So its all the fault of GM, Ford, and Chrysler management? The union is perfect, out only for the good of all of us, and should share no blame/responsibility for anything related to the current situation?

Right. You convinced me.

 

Somehow this seems to elude them, and they are not able to see the bigger picture here! Maybe they are blinded by all the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$! I wonder what their union dues are?

 

This seems to be just typical negotiation tactics. Nobody goes into a negotiation saying that they will concede anything. You each go in at opposite ends of the spectrum and haggle towards the middle.

 

Are any of you people that are complaining about the union actually in a union? If you were you would understand why they feel the need to strike if need be. Hopefully it doesnt come to that and they can find a neutral ground to work on. Unions exist so the workers have a voice in what goes on in the workplace and with their pay and benefits. Workers put alot into the company and expect to be treated and paid fairly, there is nothing wrong with the union complaining about wages and benefits. You would be upset as well if the company you work for says, "ok you guys are going to get paid less and your benefits are going south" So what Im saying is try to understand where the workers are coming from. It is about being able to take care of their family and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

I think it would be wise to try and understand where BOTH sides are coming from - not just management, and not just the unions.

 

Not trying to start a war here, but auto workers make plenty enough to "take care of their families." What is the average salary to turn a wrench on the line, $60,000 these days? Not to mention the free, outstanding health care they get for themselves and their families...coverage most people could only dream of...forgive me if I don't feel too bad for the auto workers.

 

Z28wilson, So what if they make $$$$$$$ they worked to get there. Just because maybe you dont make that much doesnt mean they shouldnt. They might of got into it because of the money. Whats wrong with that??? Isnt everyone trying to get a job that pays well?? You put in hard work and you should get paid for it. I dont know about you but I go with the jobs that pay more money. It is America and everyone has the opportunity to do that type of work.

 

Before we start union bashing remember, blame flows both ways.

Do you really want to lay the blame of mismanagement, years of quality comes 2nd, years of shortsighted emphasis on trucks & SUVs, a product development process that takes nearly 4 years to develop a product at "blistering speed"?

I agree, the auto labor unions (ESPECIALLY the government health care covered CAW) have no real issues to strike on...... NONE!!!

On the flip side, I do have a little simpathy for the UAW here in the US. They are being pressured to give up benefits for reasons outside of their control. And not every CEO is like Bill Ford who is giving up their own salary till profits return.

I was warned the CAW would try something. So far this is just preliminary stuff: the rank and file giving permission to strike in case no agreement is met.

This doesn't mean there will be a strike, and there hasn't been any indications that one is inevitable.

BTW, FWIW, any announcemets on any future cars won't be affected... unless the union is still on strike this winter.

 

Bingo! We went through a similar scenario in the Bay Area just this past July when BART union workers' contract expired. Rank and file gave permission to strike, but never did. In fact they worked with management for more than 48 hours after the deadline to avoid a strike.

The permission-to-strike vote is S.O.P. that is all.

 

I agree with Guy. Health Care costs are going up across the BOARD. This is just not a GM problem. BUT - Only GM and Ford and probably Chysler to an extent have the UAW which will not give an inch on these and Insist that GM pick up the increasing costs. So on top of a x% raise each year, they actually get a double raise for covering the 5-10% health care goes up each year.

You know what the ironic thing is. There are xxxthousands of UAW workers in the United States who really have NO CLUE how bad the health care crisis really is. I would rather see the UAW use it's power and lobby the Government for some changes which is really where this problems lies - then to mask it by forcing the Company to cover these changes. At the rate it's going something has to be done. If the health care costs weren't so astrinomically RIDICULOUS in the 1st place this wouldn't be a problem. I Blame Reagan, Bush Sr, Clinton, and Bush Jr for not working on this when trends starting showing major increases. The UAW just thinks this is an Auto Industry problem or something I guess???

Peaple here Bxtch here so much about rising gas prices when Health Care costs are far more extreme and hurting the economy then "Energy."

 

I agree, but would like to add, that AFAIK, Bush has been trying to get reform going in this area, but can't seem to get much backing on it, from his opposition! It is a big problem, and ppl just expect GM to eat all the costs! They make the Hummer right, so they must be at fault!

 

True, we (small company) switched to the new Health Savings Accounts/High Deduct plans and that cut my Health care costs from $700/mo to $350/mo which includes a $100 bucks put into the Health Savings Account. These are great!

But there is still more to be done, although I do accept the fact he is trying and did more then Clinton did... === Nothing.

 

I wonder if the negotiations will go something like this:

UAW/CAW: Give us what we want or we'll strike.
GM/Ford/DC: Strike and we'll declare bankruptcy and you'll lose your pensions.

 

I agree with everything you said except this, cmon now. There is a pretty obvious reason Mr. Ford doesn't need a salary, and why he is a bit more concerned about Ford making money again. They are the same reason, so stop putting him up on a pedestal.

Other than that, good points.

 

Yeah, no kidding. That was a PR move more then anything. But I do believe it was a /good/ one. But they need more then Mustang/Truck sales to turn a profit. I had a choice between a Ford Taurus SE or a Grand Prix (base). I had to think about that one like two seconds.

The base 6 cylinder I think makes barely 150hp = SLOW AS HELL. Not to mention ugly exterior and sub-par Interior. The 05' Grand Prix was MILES ahead of the T. Ford really should have put the work into this car instead of the Mustang. But maybe they have a new one planned - dunno don't follow the Ford boards. We did take a look at the 500, and decided no. Interior not too bad, but ugly as sin exterior.