United Auto Workers Union

[Judy from Boise]

That would be the OLD contract.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/28/uaw-gm-contract-details-revealed-local-leaders-vote-unanimously/

But I think the current situation is built on the decades of history, so it is still a valid point. The actions, choices and attitudes of the past have authored the present.

 

[SundancePass]

We own our own company. We have 28 employees and are profitable and have been since our 6th month in business. If all of a sudden our business tanks, will the US government "bail" me out??? I don't think so........

GM, Ford, Chrysler should be allowed to fail or succeed on their own. The current situation, IMO, is the result of decades of neglect and greed by the Board of Directors AND the top management (read top five) highly compensated people at the top of all these companies. While I think atuo workers are overpaid, *I* wouldn't to that job, so I will not and cannot complain about their salaries. However, the management has had DECADES to have a different vision and to implement changes. They didn't. Now they should pay the price and not at my tax payers expense.

 

[S. C.]

But I think the current situation is built on the decades of history, so it is still a valid point. The actions, choices and attitudes of the past have authored the present.

I would think this is true of all companies. Not just the auto companies.

 

[S. C.]

 

[declansdad]

New contracts kick in next year for the UAW, cutting the hourly rate to 14.50 for new jobs. That was part of the deal to put them back into the black.

How much do you feel a full time employee should be worth? $20/hour is just over $41K annually. The current prevailing entry wage is $14.50 or about $30K/year. That isn't even enough to make ends meet in most places.

It is my understanding that the $14.50 an hour wage is for non-assembly line workers, janitors and such. They have a two tiered system that pays assembly workers a much higher wage.

 

[S. C.]

It is my understanding that the $14.50 an hour wage is for non-assembly line workers, janitors and such. They have a two tiered system that pays assembly workers a much higher wage.

Core and non core jobs. There would have to be an opening on a core job for a new hire to get paid the higher wage.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Some food for thought:
"CNN Headline News did a short news listing regarding Ford and GM's contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in New York and Washington.

The findings are as follows.....

1. Ford- $1 million to American Red Cross matching employee contributions of the same number plus 10 Excursions to NY Fire Dept. The company also offered ER response team services and office space to displaced government employees.

2. GM- $1 million to American Red Cross matching employee contributions of the same number and a fleet of vans, suv's, and trucks.

3. Daimler Chrysler- $10 million to support of the children and victims of the Sept. 11 attack.

4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and 30 new motorcycles to the New York Police Dept.

5. Volkswagen-Emp loyees and management created a Sept 11 Foundation, funded initial with $2 million, for the assistance of the children and victims of the WTC.

6. Hyundai- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.

7. Audi-Nothing.

8. BMW-Nothing.

9. Daewoo- Nothing.

10. Fiat-Nothing.

11. Honda- Nothing despite boasting of second best sales month ever in August 2001

12. I suzu- Nothing.

13. Mitsubishi-Nothing.

14. Nissan-Nothing.

15. Porsche-Nothing. Press release with condolences via the Porsche website.

16. Subaru- Nothing.

17. Suzuki- Nothing.

18. Toyota-Nothing despite claims of high sales in July and August 2001. Condolences posted on the website.

Whenever the time may be for you to purchase or lease a new vehicle, keep this information in mind. You might want to give more consideration to a car manufactured by an American-owned and / or American based company . Apart from Hyundai and Volkswagen, the foreign car companies contributed nothing at all to the citizens of the United States.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cars.asp

from the snopes page (see the page for the links described therein):

Origins: No, the above item did not appear on CNN Headline News; it's a piece of anonymous internet flotsam set adrift shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks on America. Although we don't necessarily endorse the views expressed in the message quoted above, we took on the information-gathering task of visiting the web sites of all the automobile manufacturers listed above (plus a few not on the list), looking for information about September 11-related relief efforts, and our findings are reported below.

Important points to keep in mind are:
-Our inability to locate information about charitable contributions on any particular manufacturer's web site does not necessarily mean that information does not exist on the web site.
-The lack of information about charitable contributions on any particular manufacturer's web site does not necessarily mean that the manufacturer has made no such contribitions.
-Manufacturers may also have made contributions above and beyond those listed on their web sites.
-We have made no effort to validate the veracity of the information offered on manufacturer's web sites; we are simply providing links to their statements.
In ever case where we were unable to find relevant information on a manufacturer's web site, we contacted the company through their web site and invited them to respond to this message.
-Corrections and additional information supplied by readers and manufacturers will be applied to this page promptly upon receipt.


-Aston Martin: No information found on web site. (Aston Martin is now owned by Ford)

-Audi: Includes a press release about Audi's contribution of $100,000 to the New York Fire Fighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund and other fundraising efforts. (Also see the entry for Volkswagen, as the Volkswagen Group includes Audi and Volkswagen in the United States.)

-BMW: Includes a press release about BMW Group's donations of $1 million in cash and ten new BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicles to the Red Cross for national relief efforts and 100 motorcycles to the New York Police Department.

-Daewoo: No information found on web site.

-Daimler Chrysler: Web site says they are committing $10 million to help children who have lost parents in terrorist attacks.

-Fiat: No information found on web site

-Ford: Includes detailed page about Ford's participation in the National Tragedy Relief Effort, including donations of $1 million each to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army and a program for matching all individual employee contributions.

-General Motors: Includes GM Response to National Tragedy detailing General Motors' many contributions to organizations assisting September 11 victims, including donations of $1 million to the American Red Cross and 50 automobiles to the New York City Fire Department.

-Honda: A Honda Responds page lists contributions of $1.5 million to the United Way of New York's "September 11 Fund" and the American Red Cross.

-Hyundai: THe Hyundai Cares page promises a $300,000 donation to the American Red Cross

-Isuzu: No information found in Isuzu News section of web site.

-Mitsubishi: Page about Contributions to Relief Efforts details Mitsubishi's contributions to September 11 programs, including $200,000 raised for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

-Nissan: A page on Nissan's web site announces their $1 million donation to the American Red Cross and the Twin Towers Fund plus details other forms of support the company and its employees have put forward.

-Porsche: Porsche has announced it will be donating 20% of the proceeds from its Drive For Hope Cross-Country Trek to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.

-Subaru: A Subaru in the Community page mentions that Subaru and its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. in Japan, have made combined contributions of cash and equipment totalling approximately $1 million through the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other relief organizations.

-Suzuki: Opening page includes an American flag link to a page detailing their contributions, which include matching employees' contribution of $31,000 with $31,000 of their own and donating SUV's and ATV's at Ground Zero to aid rescue workers.

-Toyota: Toyota was the one automobile company that took the initiative of contacting us, even though we had not given any indication we would be writing about this topic. Their page about Toyota's Contributions to the Relief Effort details a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross and a program to match similar employee contributions.

-Volvo: Opening page of web site includes link to a letter to New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani offering the city the use of Volvo and Mack vehicles and equipment at the Volvo Group's expense. (Volvo automotive is now owned by Ford.)

-Volkswagen: Includes a press release about VW's donation of 25 vans to the New York City Fire Department and another press release about the formation of a foundation to assist victims of terrorist attacks in the United States, which will be initially funded with $2 million dollars from Volkswagen.

Last updated: 8 March 2008

 

[arminnie]

. If you are one of the many Americans who gave up on Detroit’s cars because of a bad experience many years ago, it’s time to rethink your position. Rethink Detroit.

You know I really want to. I grew up in a Detroit suburb (Hazel Park - no mansions there). Lots of family members worked in the industry. I myself worked for a GM subsidiary 19 years ago.

The unions can have whatever the heck they want. Just build me a car, at a competitive price, that goes from point a to point b without breaking down.

That's all I'm asking for too.

But I think the current situation is built on the decades of history, so it is still a valid point. The actions, choices and attitudes of the past have authored the present.

I've been burnt SO BADLY by GM cars that I refused to buy another when I was an employee of a GM subsidiary. I could not afford the repairs. I had two GM cars - I rarely had more than 1 out of the shop. Yes it's been almost 20 years - but the memories are still etched in my memory. Being stranded on the highway is not fun.

My current Odyssey was manufactured in Alabama by U.S. workers. It's my second Odyssey and third Honda. NEVER once have I ever been stranded on the highway or even in my own driveway.

My '96 Ford Explorer still runs - but has had repairs since day one. Not a lot but enough to inconvenience me at times. It only has about 65,000 miles on it, but I haven't dared to take it out of town since it was about 3 years old.

I got VERY adventurous and bought a 2006 Pontiac Vibe - mostly because it was built by Toyota. You have NO idea how hard it was for me to trust a GM product. It's been a decent car - but I had a lot of battery problems (many a AAA service call) and had to get a new battery at the 2 year mark (less than 12,000 miles). It is very cute though - looks much better than the Matrix version.

My Ford and GM cars were generally worth nothing for resale. My Hondas have sold very fast at a fairly good price even when they are 10 years old.

 

[declansdad]

Core and non core jobs. There would have to be an opening on a core job for a new hire to get paid the higher wage.

OK but if we are talking about $14.50 an hour for a janitor, that's a pretty good wage.

 

[Charade]

OK but if we are talking about $14.50 an hour for a janitor, that's a pretty good wage.

That's only $31K. How do you expect anyone to live on that?

(done with tongue firmly planted in cheek)

 

[S. C.]

OK but if we are talking about $14.50 an hour for a janitor, that's a pretty good wage.

non core jobs is more than just janitors.

 

[S. C.]

That's only $31K. How do you expect anyone to live on that?

(done with tongue firmly planted in cheek)

I agree!

 

[Aristomommy]

If they were able to clock in and then drive to therapy it would be a work related injury. I am a senior senority employee and always do my own work. Have never clocked out to go to anything medical related.

I've worked for GM for 30 yrs as a line worker and in production. Last year i worked lots of overtime, 10 and 11 hr days with lots of weekends and grossed 89K! After taxes was a whole lot less. Trust me giving up my free time and working all that overtime was not easy.

Does your job give you paid vacation time? Most do!

We are forced to use one of those weeks of vacation time during that 2 week summer shut down. Not complaining just stating a fact.

How long ago did you live in Detroit? It's been quite awhile since GM has hired full time employees. Last time full time employees were hired straight out of high school I don't believe we were making anywhere near $29 an hour. In our plant the lowest senority employees have 10 years with GM.

What a lot of people are unaware of is there are lots of skilled and college educated people that work in the auto factories. Just a little annoyed that some assume all auto factory workers are uneducated.

Yes, they came to me for "work related" injuries if we can use that term loosely. But they were the only group of people that didn't use their own time for this. Most people would come before or after work. They would also use the shower/sauna facility and take their time getting dressed before heading back.

As far as vacation time, my MIL works for UAW. She does not work at a plant and gets those 2 weeks off like everyone else paid. This is in addition to a generous vacation schedule. In comparison, my college educated DH who works in IT has 3 weeks off paid, and will not get more no matter what his seniority. MIL has 5 or 6 weeks off total.

I just came back from Michigan today. I have family that still lives there, work in the industry and I lived just south of there 93-05. I worked with my patients in 04 when everyone was upset because they would have to pay a portion of their own benefits and a co-pay for Dr. visits (under a new contract). This concept is not new to anyone else, but the auto workers thought it was unreasonable to participate in the health care costs.

As far as hiring out of high school, I know it's harder now than before. In the 90s I know several families that got their kids into Chrysler making 60k+ out of HS. I know there are plenty of college educated people working in the auto industry. They should not have as much trouble finding new employment if needed, compared to the ones who thought the industry would always be there for them. We have many friends in their 40s looking at a career change without any other skills and no way of making this kind of income as a line worker somewhere else.

 

[manning]

i think the best thing to happen to GM is to go chapter 11.

Then they can start from scratch and be freed up from those union contracts. I believe in a fair salary, but to be laid off with 95% (may have changed, don't know) and sit in a room to collect is ridicules.They will not get their jobs back but if they go out looking for a new one they don't get paid. So what is the incentive to look.

Maybe this is done, but if not the requirement to get payment should be to get retraining. Perhaps retrain and get a new job with GM paying the difference in salary for say the 3 years after getting a new job. This would give the employee the incentive to move on perhaps getting a job that would eventually pay more than what he/she would get sitting in a room.

Retirement benefits, that's a hard one. Something should be done to protect those in or near retirement.

I worked for a big company and what they did is allowed those hired before April 1, 1994 to keep their medical benefits after retirement. They also had the choice to stay in a defined retirement benefit or change to a 401-k.

Those hired after that date will not get any medical benefits after they retire and only get a 401-k plan.

 

[S. C.]

Yes, they came to me for "work related" injuries if we can use that term loosely. But they were the only group of people that didn't use their own time for this. Most people would come before or after work. They would also use the shower/sauna facility and take their time getting dressed before heading back.

As far as vacation time, my MIL works for UAW. She does not work at a plant and gets those 2 weeks off like everyone else paid. This is in addition to a generous vacation schedule. In comparison, my college educated DH who works in IT has 3 weeks off paid, and will not get more no matter what his seniority. MIL has 5 or 6 weeks off total.

I just came back from Michigan today. I have family that still lives there, work in the industry and I lived just south of there 93-05. I worked with my patients in 04 when everyone was upset because they would have to pay a portion of their own benefits and a co-pay for Dr. visits (under a new contract). This concept is not new to anyone else, but the auto workers thought it was unreasonable to participate in the health care costs.

As far as hiring out of high school, I know it's harder now than before. In the 90s I know several families that got their kids into Chrysler making 60k+ out of HS. I know there are plenty of college educated people working in the auto industry. They should not have as much trouble finding new employment if needed, compared to the ones who thought the industry would always be there for them. We have many friends in their 40s looking at a career change without any other skills and no way of making this kind of income as a line worker somewhere else.

In the 90's we did not make $29 an hour. In the 90's workers could make 60k WITH overtime.

I'm sorry if you feel your husband does not get enough paid vacation.

you even watched them get dressed. How else would you know how long it took them to get dressed.


ETA: In our situation we have always paid our own doctors office fees. My husband and I chose to keep traditional BCBS all these years instead of going to an HMO.

So no.... not all auto workers thought it was unreasonable to share in the health care cost.

 

[declansdad]

non core jobs is more than just janitors.

From what I read they are non-assembly workers (janitors and maintenance staff). Still sounds like a fair wage to me. The assembly workers are still making $28 per hour, again more than fair.

 

[Aristomommy]

In the 90's we did not make $29 an hour. In the 90's workers could make 60k WITH overtime.

I'm sorry if you feel your husband does not get enough paid vacation.

you even watched them get dressed. How else would you know how long it took them to get dressed.


ETA: In our situation we have always paid our own doctors office fees. My husband and I chose to keep traditional BCBS all these years instead of going to an HMO.

So no.... not all auto workers thought it was unreasonable to share in the health care cost.

We can certainly disagree based on our own experiences. That IMHO is pointless. I know personally enough examples to know my observations were not isolated practice. I am not sorry about DHs vacations. His salary more than makes up for it

But to address the dressing/undressing part, no I did not watch anyone undress. I don't think I need to explain specifics, but each patient are signed in and out of the facility. If a treatment lasts 1 hour and they leave 2-3 hours later from the facility, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Plus they were very vocal about it. So no, I'm not a peeping Tom (or Tina )

 

[S. C.]

From what I read they are non-assembly workers (janitors and maintenance staff). Still sounds like a fair wage to me. The assembly workers are still making $28 per hour, again more than fair.

In the factory when we talk about maintenance, we mean electricians, pipe fitters, machine repair, etc. I think they should be making much more than $14 an hour with the skills that they have!

Yes the assembly workers do make a good wage.

 

[S. C.]

We can certainly disagree based on our own experiences. That IMHO is pointless.

I have 30 years working with GM. I know first hand what the wages are/were and how much overtime one would have to work to make as much as you were saying.

I'm glad that you explained you feel your husbands salary more than makes up for him not having enough paid vacation time. I had no idea how much vacation time he had, it sounded like you were complaining about him only getting 2 wks compared to what his mother gets.

 

[Charade]

I agree!

Does this mean you agree that $31K isn't enough to live on? Might be depending on where you live. Even if it isn't, it doesn't mean they should be paid more. A salary should be determined on what the job is worth to the employer and what the market will bear. If that worker couldn't live on their own on $31k, they should look for a roommate or a better paying job.