UAW Strike

[ProfessorWes]

To be fair, UAW is in the position of having to scramble for a bigger slice of a shrinking pie, due to the actions of both Big Government and the globalists. It's just that striking the automakers isn't going to help their members. In this case, the better choice for UAW would be fighting all the insane government-driven climate BS and job-killing regulations.

But that would be biting the hand that feeds.

My biggest gripe about the unions is that their bosses have always been it for their own power and financial benefit, and not that of the workers they claim to represent. The workers end up losing their jobs, but somehow the bosses always make bank.

 

[hittman]

Front line union workers are to union leadership what blacks are to Democrats.

 

[vito]

When my 12 year old Subaru Outback, made in Indiana by non-union workers, finally gives up the ghost I likely will buy another Outback from the same factory. The UAW has tried repeatedly to organize that assembly plant but has not been successful. Workers today who work for an employer that treats them decently and rewards the best workers see the unions as not representing their true best interests, and forcing them to pay dues on top of that.

 

[peachhead]

Maybe to prevent the backslide to "the old days" where workers had no rights.

Over the past dozen years the UAW lost a lot of benifits that they had won in the past. COLA, pension (for all employees), very little gain in wages.
They also saw the rise in mulit tiered levels of employees often doing the same jobs but at different wages.
Yea, they asked for the moon knowing full well they wouldn't get it. It's call negotiations. One side starts high and the other side starts low and somewhere in the middle they settle.

If you take the statement:

and change a couple of words you might get:

The 1st & 2an amendments once served a good purpose. Now I don't think they do.

Unions are not perfect, There are parts I do not agree with but overall they are responsible for a great many of the improvements for ALL workers in this country.

That is a bunch of crap.
Unions served their purpose back in the days of child labor and 20 hour working days with working conditions that were incredibly dangerous.
That is no longer the case. Now they just want to Rosie O'Donnell because they don't think they make enough money and have enough benefits. Let me tell you bud, a lot of people are in that situation and it's called a capitalist economy.
If you don't like the money you make, go find another job.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I'm so glad I got my truck back from my body guy before this. It was bad enough.

I wrecked my truck in early May and it took 4 1/2 months for him to fix it. Took 2 months for him to get the hood and over that for other grille and trim parts...2018 F150.

Aqualung

Was he buying the parts from an auto dealer and they were NEW ? I remember "wrecking yards" (my uncle in CA owned a couple of them) and you could find good parts for a reasonable price and get it quickly; Yeah it might need to be sanded and painted to match but it sure beat the "new" prices.

 

[BearBiologist]

When my 12 year old Subaru Outback, made in Indiana by non-union workers, finally gives up the ghost I likely will buy another Outback from the same factory. The UAW has tried repeatedly to organize that assembly plant but has not been successful. Workers today who work for an employer that treats them decently and rewards the best workers see the unions as not representing their true best interests, and forcing them to pay dues on top of that.

I expect my 2019 4Runner will outlast me by a fair margin! Built in Japan. The last 3 American made cars were a Jeep (Cost more in repairs than the payments totaled) and a Ford full-sized Bronco=broke down in the first month and a Dodge Ramcharger= cooling never ran right!

Compared to 2 Toyotas that went over 200K with nothing but clutches and brakes. Another one went 329K before I sold it to my mechanic.

I've posted elsewhere that I've never belonged to a union shop and rose to upper ranks in two separate careers!

 

[Aqualung]

Was he buying the parts from an auto dealer and they were NEW ? I remember "wrecking yards" (my uncle in CA owned a couple of them) and you could find good parts for a reasonable price and get it quickly; Yeah it might need to be sanded and painted to match but it sure beat the "new" prices.

He was getting new parts. He knew reclaimed parts were available, but goes the extra mile to make sure our cars get the best he can provide.

 

[BearBiologist]

Remember Jimmy Hoffa???

 

[trebor44]

Here is my conspiracy theory.

Unions love Democrats and whoever is pulling the strings in the White House. BHO
If they put this on as a "show" and Brandon goes to Detroit or wherever UAW is,
and puts on his little show to bring them together and end the strike he becomes a hero,
right before election year.

Lets go Brandon.

So why is Trump going to the picket line? I thought unions were "communistic, left wing, liberal, socialists"!
I came from a union 'family' have belonged to unions, and even organized one. They are an anachronism! AND the UAW (especially leadership) has been pathetic in their demands. Small unions are useless and large ones are grandiose seeking.

 

[ProfessorWes]

Pushback.

https://hotair.com/tree-hugging-sis...nt-construction-uaw-in-freak-out-mode-n580589
And there's UAW, sucking up to the "president" and the administration that is killing their industry and their jobs.

 

[GypsmJim]

My grandpa was a German refugee that immediately got a job at a local factory. He also immediately applied for citizenship, learned English and was soon a citizen. Grandma did all the same. Within a few years they bought a house and till the day they died paid taxes and loved America.

Half way thru his career his company was sold and the new company became union. His supervisor job was eliminated and he was forced to join the union. It was the Teamsters. Often a Caddy came by with men in suits asking for donations for a brother that died. Once he asked who it was and he was told that if he asked again he would be the next in a grave.

If anyone said "union" at home Grandpa would utter words under his breath. If someone said "teamsters", his eyes would turn read and he would utter German swear words. Mom would cup her hands over my little ears.

Today companies are making massive profits, leaving some workers behind. Buttttt, the UAW demands are outrageous.

If Grandpa were still alive, he would utter words that now in my 70's I would understand.

 

[hittman]

This will only surprise the sheeple union laborers.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politic...t-who-donned-eat-the-rich-shirt-top-5-earners

 

[dannyd]

So why is Trump going to the picket line? I thought unions were "communistic, left wing, liberal, socialists"!
I came from a union 'family' have belonged to unions, and even organized one. They are an anachronism! AND the UAW (especially leadership) has been pathetic in their demands. Small unions are useless and large ones are grandiose seeking.

Because President Trump is a left leaning Republican Centrist and does look at both sides of the issue to make the best deal. He's just like President Reagan without the Hollywood Polish or T.V. charm.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I wouldn't call auto workers skilled not by a very long stretch.

As I already said ... and it needed said again. Thanks. One tour of a plant (I have toured Bowling Green, Oklahoma City, and Arlington twice) and anyone with half a brain can see how little actual work these people do. But furthermore, the vehicles are designed around ease of assembly for these people ... in turn making them much harder to service.

I’m still getting my parts every day…11 people doing the jobs of the other 80 at the PDC while still getting their own jobs done.

Well come work at the Ft Worth PDC then please. We get some referral parts a couple days a week and have a notebook FULL of unfulfilled orders. We are less than an hour from the PDC.

People, once again, need to STOP saying unions once had their place. They were always Marxist.

 

[Leatherneck]

One tour of a plant (I have toured Bowling Green, Oklahoma City, and Arlington twice) and anyone with half a brain can see how little actual work these people do.

As someone who has spent 20yrs in an auto plant, I'm curious as to what you consider "actual work".

 

[Johnnu2]

Pay goes up, prices go up further........

It's the natural order; cain't do anything 'bout it....

Everything stays the same within the big cycle. Just keep on peddling folks.

IMHO,
J.

 

[Jeepnik]

Unions have the right to strike. So be it. But as I once pointed out to some shipyard workers, even if you get everything you asked for by the end of that contract you will still be in the loss column.

Those folks ignored the numbers. The night at 12:01 when we put the sign on the gate saying the yard was permanently closed the other few that were there said “you’re can’t do that”. Well it was done and they all lost very good paying jobs. And it was an industry that didn’t have sufficient employers to absorb any of those workers.

So I say let UAW strike. All they are doing is losing money, jobs and sales to offshore companies. Just don’t go begging for government bailouts again.

 

[GasGuzzler]

As someone who has spent 20yrs in an auto plant, I'm curious as to what you consider "actual work".

Lifting, loosening, tightening...anything that requires holding tools. Also, not taking a 15 minute break every hour and working a normal work schedule. Also not paying to get paid. The tools are supported by cables and are all electric or pneumatic in the UAW shops I've toured. There's a Peterbilt plant not too far away and they're not union so I know it can be done. I have been in the industry a lot longer than you and the UAW has screwed me over almost as much as the engineers.

 

[Captain America]

The Winchester PDC is now about a day behind as New York and Boston have shut down completely. A lot of our parts are now coming from Toronto. I cannot speak for Ford or GM but Stellantis has made six offers to the UAW that have been rejected, from what I hear the last three look almost identical. My guess is that the rank and file union members are going to have to make some decisions as they‘re going to be missing a second paycheck and it looks like the auto companies might just be willing to wait this out. As far as the PDC workers go they can easily be replaced with automation and robotics. Our PDC no longer uses a union trucking company to deliver our parts, my guess is the auto companies could easily just farm the entire parts operation out to someone like Amazon and eliminate all their jobs.

 

[hittman]

Lots of folks willing to work for only $40 an hour. Time to replace all the current staff and get a fresh start. Isn‘t this why we “need” all the illegals …. For jobs American’s don’t want to do?

 

[GasGuzzler]

Lots of folks willing to work for only $40 an hour. Time to replace all the current staff and get a fresh start.

THIS

 

[Jack Ryan]

Lifting, loosening, tightening...anything that requires holding tools. Also, not taking a 15 minute break every hour and working a normal work schedule. Also not paying to get paid. The tools are supported by cables and are all electric or pneumatic in the UAW shops I've toured. There's a Peterbilt plant not too far away and they're not union so I know it can be done. I have been in the industry a lot longer than you and the UAW has screwed me over almost as much as the engineers.

You haven't got a clue what you are talking about. I doubt you would make it to lunch on any of those assembly lines.

 

[sceva]

I'm torn; I was in three different unions. I walked picket lines, striking for nickels and dimes. For most of my working life anything over 4% was considered pretty good and over 6% was great. When I see that these workers are demanding 30 - 40% increases I think where does that come from. I remember in the late 70's getting COLA increases added to the contract ( to keep up with inflation don't you know so you wouldn't need to fight every 3 years to catch up) which in those times led to some pretty good increases over the contract. What happened next contract; the committee asked for an even larger increase than usual on top of the COLA which lead to a long bitter strike and then going back to work for a much smaller increase. I'm sorry to say that the unions have long forgotten why they were formed and necessary. I've seen them take pension increases off the table for another nickel an hour now, I've seen Committeemen that bought new cars after every contract. I have seen union members hurt badly by the Stewards / committeemen's shenanigan's ( myself included) only to be told if we complained that they ":Got one over on Management". I have seen lots of Dollars go to National with very little staying to help local. I have been to union meetings where the committee basically ran it with no input from the rank and file. Kind of like ( in all one sentence "Motion made all in favor say aye the ayes have it" with no actual time taken to count. Unions are a necessary thing and when they are run correctly, for the good of the members and not a Union vs Management counting coup. I left the union and never looked back with my own skills and ability working for me and I did pretty darn well on my own.

 

[Huskerguy72]

I am a retired teacher/administrator. I said if I was required to join the NEA union I would quit. The last several years of my career I was an administrator and had to participate in all of the negotiations mess. Schools are pretty limited as the income is from the tax payer. However, I was continually amazed who the teachers voted to be their reps and then watched as they wanted to help out the more experienced, those closer to retirement rather than new hires. Then constant haggling over words in the agreement, like Clintion it depends in what "is" is. At the end of day it is all a matter of pride, the union thinking they usurped their power over the board to "get what they wanted" and the boards giving in on wording and not looking at the future implications of their decisions as there will be new board members who will have to deal with it or administrators who have to enforce things.

 

[hittman]

Public school teachers in IL make an average of $43.00 an hour.
Just sayin’ ……

 

[Aqualung]

I am a retired teacher/administrator. I said if I was required to join the NEA union I would quit. The last several years of my career I was an administrator and had to participate in all of the negotiations mess. Schools are pretty limited as the income is from the tax payer. However, I was continually amazed who the teachers voted to be their reps and then watched as they wanted to help out the more experienced, those closer to retirement rather than new hires. Then constant haggling over words in the agreement, like Clintion it depends in what "is" is. At the end of day it is all a matter of pride, the union thinking they usurped their power over the board to "get what they wanted" and the boards giving in on wording and not looking at the future implications of their decisions as there will be new board members who will have to deal with it or administrators who have to enforce things.

When I was doing my student teaching in NJ, I thought it was funny that you did have a choice whether you wanted to be in the union or not...but you still had to pay dues either way...

I understood the reasoning they gave, to an extent, but just thought it funny...what a racket...

Aqualung

 

[hittman]

...what a racket...

Nailed it. (y)

 

[Hvymax]

I think unions did some good in the past but I don’t see a need for them anymore , not in fields I’m familiar with

They're great for building trades. If I had to travel for work or change companies at the end of the project. My benefits and pension were fine. After 40 years wrecking my body working like a man I retired and can enjoy shooting, fishing, boating, riding, building crap and enjoying the grandkids. Even if I could have made the same money in the pocket medical would have been a killer and Social Security is half of my pension.

 

[Jeepnik]

In my entire working life I was a union member for just over five years. Just long enough for become vested. That was from 79 to 84. I never needed a union to get a good salary and benefits.
But all these years later I make darned sure I get my pension, meager though it may be.

 

[GasGuzzler]

You haven't got a clue what you are talking about. I doubt you would make it to lunch on any of those assembly lines.

Calling me a liar union boy? I have seen it with my own eyes ... at multiple plants. The UAW is a disease.