GM Workers on Strike

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Good points, but there is a reason for outsourcing certain jobs - the domestic rate is simply prohibitive compared to the global rate! If the unions keep negotiating themselves out of jobs, they are the ones pushing the workforce overseas!

A local UAW worker was on the news last night stating that 'they want us to pay a portion of our healthcare insurance....' - wake up pal, the rest of the workforce has been doing it for 25 years Another worker stated the biggest issue is job security, they want a guarentee that more jobs won't be moved offshore... Keep it up buddy, the wrecking ball is not too far away! It's that very mindset that gets them in trouble - our very own union now looks back and wishes they had made logical concessions too.

Management should not demean their workers, and vice-versa. Schoneye is right, there needs to be mutual respect from both sides.

[Mr70]

I know a few that "were" in a Union once,and admit today,they really priced themselves right out of the market back then.

[PeteLeathersac]

Oshawa Plant #1 shut this morning...#2 Plant most likely going down later today..
Here's a link from the Canadian side of things..

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStor...W_strike_070925

~ Pete

[Donutblue]

Strikes, plant shut downs, --- delay on the new Camaro or maybe none at all ??? Employee costs are becoming a staggering event with increasing cost of health care, costs of workers compensation, contracts with no-show jobs and let's not forget the large CEO paychecks and bonus packages. Contracts in corporate America - Union and Non-Union boils down profit and what the employer can justly payout. Maybe if both sides contracted & submitted to binding arbitration these events could be avoided saving all a ton of money.

[427king]

Sounds to me like the workers are raising with a 10 high. Hopfully GM wont call.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Maybe some folks who are closer to the action will know, but why are the big 3 'required' to pay health benefits for life? Is this from a prior agreement, or a federal requirement? If this issue is breaking the company, then stop doing it - the steel industry did it, it hurts but it's better than bankruptcy!

[PeteLeathersac]

I expect the Health care issue is a BIG part of why GM's been putting more of their future into Canadian plants like Oshawa Ontario...basic health care here is covered by the Provincial Health Care plan..

~ Pete

[JRSully]

Staying on the union theme, but moving to a different industry. My Father, both brothers, all airline pilots. My old man flew in the heyday of $2000 first class seats and 350k a year Captains pay for flying 65 hours a month, a fabulous deal and somewhat sustainable with that kind of revenue flow (cheap gas, all the first class seats you could sell and a ton of flight capacity). Unions had power AT THAT TIME. My oldest brother was on the tail end of the glory days at the start of his career, now he is flying 85-90 hours a month, making HALF the pay that he did 10 YEARS AGO, his company went bankrupt (US Air) they took his pension (bleeded the entire account actaully) and replaced it with some POS that he wont be able to live on AND he is done flying at 60. How much power did the Union have during this debacle?, ZERO, bankruptcy neutered what was left of the union. Albeit tough times changed the entire landscape, but the bottom line is that there is just not enough revenue to justify " fat, old school" union contracts eventhough some of the Unions think they still are entitled to it. People don't care if they have to sit on a milk crate to China, if it is cheaper, they are buying it. My brother is lucky he still has a job, his opinion "I saw this coming a long time ago" I am niether pro or con union, but you have to adapt to what the landscape gives you and right now it ain't good for domestic auto makers

[Turbo Regal]

The Doraville plant shut down yesterday. It makes a lot of sense to strike at a plant that is closing in 11 months anyway.