GM Picked As Strike Target

Today GM has been picked as the "strike target" as the UAW puts it. The "lead" target as the media says it.

Basically what it means is that whatever the GM/UAW agreement is, the Chrysler, Ford agreement will follow it closely, but may slightly differ.

No, this does not mean a strike is imminent.

Also, Ford and Chrysler have announced a contract extension with the UADub to continue talks after midnight tomorrow, which is when the original contract expires.

For the record, I expect a new GM/UAW contract to be done literally...any minute now.

The agreement is there that the UAW will take over healthcare in a VEBA, now the only thing is how much GM will pay. Also, the two-tier wages are 99% done as well for new hires as GM will have to hire up to 20k employees within the next few years.

Basically what it means is that whatever the GM/UAW agreement is, the Chrysler, Ford agreement will follow it closely, but may slightly differ.

Well, it means the UAW will try to shove the GM deal down Ford and Chrysler's throats. That might or might not work out well for them, depending on the details of the deal.

Not surprized at the choice.

A strike against Ford probally wouldn't be a good idea. Ford's horded cash, morgaged the company, and sold off Aston Martin and looking to sell Volvo, presumably to weather a strike. But then I can also see Ford using the strike as a pretense to closing more factories without a hickup.

Striking against Chrysler isn't a great idea either. It seems the UAW likes Lasorda (who'll be negotiating), but I'm guessing Cerebus would probally play hardball if they struck. Although Chrysler is in pretty good shape, I don't suspect they want anything to risk the turnaround.

GM seems to have a crack negotiating team, (and after what they managed to put together with that impossible Delphi situation) seems far more than capable of coming up with innovative agreements that make both lets the UAW leadership save face and meets the goal of seriously cutting costs.

The UAW doesn't have alot of cards to play this time around, so I don't expect things to take too long to get settled as long as UAW management isn't viewed to have been steamrolled. It's a safe bet they know the situation their facing.

yea...either deal with it now and work with GM Ford and Chrysler or fall apart when all they got is Toyota Honda and Nissan in this country..:rolleyes:

yea...either deal with it now and work with GM Ford and Chrysler or fall apart when all they got is Toyota Honda and Nissan in this country..:rolleyes:

Yup.

Yehhhhhhh unions. :rolleyes:

Lets not forget: Pursuing SUVs and essentially forfeiting the car market to the Japanese, only recently getting serious about interior quality, and not learning a thing from the 80s Japanese invasion by the big 3 created the mess they're in today.

Also, we're competing with countries that have national health care so industry doesn't have to deal with it.

The UAW just puts the things together. Their attitudes have already decimated them to a shadow of what they were. The UAW knows what's going on (though the CAW are the ones that seem a little out to lunch now).

UAW Union bashing today really is pointless. :shrug:

Lets not forget: Pursuing SUVs and essentially forfeiting the car market to the Japanese, only recently getting serious about interior quality, and not learning a thing from the 80s Japanese invasion by the big 3 created the mess they're in today.

Also, we're competing with countries that have national health care so industry doesn't have to deal with it.

The UAW just puts the things together. Their attitudes have already decimated them to a shadow of what they were. The UAW knows what's going on (though the CAW are the ones that seem a little out to lunch now).

UAW Union bashing today really is pointless. :shrug:That's all crazy talk. Consumers wanted SUVs so why spend any money on car development? Also we can't socialize medicine because we live in America. And lastly, if it wasn't for unions we could go back to slave wages and mobilize the pediatric populations back into the factory in order to be more competitive.

;)

You don't need unions when you have illegals!

You don't need unions when you have illegals!

You do you think Toyota set up shop in Texas :eek:

Lets not forget: Pursuing SUVs and essentially forfeiting the car market to the Japanese, only recently getting serious about interior quality, and not learning a thing from the 80s Japanese invasion by the big 3 created the mess they're in today.

Also, we're competing with countries that have national health care so industry doesn't have to deal with it.

The UAW just puts the things together. Their attitudes have already decimated them to a shadow of what they were. The UAW knows what's going on (though the CAW are the ones that seem a little out to lunch now).

UAW Union bashing today really is pointless. :shrug:

No, no, no....the demise of the big three is the result of all those left leaning, liberal weenies and their anti-detroit, pro-job displacement, anit-american attitudes.

At least that's what this board taught me....:rolleyes:

IF they strike....do you give any support to the union? I would be happy to point out the many people, Americans if you will, who do as good or better job for 1/2 their wages and benefits.

Not surprized at the choice.

A strike against Ford probally wouldn't be a good idea. Ford's horded cash, morgaged the company, and sold off Aston Martin and looking to sell Volvo, presumably to weather a strike. But then I can also see Ford using the strike as a pretense to closing more factories without a hickup.


It's a sad day when companies are forced to sell parts of themselves and horde cash just to protect themselves from their own employees!

The whole us/them mentality with the Union is what has driven me nuts for years. These guys and gals don't work for the UAW,(which is what they most often state). They work for GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

That mentality alone is maddening.

Dan

You don't need unions when you have illegals!
See the meat packing industry. Classic 19th century labor relations tactics.

See the meat packing industry. Classic 19th century labor relations tactics.


Speaking of, we actually have a company here in Iowa that got raided by INS back in 2006. Just this week, they're filing suit on behalf of the "workers" that were caught and arrested because the raid "violated their constitutional rights"

Yehhhhhhh unions. :rolleyes:

Yea who cares about giving the employees some actual empowerment or job security. :rolleyes: Most Americans really prefer to be laid off or fired on the spot just because the company has chosen to do so. :rolleyes: If it weren't for unions in the auto industry you can guarantee that many more Americans would be out of work today.

Some also are of the mindset that the unions hay days, back earlier this century, help level set acceptable work places and ethics of which most of us still benefit today.

CNN posted a stat that the state of Michigan has lost 300k jobs in the last 6 years alone. Makes you wonder without unions how many more people in the US would be out of work and jobs shifted over to foreign countries. Comes down to what if anything is worth saving or keeping in our country.

FYI.

Picket signs are ready.

UAW locals have been told to expect a call by 10:00pm tonight to let them know what is on tap for the midnight deadline. More than likely an extension of the current contract to keep talks going through the weekend, however they could say to strike at midnight.

Would server the damn workers right if GM drops them all if they decide to strike. Don't see any of this **** going on at non-union plants in this country...

Not to mention those workers don't seem to be underpaid either :hmm:.

Just updated my coverage on www.TheGMSource.com

We are close to it being done and GM unloading $30 Billion in healthcare on to the Union.......the only issue right now (that is not being published) is that the Union wants GM to come off with a couple a billion more than they want to in order to fund the VEBA.

I've just been told exclusively that the talks are extended an hour, and are rumored to be going hour by hour at this point.

The teams are going all night it appears.

Looking like there're very close to an agreement. :)

Yea who cares about giving the employees some actual empowerment or job security. :rolleyes: Most Americans really prefer to be laid off or fired on the spot just because the company has chosen to do so. :rolleyes: If it were for unions in the auto industry you can guarantee that many more Americans would be out of work today.

Some also are of the mindset that the unions hay days, back earlier this century, help level set acceptable work places and ethics of which most of us still benefit today.

CNN posted a stat that the state of Michigan has lost 300k jobs in the last 6 years alone. Makes you wonder without unions how many more people in the US would be out of work and jobs shifted over to foreign countries. Comes down to what if anything is worth saving or keeping in our country.

Good points all around.

I'll be the 1st to point out how unions went overboard, and shot themselves in the head over the years. But over the past few years, unions (though appearing standoffish to the outsider) has been far and away more responsible and has done their fair share in helping US makers get their act together.

But I don't buy into those who engage in completely mindless union bashing, and lay all the blame of the faltering US car industry at their feet. The 1st and largest level of blame for the current state of affairs is the management of US car companies. If US car companies got as serious about quality and put as much effort into cars 7-10 years ago as they have been been doing the past couple of years, Toyota would still be 2nd fiddle to GM (or even 3rd to Ford or 4th to Chrysler), and the Korean transplants wouldn't stand a chance.

Sweet! Extend those 15 min coffee breaks every hour to 25 minutes, raise the unskilled workers from $40/hr to $50/hr, make overtime 2.0X, and finally pay their entire extended families health coverage. Unions FTW!

Speaking of, we actually have a company here in Iowa that got raided by INS back in 2006. Just this week, they're filing suit on behalf of the "workers" that were caught and arrested because the raid "violated their constitutional rights"

Illegal immigrants shouldn't have constitutional rights if they are not a citizen. They shouldn't have came into the country illegally and then file a law suit about being caught. That reminds of the border patrol agent that heard shots fired and then fired at an illegal immigrant who was smuggling drugs, and then went to jail because he shot the illegal immigrant.

Such crap.

Illegal immigrants shouldn't have constitutional rights if they are not a citizen.

Everyone in US territory, citizen or not, has "constitutional rights". The Constitution constrains the government, not the people.

Sweet! Extend those 15 min coffee breaks every hour to 25 minutes, raise the unskilled workers from $40/hr to $50/hr, make overtime 2.0X, and finally pay their entire extended families health coverage. Unions FTW!

Venomous, nosensical sarcasm falls under the heading of mindless union bashing, since that's not even the issue. I find your descriptions pretty fanciful as well. Did you come up with that yourself, or did someone program that into you??

Perhaps you should actually study the facts before you jump in on this one. ;)

Looking like there're very close to an agreement. :)

Anything on an agreement?

Everyone in US territory, citizen or not, has "constitutional rights". The Constitution constrains the government, not the people.
True, every "person" has rights protected by our constitution but that does note mean this suit has any real substance.

There seems to be a growing belief by some "pro-illegal alian" groups that they have a "right" to be here...they do not.

All persons, including illegal aliens, have a right to due process and being presumed innocent until proven guilty, etc., etc., they do not have a right to be here illegally nor do they have a right to not have ICE raid their place of employment and begin processing them for deportation.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070917/UPDATE/709170413/1148/AUTO01

Everyone in US territory, citizen or not, has "constitutional rights". The Constitution constrains the government, not the people.That is a good point. but what if we decided that the Constitution only limits the government with respect to it's actions related to citizens and it was not in fact limited in action towards noncitizens?

That is a good point. but what if we decided that the Constitution only limits the government with respect to it's actions related to citizens and it was not in fact limited in action towards noncitizens?

Then parts of the US that make a lot of money off of tourists would make a lot less money.

You don't need unions when you have illegals!

Yep. If amnesty had passed the Unions would have loved their $10 an hour replacements.