UAW members authorize Delphi strike
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UAW members authorize Delphi strike
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...INESS/60516033
May 16, 2006
UAW members authorize Delphi strike
The Associated Press
May 16, 2006
DETROIT — United Auto Workers members have voted to authorize a strike against auto supplier Delphi Corp., adding a new threat to already tense negotiations between the two sides and Delphi’s former parent and largest customer General Motors Corp.
The UAW said today that more than 95 percent of members who voted approved the strike authorization.
About 97 percent of the 1,680 members who cast ballots Friday outside plant gates at Delphi’s Electronics & Safety Division in Kokomo, voted yes to authorizing a strike, a union leader said.
Kokomo is home to 5,200 of the division’s 29,900 workers. About 2,300 of those are union workers.
UAW members had been expected to approve the measure, which allows the international union to call a strike against Delphi if it feels one is necessary as the two sides bargain over wages. UAW locals were required to complete voting by Sunday.
The UAW is by far the largest of Delphi’s six unions, representing 24,000 of the company’s 33,000 U.S. hourly workers. The International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America, which represents 8,000 workers, also has voted to authorize a strike.
The strike votes give Delphi’s unions more weight in their ongoing wage negotiations with the company. Delphi, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, has proposed cutting its U.S. hourly workers’ wages from $27 an hour to $16.50 an hour, or as low as $12.50 an hour if GM doesn’t agree to supplement those wages.
Delphi was in U.S. Bankruptcy Court last week asking Judge Robert Drain for permission to cancel its labor contracts after it failed to reach a deal with its unions and GM. Drain isn’t expected to rule until next month, and even then, Delphi could continue to keep the contracts in place while negotiations continue.
UAW members authorize Delphi strike
The Associated Press
May 16, 2006
DETROIT — United Auto Workers members have voted to authorize a strike against auto supplier Delphi Corp., adding a new threat to already tense negotiations between the two sides and Delphi’s former parent and largest customer General Motors Corp.
The UAW said today that more than 95 percent of members who voted approved the strike authorization.
About 97 percent of the 1,680 members who cast ballots Friday outside plant gates at Delphi’s Electronics & Safety Division in Kokomo, voted yes to authorizing a strike, a union leader said.
Kokomo is home to 5,200 of the division’s 29,900 workers. About 2,300 of those are union workers.
UAW members had been expected to approve the measure, which allows the international union to call a strike against Delphi if it feels one is necessary as the two sides bargain over wages. UAW locals were required to complete voting by Sunday.
The UAW is by far the largest of Delphi’s six unions, representing 24,000 of the company’s 33,000 U.S. hourly workers. The International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America, which represents 8,000 workers, also has voted to authorize a strike.
The strike votes give Delphi’s unions more weight in their ongoing wage negotiations with the company. Delphi, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October, has proposed cutting its U.S. hourly workers’ wages from $27 an hour to $16.50 an hour, or as low as $12.50 an hour if GM doesn’t agree to supplement those wages.
Delphi was in U.S. Bankruptcy Court last week asking Judge Robert Drain for permission to cancel its labor contracts after it failed to reach a deal with its unions and GM. Drain isn’t expected to rule until next month, and even then, Delphi could continue to keep the contracts in place while negotiations continue.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Roanoke,Virginia
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
When are these people going to figure out that they are shooting themselves in the foot? I think that if I was in their position I would choose to have a few less benefits and a little less on the hour then to have no job at all.
Not to mention the obvious effect that this will have on GM.
Not to mention the obvious effect that this will have on GM.
Last edited by mako350Z28; May 16, 2006 at 03:16 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 198
From: Rogers, MN
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Are these skilled jobs? Like electricans? or just your basic assembly line worker? If it just an assembly line worker then anything more $16/hr is too much, I could maybe see $20/hr after 10-15 years at the job but even that maybe pushing it. If it is skilled then a higher salary then 16 could be justified.
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Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Are you guys kidding me, put yourselves in their position and you would strike too. Based on a 40 hr work week, and 52 weeks a year, this pay cut would drop their salaries form approximately 56k to 34k. I think anyone in their position would do everything they could to prevent a pay cut like that. This rhetoric that unions are bad, blah blah blah, needs some boundaries. Unions are in place to help the worker, paycuts of 22k for performing an identical job would make anyone angry and I doubt many people would take it and say, "well ok.. that sounds fair". GM screwed themselves over in this, it's not just the unions fault.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,121
From: Houston
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by soul strife
Ehh, this means nothing. Union members always give authority to strike. It's there only bargining tool. This does not mean they are going to strike.
yup, we havent hit the wall yet
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,620
From: Saginaw, Michigan
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
I'm tired of this UAW crap. It's the only way they know how to reply to a threat to the UAW. Well... Let's strike! The UAW lost it's reason for existance decades ago, but still held on.
Honestly, many of them have the impression that they work for the UAW, rather than Delphi. Sad
Dan
Honestly, many of them have the impression that they work for the UAW, rather than Delphi. Sad
Dan
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From: SeVa
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by Clean97Z
If it just an assembly line worker then anything more $16/hr is too much, .
16 bucks an hour rates as okay, but ain't great money. Thats a little less than 31k a year. Not very much money in my book, especially when somebody has a family. Add in things like increased health care costs, increased cost for schooling, self financed retirements, etc and its down right gloomy.
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From: Long Island, NY
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by ILOVEMYLT1
Are you guys kidding me, put yourselves in their position and you would strike too. Based on a 40 hr work week, and 52 weeks a year, this pay cut would drop their salaries form approximately 56k to 34k. I think anyone in their position would do everything they could to prevent a pay cut like that. This rhetoric that unions are bad, blah blah blah, needs some boundaries. Unions are in place to help the worker, paycuts of 22k for performing an identical job would make anyone angry and I doubt many people would take it and say, "well ok.. that sounds fair". GM screwed themselves over in this, it's not just the unions fault.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 17
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Bossco you are absolutely right. And I believe the point that is missed here is that strikes hardly ever occur. Whether the wages are viewed as deserving or not, there are other ways to go about helping Delphi besides "sticking it" to the employees. Yes, wages are a major cost, but there are alternatives that should be evaluated such as a gradual decrease in wages instead of $11 dollars an hour taken away just like that. They could also promise the workers an increase based on company performance in years to come. Many of these workers have invested a lot of time in this industry, and whether you feel they deserve the wages or not, the wage was not based solely on union contracts, there are many factors such as market surveys etc. that determine employee salaries. Though many outsiders despise the unions, most studies actually show overall union employees are more productive than non-union. The gist of my argument is more fair methods could be used then those proposed thus far, and this is the reason why the need for unions still exist.
Last edited by ILOVEMYLT1; May 17, 2006 at 12:19 AM.
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Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by OctaneZ28
Union worker: "I'd rather not have a job than take a pay cut!"
As for the UAW, they probably understand that it's only a matter of one model cycle before most of the parts are are offshored and the plants are shut down anyway. Delphi is not a long-term domestic operation.
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Posts: 1,817
From: O-Town
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by flowmotion
Most professional workers (including myself) would quit before taking a pay cut, even if it means ending up at Starbucks. It's a matter of basic respect. Don't see why the industrial worker should act any differently.
As for the UAW, they probably understand that it's only a matter of one model cycle before most of the parts are are offshored and the plants are shut down anyway. Delphi is not a long-term domestic operation.
As for the UAW, they probably understand that it's only a matter of one model cycle before most of the parts are are offshored and the plants are shut down anyway. Delphi is not a long-term domestic operation.
TallicA32, I think you said it perfectly.
BTW, what special skill to they have that requires this kind of pay? Some Unions just continue to amaze me. It just seems like some think they are entitled to be paid so well bcuz they work in America. Just bcuz the company you work for is one of the largest in the US, doesn't entitle you to being pay well for an assembly line job. My friend works for a Union as an electrican, and I guarantee his job requires more skill then some of the UAW jobs and he doesn't get paid near as well.
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From: SeVa
Re: UAW members authorize Delphi strike
Originally Posted by TallicA32
I realize these people have to make a living and if they NEED the $56k a year, there are other jobs out there that will pay that much, as long as they're qualified. If they're not qualified for jobs to earn that income, then they have to settle for less. That's just how it works.