GM Workers on Strike

[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

[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.

[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

[Schonyenko2]

Rob, one of the reasons a person like me went to work in a plant like this at 19 is that you were guaranteed these benifits through contract negotiations, and settlements. Alot of us would have gone else where and worked at construction jobs, or more appealing work, but these were jobs with specific negotiated guarantees that paid good wages to support a family on one income. A mom got to raise the kids, not a child care provider. And with things like 30 and out, you had a chance to reach retirement at a reasonable age, with a few years left to enjoy life. Companies don't just give you benifits. Much of the reason goes back to Henry Ford who paid good wages, and benifits to keep a well trained, and consistent work force.
If you work for a company like GM, and are guaranteed benifits at retiremant time through duly negotiated contractual agreements, how would you feel at say 68 years old, they half your retirement check, and cut, or drop your health care? Especially, if like at GM, they didn't adequetly fund their retirement pension fund. At 68 are you going to go back into the work force? This becomes a social issue then as the tax payer is probably going to have to pick up some of the cost.
As to fairness and cooperation between union, and companies, I remember in one of the last contracts we had, the company was making money hand over fist, but wanted us to take concesions. They said that due to global competition that they couldn't afford to negotiate any increases in anything. So the union negotiators went back and said,if we take concessions, will you lower the price of the product to give us a leg up on the competition, keep employment stable and increase market share? They basicly said to piss off, and they'd handle corporate pricing strategy.

[69LM1]

What do you guys think re: the stock market and how the dynamic of less for more plays into this discuusion.

When the hurricane hit here, the local energy company (Entergy - publicly traded) got a government bailout because "It was not fair to the stockholders".

Thoughts?

[427king]

If a worker can be replaced by someone willing to work for less,and/or by someone that would give the company less headaches.Its only a matter of time before that worker is replaced.Cant blame ANY company for that. They are in it for profit,not to ensure security for a lifetime [that not many in this country get] to everyone that walks through thier doors.

[Salvatore]

Chuckie....Were you not in a union at onetime when you were playing basketball? I agree with all you guys the unions can't demand what they once did when we were strong and profitable in this country. We also can NOT give up the whole ship because big corporations are making big profits. How can anybody blame a worker for trying to get ahead and support his family? I also believe that alot of the problem is politics and how so few American wokers union or non-union have to support the big paychecks and overhead of the CEO, white collar office and managment staff that is basically overhead. Yes unions caused alot of their own problems but big business in a sense helped sell them down the river. In my eyes corporate America has won. Outsource work and jobs, break the unions,cut back healthcare and pension plans and most Human Resource depts. do very little for their employees anymore. Don't dare speak up or there will be consequences. I can't believe the blue collar Union people are really hurting the country anymore. Maybe 14% of the work force is Union?? I feel America had a real strong 150 years of industrial and economic dominance know it is time for another country to control the market. Only problem most of the imports in my opinion are 2nd rate. So in a nut shell everybody has to do what they think is best for them and their families. I, along with my family will always support the working man and the Unions. Would not be where I am if I was not an IBEW Union member for 30 years. So..... Lets go have a nice cold American and make sure our kids are secure for the future.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

It all comes back to our greedy politicians. Why not impose a tariff on imported goods? Electronics, automobiles, etc? Make an even playing field for our USA made stuff?

[Chevy454]

Because it's *never* an even playing field, fastvelle...the USA is held to a higher standard than any other country in the world, right or wrong...but that's leaving too many concessions to countries that are now competitors, and it's biting us in the rear.

Schonye: I don't blame you a bit! I'd have done the same thing...sounds familiar to the locals & the railroad around this country. I keep telling the younger hirees to cash in while they can, get the benefits, pay for a house and/or land, while they can. Because who knows what can/will happen down the road? But it seems to me like there has to be a point of diminishing return with the employees (management & labor both) asking for more while business/profits are taking a dive?