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.

 

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..

 

Yup.

 

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.

 

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 do you think Toyota set up shop in Texas

 

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....

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.

 

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

 

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"

 

Yea who cares about giving the employees some actual empowerment or job security. Most Americans really prefer to be laid off or fired on the spot just because the company has chosen to do so. 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:.