job too. The union is only allowed to write a grievance. That's it because in the end it's this:
It's their company and they are allowed to run it as they seem fit. The union can disagree and write a grievance. That's it. Indiana is a right-to-work state and we(UAW) try to work within the parameters of our mutually agreed upon contracts with GM but in the end: It's their company and they are allowed to run as they deem fit. (Sorry no purple here)
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.
Interesting opinion of whats been said. It would appear you have been offended by some of the posts and I might have been one of them.
I could have had any number of those coveted union spots including skilled trades. Tried it out and did not care for it. It takes a specific type of individual to do that work and i am glade folks like you are willing. I just did not fit into that mold.
You know as well as I do the percentage of people that get by with the minimum amount possible in those settings yet demand more. Not everyone but man there are a crap load of them. 1st hand knowledge and i also dealt with the management side. There are as many morons there as well. I have also met and maintain contact with several pretty stellar people. In truth we can say this about a lot of things in this world outside of the Unions. They just tend to be front line at times like these.
I am retired Union. Local 440. I did not care 2 cents for management at the hall. They were Pompous asses for the most part. But I did like the money. In the end that is exactly why we all got up and spent the lions share of our days out in the big scary. It was the money. benefits as well and no argument that the union side had the marks on both.
My issues with the mind set comes from being around and inside of it near my whole life. I am sure that what I saw/experienced was no illusion.
I mean seriously, the top five people alone made almost $20,000,000 in pay alone. Who knows what kind of monetary and stock option bonuses they got on top of that.
I know there are a lot of good people working in the US auto plants, but there are a lot of people making $80k a year doing unskilled labor that need to get some perspective.
I think I mentioned it earlier but in my opinion the temp situation is a country wide problem and a tool that cooperate America is using to reap bigger profits. It hurts no one but the middle class. ... Unemployment rates might go up and down, but the number of jobs with benefits and pensions has been on a steady decline for decades unfortunately.