UAW launches strike against Big 3 automakers

[black dog]

I've only ever had to observe and interact with unions a few times. Way back when I was a carpenter working for a very small company, we'd either work alongside union workers or do JOBS next to union jobs. I noticed on one job, when the boss was away getting supplies - the union guys just stood around until he got back. They took long breaks all day, and at any given time, at least one guy wasn't doing much. We were doing the same thing - rebuilding a front wraparound porch. We had half the guys and got it done in two days - by the end of the week - they were still at it.

The only way we made any money - was the NEXT job. The faster and more we worked, the more money we made. They had a secure paycheck - they could work as slow as humanly possible.

Since I now work for the federal government - it's the government union I work with. From experience we have all consistently learned - the main purpose of the union there is to protect the jobs of people who really ought to be fired. Late, absent, leave early, work slow or not at all. Drunk, high, inept, shoddy workmanship, insubordinate, loud and rude. The union only has a fraction of the total, but everyone knows who joins them - the ones you don't want on your staff.

Sorry if that offends, but that's thirty plus years of very consistent observation. I think PUBLIC unions have long since outlived their usefulness.

If thats why you think that the reason for unions are for Sam, you've never worked for a quality Union.
Haters gonna Hate...

 

[GURPS]

- the main purpose of the union there is to protect the jobs of people who really ought to be fired. Late, absent, leave early, work slow or not at all. Drunk, high, inept, shoddy workmanship, insubordinate, loud and rude.

Back in 20056 I was doing IT work at the National Treasury Employee's UNION ..... one day 2 of us were asked to meet with one of the Atty's about a case she was working on,

An Female employee had been REPEATEDLY warned about viewing porn sites at work, the web log files had been submitted as part of the investigation and termination, The UNION was trying to spin or excuse why this person was visiting sites with search terms such as

fisting lesbians ... among many pornographic websites

and how the Gov had been able to identify this person as the one visiting these sites

 

[GURPS]

quality Union.

 

[my-thyme]

When I was our local president, I had 2 positions I upheld.

1. Education is key. You come to me with a complaint, I'd go talk to the boss. 9 times outta 10 they didn't know the "union ruling" on an action. Once they knew, they followed it to the T.

2. I work damn hard, and you will too. You're a **** off, I'll educate (see #1) your boss so they know what to do to get you fired.

 

[herb749]

So, I care about them in a couple of different reasons. Unions that act like the Euro "trade councils". as partners in ensuring quality labor is part of providing quality work in a skilled trade are, or can generally be a benefit. But I also care that unions that are really just organized mobs of unskilled labor (hint, cleaning a hotel room or attaching the same car door on the assembly line for 30 years isn't skilled labor) are used as a means to blackmail overly high wages and benefits from companies. Those I care about because they affect the prices I pay in goods and services wiuthout an accompanying rise in quality like you get from the former types of unions.

As to LRs question's

1. Non-union US and foreign located US makers plants don't strike, but the latter might be affected by US plant strikes.
2. The US foreign makers (and Tesla) are doing fine and show its quite possible to make cars without the mob cancer that is the UAW.

When I worked for an auto outsourcer when a strike happened we collected unemployment. At that time they could only strike for health or safety reasons not money. Don't know if that's changed. This one is about money.

 

[SamSpade]

Haters gonna Hate...

I made it abundantly clear that this is my own personal observation. It's not "hate".
If every dog you've ever met bit you, you won't have a good opinion of dogs no matter how many movies you watch.

 

[SamSpade]

and how the Gov had been able to identify this person as the one visiting these sites

As long as I've been in government, the government union has been there to intervene in firings.

My primary experience with unions - is government unions. Frankly, I don't see why they should exist at all.

 

[GURPS]

My primary experience with unions - is government unions. Frankly, I don't see why they should exist at all.

They Should Not, Public Sector UNIONS are a money laundering / Financing scheme for the DNC

 

[black dog]

Back in 20056 I was doing IT work at the National Treasury Employee's UNION ..... one day 2 of us were asked to meet with one of the Atty's about a case she was working on,

An Female employee had been REPEATEDLY warned about viewing porn sites at work, the web log files had been submitted as part of the investigation and termination, The UNION was trying to spin or excuse why this person was visiting sites with search terms such as

fisting lesbians ... among many pornographic websites

and how the Gov had been able to identify this person as the one visiting these sites

Because this never happens in the non union strait workforce? lol

Another interesting tidbit you posted earlier,
Not once in my 24-25 years working for a Trade Union did I ever see work on a construction site that carried both Union and Non union Trades on the ssme job. Not once.
I just spoke to two other men I worked with that have another 70+ years in the Trades and neither of them ever sqw it either.

 

[black dog]

So, currently where you are employeed what benifits do you recieve at retiremint?

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

Because this never happens in the non union strait workforce? lol

Another interesting tidbit you posted earlier,
Not once in my 24-25 years working for a Trade Union did I ever see work on a construction site that carried both Union and Non union Trades on the ssme job. Not once.
I just spoke to two other men I worked with that have another 70+ years in the Trades and neither of them ever sqw it either.

Please note, my past negative opinions are on "other than trade unions". So I might have ruffled a few feathers without that disclaimer. It has been in my experience, that trade unions actually do care about the tradesmen, their work environments and safety, and continuing training on best building practices and training on new safety equipment and their proper uses. More so than OSHA.

Also, I know that it is not unheard of, in fact more common than not, that if there are any non-union workers found on a "Union" job site, those workers are formally forced off that site with prejudice. I also know that if someone demands to see a tradesman's union card, and he doesn't have it with him, on him, he isn't working that day and is told to leave. (Which I also believe that if one's dues aren't paid and up to date, it can void a union card.) This applies to those guys trying to skirt the sytem that say they are union when they are not.

I also know that if a site job is finished and a tradesman is out of work, he can go to the union hall to be placed on a list for the next union job hire.

I find it odd that union scale wages haven't kept up with inflation, though seeing as all new construction bids nowadays does account for it. So why doesn't scale increase when building rates increase and inflation increases? If materiel costs are going up, why not labor costs as well? Who is keeping all the profits from those breaking their backs building America's infrastructure, private and public? Shouldn't a tradesman making scale at say, $35 back in 2010, now be making scale at, at least $65-$70?

It is my belief that trade unions were created to keep builders from forcing men to do dangerous jobs without the proper safety equipment, site safety, and then paying the lowest pay possible in regards to the work they do. Ie., exploitative labor.

All other non-trade unions are pretty much a joke.

 

[WingsOfGold]

Chrysler ordered to rehire workers caught drinking, smoking pot during lunch

The Chrysler Group announced today that the 13 employees from their Detroit Jefferson North Assembly Plant who were fired for getting caught drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana during their lunch breaks have had their jobs reinstated by the company as ordered by a legal arbitrator – helping...

www.torquenews.com

This one is a bit more humorous, what it fails to mention is the stupid ass jumped on the hood of the girls car, Darwin award.

Remembering CWA Local 1103 Chief Steward Gerry Horgan

August 15th marked the 32nd anniversary of the death of Local 1103 Chief Steward Gerry Horgan.Gerry was a "natural born leader" in Westchester County who was on the front lines fighting alongside his CWA brothers and sisters during the 1989 NYNEX strike. The strike was just two weeks old when a...

cwad1.org

 

[black dog]

For your consideration ...



Please note, my past negative opinions are on "other than trade unions". So I might have ruffled a few feathers without that disclaimer. It has been in my experience, that trade unions actually do care about the tradesmen, their work environments and safety, and continuing training on best building practices and training on new safety equipment and their proper uses. More so than OSHA.

Also, I know that it is not unheard of, in fact more common than not, that if there are any non-union workers found on a "Union" job site, those workers are formally forced off that site with prejudice. I also know that if someone demands to see a tradesman's union card, and he doesn't have it with him, on him, he isn't working that day and is told to leave. (Which I also believe that if one's dues aren't paid and up to date, it can void a union card.) This applies to those guys trying to skirt the sytem that say they are union when they are not.

I also know that if a site job is finished and a tradesman is out of work, he can go to the union hall to be placed on a list for the next union job hire.

I find it odd that union scale wages haven't kept up with inflation, though seeing as all new construction bids nowadays does account for it. So why doesn't scale increase when building rates increase and inflation increases? If materiel costs are going up, why not labor costs as well? Who is keeping all the profits from those breaking their backs building America's infrastructure, private and public? Shouldn't a tradesman making scale at say, $35 back in 2010, now be making scale at, at least $65-$70?

It is my belief that trade unions were created to keep builders from forcing men to do dangerous jobs without the proper safety equipment, site safety, and then paying the lowest pay possible in regards to the work they do. Ie., exploitative labor.

All other non-trade unions are pretty much a joke.

I worked many sites, buildings and so on over my years, with both Union and non union working the job without any issues.
I will use the IUEC local 34 numbers as of this contract.
Zone pay is where you are working that day, week month and so on. It is measured as the crow flys from the courthouse in downtown Indy.
So if I'm installing an elevator, escalator, moving walkway and I am working where I live its about 40 miles from zero.
Now. the downside is I could spend years working in Indy and not get a dime.
I would get Zone 2 each day I worked on that job and mileage for the first and last day to and from the job from the Otis Office in Indy.
A Mechanic is at $55.30 in the pocket, Plus
mileage and zone pay, cartage pay and double time worked.
Construction, Modernization and repair dont work 1 1/2 unless it " Planned" as 1 1/2 time. I never did work for 1 1/2

Every 1,700 hours is a pension credit.
I worked on the road for most of my years. I averaged over the years at 55,4 hours a week.
I believe a credit is over $130.00 per credit if retiring now.
Plus $10,76 per hour worked in one's Annuity Plan.... Thats a nice nut each week going in your investment account.
Plus if one made the decision to get involved with the company's 401 or Roth.

Yep, gotta love the Union Workers are Horrible Folks.
So fresh out of HS a kid can earn $30.42 an Hour, in 6 months, pass the school and they will earn $35.95 and hour and benefits.

Health Benefit Plan $16.075	Zone 1 (15-30 miles) $38.71
Mechanic. $793.00 1/4 dues	Mechanic $55.30 Hourly Pay	Pension Plan $10.76	Zone 2 (30-45 miles) $55.30
80% App. $694.00	80% App. $44.24	Apprenticeship Plan $0.70	Per Diem (+45 miles) $60.83
70% App. $644.00	70% App. $38.71	Work Preservation $1.00	Mileage Rate 65.5 cents
65% App. $619.00	65% App. $35.95	401(k) Annuity $9.80
55% App. $579.00	55% App. $30.42	Total $38.885

 

[glhs837]

I worked many sites, buildings and so on over my years, with both Union and non union working the job without any issues.
I will use the IUEC local 34 numbers as of this contract.
Zone pay is where you are working that day, week month and so on. It is measured as the crow flys from the courthouse in downtown Indy.
So if I'm installing an elevator, escalator, moving walkway and I am working where I live its about 40 miles from zero.
Now. the downside is I could spend years working in Indy and not get a dime.
I would get Zone 2 each day I worked on that job and mileage for the first and last day to and from the job from the Otis Office in Indy.
A Mechanic is at $55.30 in the pocket, Plus
mileage and zone pay, cartage pay and double time worked.
Construction, Modernization and repair dont work 1 1/2 unless it " Planned" as 1 1/2 time. I never did work for 1 1/2

Every 1,700 hours is a pension credit.
I worked on the road for most of my years. I averaged over the years at 55,4 hours a week.
I believe a credit is over $130.00 per credit if retiring now.
Plus $10,76 per hour worked in one's Annuity Plan.... Thats a nice nut each week going in your investment account.
Plus if one made the decision to get involved with the company's 401 or Roth.

Yep, gotta love the Union Workers are Horrible Folks.
So fresh out of HS a kid can earn $30.42 an Hour, in 6 months, pass the school and they will earn $35.95 and hour and benefits.

Health Benefit Plan $16.075	Zone 1 (15-30 miles) $38.71
Mechanic. $793.00 1/4 dues	Mechanic $55.30 Hourly Pay	Pension Plan $10.76	Zone 2 (30-45 miles) $55.30
80% App. $694.00	80% App. $44.24	Apprenticeship Plan $0.70	Per Diem (+45 miles) $60.83
70% App. $644.00	70% App. $38.71	Work Preservation $1.00	Mileage Rate 65.5 cents
65% App. $619.00	65% App. $35.95	401(k) Annuity $9.80
55% App. $579.00	55% App. $30.42	Total $38.885

Nobody saying all unions are bad. But by that same token, not all are good.

 

[black dog]

Nobody saying all unions are bad. But by that same token, not all are good.

I understand that.
Its gets old when so many just mention the bad parts they have seen. Then they associate all Unions and its members as being that way.

And I agree. Myself I never would have went to work for a company that I worked for the company under a Union Umbrella.
Like the UAW.

My son was one of about 20 in the Tech Center at HS Grad, that was offered an Apprenticeship in the Wash, DC Plumbers and Gas Fitters Local 5
If he would have taken it his Apprenticeship would now be over.
$125,000 a year before any OT. Thats tough to beat.

 

[Hijinx]

A 45% pay raise and a 32 hour work week seems an insurmountable demand that will never be met to me.

 

[glhs837]

I understand that.
Its gets old when so many just mention the bad parts they have seen. Then they associate all Unions and its members as being that way.

And I agree. Myself I never would have went to work for a company that I worked for the company under a Union Umbrella.
Like the UAW.

My son was one of about 20 in the Tech Center at HS Grad, that was offered an Apprenticeship in the Wash, DC Plumbers and Gas Fitters Local 5
If he would have taken it his Apprenticeship would now be over.
$125,000 a year before any OT. Thats tough to beat.

A 45% pay raise and a 32 hour work week seems an insurmountable demand that will never be met to me.

That's the difference between a "trades" union, and one comprised of in my opinion, parts monkeys. On average, auto assembly line jobs don't require original thought any more than say a hotel maid. Take part from the exact same bin in the exact same place, put the exact same bolt through the same dam holes. They can be replaced by a new guy with about two weeks training tops. Its simple grunt work and doesnt deserve $45 an hour.

 

[WingsOfGold]

for sale, 1983 Chevy Citation, 400K miles, recent pressure wash....... 25,000 dollars.

 

[Hijinx]

That's the difference between a "trades" union, and one comprised of in my opinion, parts monkeys. On average, auto assembly line jobs don't require original thought any more than say a hotel maid. Take part from the exact same bin in the exact same place, put the exact same bolt through the same dam holes. They can be replaced by a new guy with about two weeks training tops. Its simple grunt work and doesnt deserve $45 an hour.

You are right of course. Any job that doesn't take any thought whatsoever has been replaced by a robot, and pretty soon the robots will think, and the UAW will disappear.

 

[black dog]

That's the difference between a "trades" union, and one comprised of in my opinion, parts monkeys. On average, auto assembly line jobs don't require original thought any more than say a hotel maid. Take part from the exact same bin in the exact same place, put the exact same bolt through the same dam holes. They can be replaced by a new guy with about two weeks training tops. Its simple grunt work and doesnt deserve $45 an hour.

Have you ever worked in or around a US Auto Plant?

I've never understood why the big three puts up with the UAW's Just let the contracts die.
Its not like they haven't learned to move factorys.



And most typical UAW line workers don't make $45.00 an hr either. On average around 20 bucks I believe.
Lets look at the years some of the temp workers have been working with the illusion with constantly being told told they will become a GM employee with all its benefits?