GM Workers on Strike

[BUIZILLA]

I guess I am damm glad my Dmax is a great truck, and paid for...

[Schonyenko2]

Ok. About 15-20 years ago companies started the two tiered wage, and benefit strategy. That was to leave the older workers pretty much where they were, and the new hires would come in with much lower wages, and benefits. This would lower costs, and keep them competitive in a global economy.Unions fought it pretty well for a while, but it was a loosing battle. So about 10 years ago John Deere's UAW contract bought in to keep plants from closing, and help job security. Many members felt perhaps it would help the farming industry by keeping costs more manageable.
After the contract was ratified, Deere actually raised their prices, and bought the area where the John Deere classic is now held.
I asked a local farmer who had just bought a new Deere combine how much they had discounted it.(Ia farmers are a pretty non union bunch) He said "what do you mean discount?" I said well now the new employees are makin half what they used to, and there's no company sponsored retirement, and the healthcare is 80/20. You should have got a bunch off the combine, because they were told it was all their fault the machines were so expensive. But hey, maybe the CEO will let ya play a round of golf with him on that shinny new course.
Unions, whether you like them or not, helped establish a high standard of living in this country. The question is, do we want to keep those standards, or bring them down to the standards in other countries?

[427king]

Sam, I was overseas for 8 years and at the time each outfit was allowed to hire under contract 2 foreigners.At the time the foreigners were made up of 99.9 Americans for three reasons. We were the best players,we would draw the biggest crowds,and it was a prestige thing for the Europeans to bring in Americans. As time went on,more and more Yugoslavians/Russians and the like were preferred as they didnt have the lavish demands Americans did,would work for 1/3 of what we would, and would work with no guaranteed contracts and a handshake instead of a contract as they were in third world countries. As tie went on, the europeans became as good as we americans and they now made up around 50% of the foreign workforce. If a company has loads of money thye can afford what they want,otherwise its a tradeoff for less prestige and ability VS cheaper labor. Same concept/ I decided rather than play without a guaranteed contract to retire and sell you guys parts

[Tommy]

The PDC's are striking with everyone else so GM dealerships didn't get thier stock orders today... Thats aggravating for me since I am an outside salesman pushing parts that are going to be harder to get as the days go on... This strike has a negative effect on everyone. In a few days the body shops will have a tough time getting parts to fix that Silverado when Bambi jumps out in front of you .... LKQ is gonna sell a ton of aftermarket parts.... It is nice to have that truck paid for though isn't it


Tommy

[1969z280]

Schonyenko2:

You are exactly on point. I was actively involved in union bargaining with IBEW Local 134 and the National Electrical Contractors Association on both sides. As a member and a contractor. People love to bad rap the union employees and talk to the cost savings in non-union shops.

The reality of the situation in Chicago was that the non-union shops would usually pay their employees the same rate of pay (sometimes higher) in order to keep the employees from organizing. I used to laugh at some of these non-union folks, who simply didn't realize that union contract was driving their pay rate. Had it not been for the bargained employee rate, the non-union employees of other companies wouldn't have received half of their current rate of pay.

If you question this scenario, ask any WalMart employee in the country how they like their rate of pay or benefits. There is no union competitor or true organized labor involvement in that industry and this has become one of the most desperate situations in small town America.

Union wages in this country even drove the management wages to new heights as the promise of promotion from the ranks needed to be met with higher and higher entry level management salaries.

Just my $.02 Ed

[kwhizz]

Union Electricians "Sit Down" when the Pee........

[Kim_Howie]

Oh Oh

[1969z280]

What kind of low brow comment is that? I thought this was an intelligent thread discussion.

[Salvatore]

I agree with you Edman. Many good points. As for our Kwizz..... he may be just pickin on me!

[TDW]

Local news says they have an agreement. Strike is over.