GM's UAW on strike!!!

[fleming442]

The other point I didn't mention: what I know vs what a UAW worker does.... I have to know a TON more than "insert bolt A into hole 1 with the prehung and precalibrated robot torque wrench. I toured the vette plant in Bowling Green and couldn't believe those monkeys were making the same if not more than I am. I'll give them the ergonomic discomfort and repetitive motion, but that's about it.

 

[TURNA]

They should all be protesting the Union for selling them out 10 years ago

 

[ck80]

Article said workers make 45K-90K... assume most line workers are in the 45-55 range.
In a land where prices on everything have tripled in less than 20 years, that's not as much as you'd think...
Article also said workers agreed to a cost of living freeze 10 years ago during the bankruptcy to help out GM...
Now that GM is making 8 Billion in profits, they want their cost of living increase back.
And you think the workers are lazy and greedy?

The average teacher makes around $30-35k in these parts, and that's for a job that is both infinitely more important, and, vastly more difficult.

Historically, auto works have grown to be somewhat entitled as a whole. IIRC, there were two sets of wages/benefits scales depending on when someone was hired in uaw shops, something of a morale strain itself.

While we can point the fingers at management product decisions to some degree, a large portion of the reason big 3 manufacturing wound up as financially unhealthy as it did were union wages, benefits, and legacy costs. Pointing to foreign manufacturers "better products meant no bailouts" also has to point at southern, non-union, domestic manufacturing as well.

I won't go so far as to call the workers lazy, although like all employee groups there assuredly will be some fitting the bill.

I will call them largely entitled, greedy, and unreasonable.

 

[87National]

GM should do what Reagan did

Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 air‑traffic controllers | August 5, 1981 | HISTORY

On August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firing 11,359 air‑traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. The executive action, regarded as extreme by many, significantly slowed air travel for months. Two days earlier, on August 3, almost 13,000...

www.history.com

Yep, if they don't want to show up and do their job.....find someone that will.

 

[87National]

when I worked for Canadair and then Bombardier I was forced to be in a union, the union held my pay back cause all the sheep got paid the same. I could have bargained for a higher pay cause I was good at my job. I was told that I was at the highest pay scale for a unionized worker. I told my bosses a few times to get rid my red badge meaning I'm unionised and to give me a management job but leave me on the floor. They would not give me the raise I demanded so I quit after 10 years on the job My last postion on the floor was to repair the screw ups of 3 guys on the final line. The union protected those guys even though they cost the company money and there was alot more like them.

Look, I became a member of a weak *ss union 21 years ago. I work hard (when needed) and have to support the FMLA abuser leaches. There's one P.o.S. that been out since February! I cannot and will not do that. I've never collected unemployment from the state, either. What sucks is that we're putting in the time and they're juicing the bennies.

You've both summed up perfectly the problem with unions. For unions to be effective, they have to treat all workers as if they add the same value to the organization......this means the freeloaders are protected and the high performing individuals are underpaid relative to non-union positions that compensate based on an employees performance.

 

[87National]

And you're glad that potentially tens of thousands of people would be out of work?

Ironically, It's the existence of unions that leads to the loss of domestic auto manufacturing jobs. It puts GM at a competitive disadvantage to other auto manufacturers like Toyota that have plants in non-union states.

 

[Kennybill]

As I've said before I live near the now closed GM Lordstown plant. I remember when it was farm land before they broke ground in 1964. I never worked there but I thought it would never close. Lots of my friends and neighbors worked there. I've toured the plant and it was impressive. The Union hall has a "FOR SALE" sign on it. Now for my opinion, the Union should do whatever they can to reopen the shuttered plants and secure the present workers jobs. If you have to contribute a little more to hospitalization and/or a pay freeze so be it. The company really needs to concentrate on quality/reliability. I've always had GM cars but I know they've been crap for decades. That said, my 2011 Chevrolet Silverado has been a great truck. That bit*h, Mary Barra interned at the Lordstown plant. She was on the witches short list for VP. This area went Republican for the first time. She waited till after the elections before announcing this decision. Let's hope for the best for the employees family. Jmo.

 

[69hurstolds]

 

[DRIVEN]

I guess I can't relate. I've never had a union job, an employer funded 401k, or much in the way of benefits. If I didn't like what my employer offered, I asked for more or was on to the next one. Same goes for my wife. We've done okay so far and never had to bend a knee or be told how to vote. I guess some people need mommy's help and some just handle their own affairs.

So, my thoughts on a UAW strike? Shrug.

 

[84dragcutlass]

Im union and i will say this, when it works it works, however when they get greedy thats when the help stops. Unions are and started life out as a way to protect the employees. I would hate for my job to be non union and the company could walk up and fire whoever they wanted for whatever reason they wanted and not have any protection against it. They are the ones that barter for the pay raises ive gotten over the years and i know for a fact that if they hadnt been there i wouldnt make half what i make now (trust me i still dont make a lot) Big point is dont throw all the blame on the unions they really are a good thing its the greedy people that get VOTED in to run the unions that screw it for everyone stuffing their own pockets. Just like governments and politicians get rid of the scum at the top and take care of the problem dont take it out on the whole work force because they may have nothing to do with the decisions that are made at the top