[71SSNova]

I am a laid off Chrysler employee, started at the Jeep plant in Toledo back in 2000.
I’ve seen both sides of the coin as my previous job of 17 years was in a non-union factory. Although there are several things I do not like about the union, I respect what they have done for everyone, including non-union employees.

1. Without the wages the union has negotiated, most non union employees would not make the wages they make. The non union employer has had to pay a decent wage to maintain decent employees.
2. Yes, there are some folks in auto plants that do little but the seniority has gotten them there and I‘ve seen those jobs in the non-union facilities as well. Seniority counts for something.
3. Most of the time, they talking about us maintenance folks. Here’s the fact on maintenance, if we’re working, then most likely the plant is not making vehicles and thereby losing major money. Maintenance is an evil necessity.
4. And let me tell you about the new assembly jobs at Jeep. I had to work one for a year and half to maintain a job. I lost 35 lbs in the first three months, I’m overweight but not that bad. I had to have a massage at least every two weeks; most everyone I know did the same. My hands hurt because of the torque guns and other jobs. If the line did not break down, out of a ten ½ hour day, we had 50 minutes off. DON”T tell me the people in an auto factory don’t earn their money.
5. As sc69sam mentioned about the pensions, a lot of money goes to retirees in the big three. The union agreed to take over the healthcare (yes, the big 3 are paying a good chunk of money for it) but when it is done, the big 3 will have some relief. BTW, it was reported that Toyota is now experiencing the same problem as the big 3 since they have been around long enough now that they are getting a good amount of retirees.
6. Workers there want their job and the mentality has changed to know quality means a job and most people feel that way. Problem is, we could only put on the parts we have and the arrogance of the salary folks is quite large.
7. It is true the big 3 pay scale is larger than the imports. There is still some truth that the unions try to create more jobs that needed. But then I’ve seen the same from the salary side, why I had three different maintenance supervisors on the same job, I’ll never know. It’s a fact that a union factory can cost almost 25% more to run than equivalent non-union factory. Too many non production union people (stewards, chief stewards, chairman, committeemen and appointed people) running around trying to justify their existence.
8. FYI, in the last contract, Sept. 2007, the union agreed to new employees starting wage of $14 and will increase to a max of $20 over a four or five year period. Also we took a wage freeze for the entire contract, 3 more years to go, we do get a yearly bonus.

Something else to think about, this is not just about the big 3. This is also about every manufacture that provides part to the auto industry. If the big 3 goes belly up, a lot of these folks do also and there will be many people collecting unemployment. Then after unemployment dries up, just imagine what will happen then. Did someone say depression?