Comments on: don’t hate me for this… http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/ Thu, 21 May 2009 21:13:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mona http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/comment-page-1/#comment-3484 mona Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:28:16 +0000 http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/#comment-3484 The union DOES understand they need to change with the time. Of course they are a day late and a dollar or two short, but the fact that the retiree health care was even on the table proves the union is aware of the dire condition of the U.S. automotive industry. And the entire thing is really the companies' fault anyway for not demanding changes years ago. The Detroit automotive industry has been on a decline before I took in my first breath. I have worked in the automotive industry for over a dozen years as a management person and realize that the union membership only does what management lets them get away with. The companies have been huge enablers. IMHO, people are grossly self interested and can only see a couple feet past their own situation. The stuff that folks get away with in our plants are downright embarrassing. It is easy to say the membership is well overpaid, but when you are part of the membership there is no way you want to take a life altering paycut. The industry has a long way to go. It will be interesting to see what other changes the contract will have. I'm not all that impressed with the retiree health care managed by the union, but I suppose it's a start. The union DOES understand they need to change with the time. Of course they are a day late and a dollar or two short, but the fact that the retiree health care was even on the table proves the union is aware of the dire condition of the U.S. automotive industry. And the entire thing is really the companies’ fault anyway for not demanding changes years ago. The Detroit automotive industry has been on a decline before I took in my first breath. I have worked in the automotive industry for over a dozen years as a management person and realize that the union membership only does what management lets them get away with. The companies have been huge enablers. IMHO, people are grossly self interested and can only see a couple feet past their own situation. The stuff that folks get away with in our plants are downright embarrassing. It is easy to say the membership is well overpaid, but when you are part of the membership there is no way you want to take a life altering paycut. The industry has a long way to go. It will be interesting to see what other changes the contract will have. I’m not all that impressed with the retiree health care managed by the union, but I suppose it’s a start.

]]> By: Abster http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/comment-page-1/#comment-3483 Abster Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:06:48 +0000 http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/#comment-3483 What I think, and this is even growing up in a union household - so I sympathize with the tar and feather bit, is that the UAW and GM both need to realize that in such a global economy, things much change. For GM, they need to realize that with economy, especially Michigan's, in such a dismal state that your workers will be demanding job security. They want to make sure that US cars will be build in the US. The UAW needs to realize that their outrageous demands are what created the need for outsourcing in the first place. Something that, at the most basic level, amounts to assembly line work is being compensated at an astounding rate. People with limited education and skill are being paid a huge amount and then are demanding more. As the interviwee on WDIV stated "They want $40 and hour for $15 dollar work". Yes, its manual, labor intensive and can be dangerous at times, but the amount of money that is being paid in compensation and benefits is just too much. Perhaps if these workers were willing to take less pay during their careers then there would be enough left over for the retirees? I'm not an expert, and don't pretend to be, so I may be way off base. That said, I do not think that it's fair for CURRENT retirees in the plan to lose benfits. For many, that's all they have, and if they were guaranteed benefits when they left, then it should by all means still be available to them. In the future, however, retiree benefits may be better handled some other way. What I do realize is that this strike CANNOT last long. One side may have to cave to the other's demands sometime soon in order to keep at least a small piece of the economy going. It will be interesting to see who must make the most concessions. What I think, and this is even growing up in a union household – so I sympathize with the tar and feather bit, is that the UAW and GM both need to realize that in such a global economy, things much change.

For GM, they need to realize that with economy, especially Michigan’s, in such a dismal state that your workers will be demanding job security. They want to make sure that US cars will be build in the US.

The UAW needs to realize that their outrageous demands are what created the need for outsourcing in the first place. Something that, at the most basic level, amounts to assembly line work is being compensated at an astounding rate. People with limited education and skill are being paid a huge amount and then are demanding more. As the interviwee on WDIV stated “They want $40 and hour for $15 dollar work”. Yes, its manual, labor intensive and can be dangerous at times, but the amount of money that is being paid in compensation and benefits is just too much. Perhaps if these workers were willing to take less pay during their careers then there would be enough left over for the retirees? I’m not an expert, and don’t pretend to be, so I may be way off base.

That said, I do not think that it’s fair for CURRENT retirees in the plan to lose benfits. For many, that’s all they have, and if they were guaranteed benefits when they left, then it should by all means still be available to them. In the future, however, retiree benefits may be better handled some other way.

What I do realize is that this strike CANNOT last long. One side may have to cave to the other’s demands sometime soon in order to keep at least a small piece of the economy going. It will be interesting to see who must make the most concessions.

]]> By: max http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/comment-page-1/#comment-3482 max Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:14:27 +0000 http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/#comment-3482 very honestly i expected to be verbally tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a virtual rail. i'm stoked that i found brotherhood (no unioun pun intended) very honestly i expected to be verbally tarred, feathered and ridden out of town on a virtual rail. i’m stoked that i found brotherhood (no unioun pun intended)

]]> By: ANN http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/comment-page-1/#comment-3481 ANN Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:55:31 +0000 http://detroit.metblogs.com/2007/09/25/dont-hate-me-for-this/#comment-3481 One of the fundamental rules to capitalism states that the only constant in business is change. Unfortunately unions aren't guided by the rules of capitalism and therefore have a tendency remain static. The only course the big 3 have here is to bring the UAW along, kicking and screaming if they have to, into the 21st century. One of the fundamental rules to capitalism states that the only constant in business is change. Unfortunately unions aren’t guided by the rules of capitalism and therefore have a tendency remain static. The only course the big 3 have here is to bring the UAW along, kicking and screaming if they have to, into the 21st century.

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