UAW Strike

[gnappi]

"Not for profit corporations only generate revenue by grants or contribution drives. The employees are generally paid very poorly while executive compensation is very high with little risk to the entity as there are few major decisions concerning the entity."

You really do not understand what a "Not for profit" organization is. Just like the for-profits, they make a profit, i.e., income above expenses, through their operations and/or donations and grants. The difference is that they do not pay taxes, and they do not pay shareholders or other owners. But a good and sustainable not-for-profit needs to make some income above expenses so as to be able to modernize, expand, replace existing buildings and equipment, etc.

Of course I do, why did I put Not for profit in bold? EVERYONE knows they make scads of money. They build hospitals, TV networks no?

 

[hittman]

There's a difference between union and labor union. Nice try though.
——————————————————————————————-

labor union
noun

: an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions

Definition of LABOR UNION

an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

 

[The Norseman]

I can't wait for the day when consumers
say they are just not going to buy those
expensive vehicles.

I would think there has to be a point in
time when we stop being sheep, and
stop buying. Maybe that would drive
a situation of going back to basics.

 

[hittman]

30 years ago when I still had kids at home a neighbor asked me why I don't buy a new car for EACH the wife and I every couple years. Of course, he worked at a GM plant in St. Louis.

I told him then that those of us making $10 an hour can't afford stuff made by guys making $30. He walked away without comment and never spoke to me again.

It was well worth it.

 

[Watertender]

I have been on both sides of the union debate. My dad and my 1st wife's family were union people. Dad was International Union of Operating Engineers and my in-laws were UAW. I am a union member and have been a member of several. The UAW side was involved before WW2 and I have seen pictures of the struggles they were having. They worked for General Motors and all were in the skilled trades as tool and die makers. A lot of the safety measures in place are the result of what they fought for. Collective bargaining benefits the employees.

This being said about unions, they do have a bad side. 95% of union involvement in defending union members usually concerns less than 5% of the employees. I have never filed a grievance for anything and never claimed out of title work for taking care of anything I have had to do.

Stiffs, crybabies, idiots and labor fakers are the ones that are protected by the unions and the majority of members end up carrying these people. I have had representation by a union exactly once in my working life and that was the result of someone crying about a joke that they laughed at harder than anyone else. I laughed at both sides and told them to fire me. The position I have is almost impossible to replace and they know it so I am secure in my job, besides that they would have to pay unemployment and I have never drawn a day of that in my life.

I know that this UAW strike will raise the price of new vehicles but at the local GM plant they have a legitimate complaint. The wage scale for the newer employees is not much more than the fast food places are paying.

Do I have the answers? No but I can see both sides in the debate...

 

[87flht]

Water tender if they don't like the pay they shouldn't take the job

 

[Watertender]

Water tender if they don't like the pay they shouldn't take the job

It's a choice like anything else. Like I said I can see both sides and don't have the answers. I know that I can spend my money on a product that they produce or spend it on something else. The features on a vehicle are the deciding factor on what I buy. I don't have brand loyalty as far as vehicles go. I want 4 wheels and a box to haul me and my tools... If I can get a vehicle produced and sourced in America I will. Money talks and bull manure walks...

 

[rotor]

Unions have their place in the civilian world. They should be banned in all government jobs. All!

 

[Watertender]

I worked in a maximum security prison for over 15 years. We were unionized and I am glad that we were. If you ever had a problem with a convict you would want to have them there in your corner. After I left the prison system I was in the state university system for 10 years as Chief Engineer and never had anyone file a grievance against me. Any problems in the Powerhouse were handled internally and fairly. There were times when it took more effort to resolve something but we made it work. After I left things changed and the Chief that replaced me has had to deal with the union quite often.

 

[Jeepnik]

I really miss the shipyard. Though unionized, most things were "settled" off property. A couple of guys had a beef, a few minutes outside of Joe Biffs settled it one way or another. You might lose and get your butt kicked, but the guy who did the kicking would probably buy you a beer. Today, eveyrone involved, even if just watching the festivities, would be fired and arrested. And that before the lawyers got involved.

 

[peachhead]

In a world that pays $15 to flip burgers, skilled trades deserve to be making more than $30 an hour.

Keep in mind they always ask for a lot more than they actually expect to get.

Not everybody does. And just because they might be, don't mean they should be.
Unions once served a good purpose. Now I don't think they do.

 

[Watertender]

I really miss the shipyard. Though unionized, most things were "settled" off property. A couple of guys had a beef, a few minutes outside of Joe Biffs settled it one way or another. You might lose and get your butt kicked, but the guy who did the kicking would probably buy you a beer. Today, eveyrone involved, even if just watching the festivities, would be fired and arrested. And that before the lawyers got involved.

Today the workplace is a different thing. Lawyers being involved in anything makes it difficult and expensive. I saw my dad smack a guy with a shovel and end a disagreement. Like you said, today that would not fly.

 

[vito]

I think part of the problem with unions is that they are trying to recreate an era that no longer exists. The heyday of American unions was after WWII. Most of the rest of the world was in ruins, so American companies could thrive even if they made crappy goods, and the companies could earn a nice profit even with too many workers making high pay and costly benefits. Those were the days that a young man could go right from high school into a factory, union job and stay with a company for decades and support a family on just his income. But the rest of the world recovered by the late '70's and '80's and inefficient American companies with overpaid workers no longer dominated world trade. Those glory days of the post WWII era are gone and will never come back despite the unions' dreaming about recreating that world. In the 1950's and '60's there was no option to American labor. Now, moving the whole operation to Vietnam, China or Pakistan can make great economic sense.

 

[Gopher]

When thinking about the prices of new vehicles don't forget to consider all the government mandated items.
Anti-locking brakes
Air bags
Seat belts
Upper brake light
Emission standards
Gas millage standards
Ect
Ect

And don't forget to add the cost of some sort of alcohol testing device coming soon!

2026 for that. The Dems snuck it into a major spending bill in 2020. The Republicans stripped it out once put they put it back in and passed it.

 

[hittman]

Brutal

WATCH: Reporters pile on frustrated Karine Jean-Pierre over Biden plan to join UAW picket

A frustrated Karine Jean-Pierre was pounded by reporters during the White House press briefing over President Biden's decision to join the picket line of striking UAW workers.

www.foxnews.com

 

[gjgalligan]

Unions once served a good purpose. Now I don't think they do.

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:

Unions once served a good purpose. Now I don't think they do.

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.

 

[Captain America]

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.

 

[Gator89]

 

[Aqualung]

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.

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

 

[JackBull]

Does anyone remember Roger and Me, the movie about GM layoffs in Flint? It showed how the laid-off auto workers could not handle working at a fast food chain. Doesn't look to me they are very skilled.
That being said, execs make way too much money for what they do. I work for an electric utility and the execs make tens of millions to run a controlled business with no competition.