GM strike is OVER!

[Silverado]

Tag, I hear you, but realistically, if (big, big IF) GM (and Ford, and Chrysler) could get rid of the "union", they would still need to fill the jobs. Everyone that is working on the line (I mean the whole line, not necessarily just assembly) could all stop working for the Union on Monday, and still have their job on Tuesday. They just wouldn't be union members at that point.

The biggest problem that I have had with every union....they promote mediocrity. There is absolutely no point in being a "standout" worker. It gains you nothing more than the guy doing just enough to not get fired. He gets the same pay/benefits/etc as you do whether he dogs it or not. That's %#@ked up.

Again, the unions have long out lived their usefulness. It's time for all unions to go and company costs, therefore product costs, to come down.

Don't people get tired of paying union dues as well? I mean seriously, I think I would get pretty sick of that.

[The_Stache]

Don't people get tired of paying union dues as well? I mean seriously, I think I would get pretty sick of that.

Thats why I didn't join the union for my night crew position.. i basically told the rep that if i needed to pay $25 a week to ensure i kept my job that i would be a worthless employee.. he just shook his head and told me to wait until I'm forced to join because the store would become a full union only shop... 1.5 years later the shop kicked the union out..

Oh and another off topic story... same store.. another employee (union guy) coped an atitude and threatened to follow me home, kill me, and my wife. I left work letting my manager know I wouldnt put up with that. The next day I get written up for leaving work and he continues to keep his job because his union rep called the store manager and said that under no circumstances was his client to be reprimanded... I was biased against unions before this .. but after that it killed any respect I have for them.

PS I also had to work with the guy for the next 3 months untill he got let go by a technicality (they where looking for an excuse to get rid of him).

[Mr. Wyndham]

Now...before you read this. And before I get flamed. Understand: In no way was he right in what he did. And in no way do I think he deserved to get away with that.

Having said that. That's one of those bittersweet advantages of a union. You've got this massive shield over you, no matter what you do. Unfiortunately, some ass-holes learn the loopholes, or lackthereof, and take advantage of that shield. That unconditional protection needs to be seriously reconsidered: A$$-hats like that, need to be written up, reviewed, and let go if need be.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I know CEO's are supposed to sugar-coat things, but I like this statement by Wagoner:

This agreement helps us close the fundamental competitive gaps that exist in our business," Wagoner said. "The projected competitive improvements in this agreement will allow us to maintain a strong manufacturing presence in the United States along with significant future investments."
LINK

[EllwynX]

Originally Posted by Jak

Okey, sorry for the double post here. Found something. It's on "freep.com" It's the Detroit Free Press site. Maybe I heard CBS wrong, but according the the DFP under the story "Deal gives GM cash to build better cars" the cost of cars should go down. Kinda like the sounds of that better then the other way around. Sorry again, for the mixup

Actually all the reports I've seen said the new contract would save GM $1000 per vehicle (ie- $1000 more per vehicle goes toward profit). Not that the price would go up $1000.

[TAG UR IT]

So....

I just sat down at the puter and read my previous post. I'm sure I ticked off a few people with that...and for that....I'm SORRY. I was getting somewhat sarcastic w/ the "what ifs" and got carried away.

I know the unions are trying to keep jobs here...and I get a feeling that is the most important aspect of the new contract. Without jobs, what else is there to fight for? I respect this more than anything else.

Now...on the flipside... Pay and healthcare are a MAJOR concern no matter what type of business you are in. The more workers you have, the more the company dishes out. Our union fought it's ass off to get us what we have today. And...if we didn't up our healthcare premiums per month, our prefunded healthcare would have gone bankrupt in about 15 years. Obviously something needed to change (sorry bout getting off topic w/ that). But, when the city gave us our normal 3% raise as well as raising the prefunded health care, we came out in a losing situation. In other words, the raise we got didn't even cover the rise in health care cost. Our union fought for higher raises so that we could continue to come out ahead. In this case, it worked...for the betterment of everyone...citizens and officers alike.

I'm all for unions and helping out the employees. I'm just worried that one day the unions are going to push too far resulting in the loss of american jobs. Next thing we know....we'll be buying a Camaro...built overseas...and there goes all that money that could have been put back into the american economy.

But, unions are good. And unions can be bad. I see it both ways.

[stevenm357]

Wish i was working for the UAW.. be a lot closer to affording my camaro!!!

That said quit whining and get us our camaros done now!