Lawrenzo
Enthusiast
They are walking off the line. The 2008's are being pushed back to ?????
UAW strikes Chrysler
- Thread starter Lawrenzo
- Start date
Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
DETROIT -- The UAW went on strike against Chrysler LLC at 11 a.m. today after contract negotiations failed to reach a deal by the strike deadline.
The stoppage affects 49,000 UAW-represented hourly employees at 31 U.S. factories and technical centers. The strike also is expected to shut Chrysler’s Canadian plants within 24 hours as parts run dry.
Five U.S. assembly plants were not included in the strike because they have already been idled by the company, according to a source briefed on the situation.
The strike would idle 9,000 Canadian Auto Workers at three Chrysler plants including Windsor, Ontario, where Chrysler is launching its critically important redesigned minivan.
Hopefully this will be a short one like GM's, in which case I personally doubt Viper production will be affected...
The stoppage affects 49,000 UAW-represented hourly employees at 31 U.S. factories and technical centers. The strike also is expected to shut Chrysler’s Canadian plants within 24 hours as parts run dry.
Five U.S. assembly plants were not included in the strike because they have already been idled by the company, according to a source briefed on the situation.
The strike would idle 9,000 Canadian Auto Workers at three Chrysler plants including Windsor, Ontario, where Chrysler is launching its critically important redesigned minivan.
______________________________________________________
Hopefully this will be a short one like GM's, in which case I personally doubt Viper production will be affected...
Disturbed
Viper Owner
I've never worked for a Union, so I have no idea how they work.
However, I would think with Chrysler now owned by a private company, couldn't they tell the union to take a hike and hire new people? Being it's a private company don't they have that right. Or is there some government regulation saying employees have to be part of the union.
However, I would think with Chrysler now owned by a private company, couldn't they tell the union to take a hike and hire new people? Being it's a private company don't they have that right. Or is there some government regulation saying employees have to be part of the union.
viper GTS-R
Enthusiast
Chris,
There's about 100 of them that blocked off a intersection at Auburn, what's built there? I thought most DC, oops sorry Chryslers, were built in Canada except for the viper.
Isn't this technically, a good thing in a way since there's been so many cars sitting on the lots?
--RS
There's about 100 of them that blocked off a intersection at Auburn, what's built there? I thought most DC, oops sorry Chryslers, were built in Canada except for the viper.
Isn't this technically, a good thing in a way since there's been so many cars sitting on the lots?
--RS
"Workers did not leave the Warren Truck assembly plants in Warren, Mich.; Newark, Del., assembly; Jefferson North assembly in Detroit; Belvidere assembly in Belvidere, Ill., and the Conner Avenue assembly plant in Detroit." Quote lifted from MSN. If I am not mistaken, the Conner Avenue assembly plant is where the Vipers are made and hopefully production is not stopped there.
dave6666
Enthusiast
They should let everyone that orders a Viper have the option to go the plant and build it themselves.
Problem solved.
Problem solved.
viper77
Viper Owner
I'll go, as long as I can work on my car.
Steve 00RT/10
Enthusiast
I'll go, as long as I can work on my car.
...are you holdiing out on us Frank? Fess up. Quell the rumors.
Steve
Warfang
Enthusiast
Oh... they have the right to not hire union whether they're private or not. The problem is any non-union people they hire will quickly be labeled a "scab". Unions will then issue a fatwa against them and it's open season on anyone that dares to show up for work. You might need to feed your family, but you don't want to be put in the hospital... know what I mean?
Yeah... the union is no better than organized crime with their extortion, and close enough to be labeled a terrorist group the way the threaten any worker that don't agree with their silly requests. Top pay for mediocrity! Socialism at it's best!
Warfang
Enthusiast
My guess is the people that work on Vipers are cream of the crop... usually the people who work with integrity and proud of their work don't lean on the union for their achievements. I just hope they don't get their legs busted.
Disturbed
Viper Owner
Oh... they have the right to not hire union whether they're private or not. The problem is any non-union people they hire will quickly be labeled a "scab". Unions will then issue a fatwa against them and it's open season on anyone that dares to show up for work. You might need to feed your family, but you don't want to be put in the hospital... know what I mean?
Yeah... the union is no better than organized crime with their extortion, and close enough to be labeled a terrorist group the way the threaten any worker that don't agree with their silly requests. Top pay for mediocrity! Socialism at it's best!
Sounds like a good time to cut some overhead.
OP
OP
Lawrenzo
Enthusiast
GTSnake
Enthusiast
There were strategic locations that the UAW didn't want to strike because those plants were already idled. The workers receive 95% of their pay when the plants are idle or laid off. So if they were to strike the workers would lose that benefit and only receive $200 a week in strike pay. That's the only reason why those plants did not strike.
Andrew/USPWR
Enthusiast
Oh... they have the right to not hire union whether they're private or not. The problem is any non-union people they hire will quickly be labeled a "scab". Unions will then issue a fatwa against them and it's open season on anyone that dares to show up for work. You might need to feed your family, but you don't want to be put in the hospital... know what I mean?
Yeah... the union is no better than organized crime with their extortion, and close enough to be labeled a terrorist group the way the threaten any worker that don't agree with their silly requests. Top pay for mediocrity! Socialism at it's best!
And these are the people they wanted to put in charge of securing our ports. Criminal records and all.
Wish they could stick it to these $78 per hr rent a drunks.
A coworker of mine went into one of the big 3 plants and noticed a guy taped to a pole. He asked what was going on and was told that the guy continually came in higher than a Georgia pine so they would tape him to a pole so he could not hurt himself. I asked why they did not fire him. He said the union would not alllow it. Kind of hard to believe, but coming from the guy I know, I would say it was credible.
Oh... they have the right to not hire union whether they're private or not. The problem is any non-union people they hire will quickly be labeled a "scab". Unions will then issue a fatwa against them and it's open season on anyone that dares to show up for work. You might need to feed your family, but you don't want to be put in the hospital... know what I mean?
Yeah... the union is no better than organized crime with their extortion, and close enough to be labeled a terrorist group the way the threaten any worker that don't agree with their silly requests. Top pay for mediocrity! Socialism at it's best!
Preach the word brother!
The closest I've seen unions in action is with my father when he was a laborer and operating engineer. Those unions seemed more realistic in their expectations as compared to the UAW. Job security, fully paid medical benefits is a nice to have but unrealistic in this day and age of global competition. Can't be a good thing if they're allowed to put a stranglehold on a business by walking out on their jobs. It seems almost childish of a gesture in this day and age.Rich Detert
Viper Owner
It's really sad that most of you people don't even have a clue what the strike is about.
I get so sick of hearing about the quality of the people that work in an auto assembly plant from people who don't work there.
There are deadbeats, drunks and drug abusers in every profession.
Our current president is an admitted reformed drunk.
Don't slam people that you don't even know.
Only if you've recently worked in an auto assembly plant would you even have a clue what is like being on the assembly line.
The days of a gravy job that you do next to nothing all day are long gone at Chrysler. The jobs are now set up so that you're working a minimum 95% of cycle time.
That means that when a vehicle goes by every 75 seconds you've got about 5 seconds of free time before you have to start on the next vehicle. (the average).
If you've got a good job you've got about 15 seconds of free time before the next one.
A few years ago an outside I.E. (Industrial Engineer) company came through and rewrote all the man assignments for the assembly line production workers.
Some of the jobs are set up to where you are working 115% of the time based on the model mix.
These aren't my figures, they're from the plant I.E.
That means if you don't run from one vehicle to the next you're not going to keep up and even at that you may not keep up.
Any plant that is covered by the UAW National contract is out on strike.
The ones that are not on strike are under a different contract, I believe there are 3 or 4 in the U.S. that fall under that catagory .
When the UAW calls a strike the workers laid off at idled plats are on strike also and the Sub Pay benefits stop.
As far as Sub Pay, it was agreed on by both parties (company & union) because of the cyclical nature of the auto business.
One of the problems with this country is that there is no loyalty anymore from companies to their workers. They see you as disposible, you give them 30 year of your life with them agreeing by contract to give you a pension and health care after you retire.
But the way it is now the corporate world tries everything it can to get out of supplying the pension & healthcare they agreed to for your retirement.
In the modern world upper management runs a company into the ground and then they give the execs major bonuses for doing it.
Daimler spent 9 years gutting Chrysler of everything it could then cries that they're broke and dumps them. There were $9,000,000,000 (that's 9 billion) in cash reserves at the time of the merger (lol) thet Daimler took in the form of checks written in the amount of $500 million each for "Services Rendered" in the first 2 years after the merger.
Upper management did that, not the line workers.
I could keep ranting about this, but the reality is most of you made up your minds a long time ago about these issues without ever hearing any real facts.
I get so sick of hearing about the quality of the people that work in an auto assembly plant from people who don't work there.
There are deadbeats, drunks and drug abusers in every profession.
Our current president is an admitted reformed drunk.
Don't slam people that you don't even know.
Only if you've recently worked in an auto assembly plant would you even have a clue what is like being on the assembly line.
The days of a gravy job that you do next to nothing all day are long gone at Chrysler. The jobs are now set up so that you're working a minimum 95% of cycle time.
That means that when a vehicle goes by every 75 seconds you've got about 5 seconds of free time before you have to start on the next vehicle. (the average).
If you've got a good job you've got about 15 seconds of free time before the next one.
A few years ago an outside I.E. (Industrial Engineer) company came through and rewrote all the man assignments for the assembly line production workers.
Some of the jobs are set up to where you are working 115% of the time based on the model mix.
These aren't my figures, they're from the plant I.E.
That means if you don't run from one vehicle to the next you're not going to keep up and even at that you may not keep up.
Any plant that is covered by the UAW National contract is out on strike.
The ones that are not on strike are under a different contract, I believe there are 3 or 4 in the U.S. that fall under that catagory .
When the UAW calls a strike the workers laid off at idled plats are on strike also and the Sub Pay benefits stop.
As far as Sub Pay, it was agreed on by both parties (company & union) because of the cyclical nature of the auto business.
One of the problems with this country is that there is no loyalty anymore from companies to their workers. They see you as disposible, you give them 30 year of your life with them agreeing by contract to give you a pension and health care after you retire.
But the way it is now the corporate world tries everything it can to get out of supplying the pension & healthcare they agreed to for your retirement.
In the modern world upper management runs a company into the ground and then they give the execs major bonuses for doing it.
Daimler spent 9 years gutting Chrysler of everything it could then cries that they're broke and dumps them. There were $9,000,000,000 (that's 9 billion) in cash reserves at the time of the merger (lol) thet Daimler took in the form of checks written in the amount of $500 million each for "Services Rendered" in the first 2 years after the merger.
Upper management did that, not the line workers.
I could keep ranting about this, but the reality is most of you made up your minds a long time ago about these issues without ever hearing any real facts.
rcl4668
Enthusiast
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
Grew up in Detroit. Still have lots of friends there. Strikes are really tough on everyone associated with the auto industry.
Auto industry jobs are good jobs, but tough jobs. Pay is good, and benefits better than almost anywhere else. When the union says walk, the employees take a big gulp, and wonder what is in store for them. Bills start stacking up, and dad gets grumpy laying around the house. Everyone hopes for a short strike, but worries what they will do if it drags on.
New for this year is the Venture Capital ownership of Chrysler. Nobody know what they are thinking, or how they will deal with this strike. Looks to me like they were still talking when the strike was called.
For the Motor City these are hard times indeed.
Best of thought for everyone at Chrysler. Hope this gets worked out quickly and everyone gets back to work quickly.
Auto industry jobs are good jobs, but tough jobs. Pay is good, and benefits better than almost anywhere else. When the union says walk, the employees take a big gulp, and wonder what is in store for them. Bills start stacking up, and dad gets grumpy laying around the house. Everyone hopes for a short strike, but worries what they will do if it drags on.
New for this year is the Venture Capital ownership of Chrysler. Nobody know what they are thinking, or how they will deal with this strike. Looks to me like they were still talking when the strike was called.
For the Motor City these are hard times indeed.
Best of thought for everyone at Chrysler. Hope this gets worked out quickly and everyone gets back to work quickly.
Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
Re: UAW 'strike' with Chrysler is already over
The United Auto Workers this evening announced that it has negotiated a new labor contract with Chrysler LLC that covers 49,000 hourly workers.
The deal will put a quick end to the strike launched at 11 a.m. this morning by the union. In a press release issued after 5 p.m., the union announced that Chrysler workers would return to their jobs on the next available shift.
"This agreement was made possible because UAW workers made it clear to Chrysler that we needed an agreement that rewards the contributions they have made to the success of this company," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.
Details of the agreement were not immediately available. However, the deal is expected to follow the pattern set by General Motors. The UAW settled with GM after a one-day strike.
The United Auto Workers this evening announced that it has negotiated a new labor contract with Chrysler LLC that covers 49,000 hourly workers.
The deal will put a quick end to the strike launched at 11 a.m. this morning by the union. In a press release issued after 5 p.m., the union announced that Chrysler workers would return to their jobs on the next available shift.
"This agreement was made possible because UAW workers made it clear to Chrysler that we needed an agreement that rewards the contributions they have made to the success of this company," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.
Details of the agreement were not immediately available. However, the deal is expected to follow the pattern set by General Motors. The UAW settled with GM after a one-day strike.
Paul Hawker
Enthusiast
Glad everybody kissed and made up.
They now have a 4 year contract in place.
Good news for everybody.
They now have a 4 year contract in place.
Good news for everybody.
RoadiJeff
Viper Owner
Rich,
An excellent post. The executives of the Big Three whine that they cannot compete with Toyota and others because of labor costs. Yet, that doesn't stop them from getting multi-million dollar bonuses each year.
I saw an interesting stat recently about wage gaps for the union versus management. The execs of the Big Three earn an average of 250x more than their production workers, unlike in the 1960s when it was closer to a 20X gap. They said that if they would go back to that 20x gap GM would earn $1,000 per vehicle instead of losing $1,500 that they claim is happening.
This strike was about keeping the quickly vanishing middle class jobs in America. I have not seen the details of the tentative agreement but it seems the union has won some concessions from the company to do that, at least for another 4 years.
I try not to get too emotionally involved in these forum union discussions, especially when some of these anti union individuals start their rants who don't have a clue what it is all about. Some people here know what I can be like from heated debates on other issues.
BTW, I used to live in Barnhart for 15 years.
An excellent post. The executives of the Big Three whine that they cannot compete with Toyota and others because of labor costs. Yet, that doesn't stop them from getting multi-million dollar bonuses each year.
I saw an interesting stat recently about wage gaps for the union versus management. The execs of the Big Three earn an average of 250x more than their production workers, unlike in the 1960s when it was closer to a 20X gap. They said that if they would go back to that 20x gap GM would earn $1,000 per vehicle instead of losing $1,500 that they claim is happening.
This strike was about keeping the quickly vanishing middle class jobs in America. I have not seen the details of the tentative agreement but it seems the union has won some concessions from the company to do that, at least for another 4 years.
I try not to get too emotionally involved in these forum union discussions, especially when some of these anti union individuals start their rants who don't have a clue what it is all about. Some people here know what I can be like from heated debates on other issues.
BTW, I used to live in Barnhart for 15 years.
mad0953
Enthusiast
The greedy crooks at the top are the ones ruining the businesses and industries of this country. Get them on a production line and see what they can do....not much but f.u. The largest portion of the top CEOs, Coos, etc. etc. and all the other money grubbing cork suckers out there prove the Peter Principle. Someday the working stiffs of this country will wake up and they will be heard.
End of sermon.
End of sermon.
Warfang
Enthusiast
I only point out the true and fatal flaws of unions because thats the topic... dont get me started on the fatcats. Those execs steal the company blind by signing money off for one another. They should be strung up for it. I don't begrudge them earning a **** load of money IF the company is profitable, but some of these guys go home with tens of millions of dollars a week after filing bankruptcy. If you want to make that kind of money, you should be able to stomach that kind of risk. If the company loses money... it should be able to take a percentage out of your bank account. Fair is fair. As a business owner, that's my reality.
Don't get me wrong. Greed IS good, but there's too much undeserved greed going around. Let's not forget the other fatcats... the union leaders that steal their unions blind as well. Has anyone checked how many times MORE the union leaders make over their minions? The poor suckers that go on strike barely get any money from the union, and hoping they'd make an additional $1/hr or dental, while the union fatcats roll around in their mercedes wearing expensive suits. Fact is, the money they lose while striking probably could have paid for their concessions.
It's time for these workers to stand on their own merits. What's unfair is the lazy worker that gets paid the same as the hard worker. This isn't the exception, but the rule. Yeah... I'm painting with a broad brush, but if the unions have been so great for productivity and excellence... why has quality from the American auto industry been such a laughing stock? I don't want to hear any complaints about how hard it is to have only 5 seconds to do this or that. If the Japanese can do it better and cheaper, what's the union's excuse? Any HONEST union worker here want to explain the term "What's your hurry?"
Rich Detert
Viper Owner
I only point out the true and fatal flaws of unions because thats the topic... dont get me started on the fatcats. Those execs steal the company blind by signing money off for one another. They should be strung up for it. I don't begrudge them earning a **** load of money IF the company is profitable, but some of these guys go home with tens of millions of dollars a week after filing bankruptcy. If you want to make that kind of money, you should be able to stomach that kind of risk. If the company loses money... it should be able to take a percentage out of your bank account. Fair is fair. As a business owner, that's my reality.
Don't get me wrong. Greed IS good, but there's too much undeserved greed going around. Let's not forget the other fatcats... the union leaders that steal their unions blind as well. Has anyone checked how many times MORE the union leaders make over their minions? The poor suckers that go on strike barely get any money from the union, and hoping they'd make an additional $1/hr or dental, while the union fatcats roll around in their mercedes wearing expensive suits. Fact is, the money they lose while striking probably could have paid for their concessions.
It's time for these workers to stand on their own merits. What's unfair is the lazy worker that gets paid the same as the hard worker. This isn't the exception, but the rule. Yeah... I'm painting with a broad brush, but if the unions have been so great for productivity and excellence... why has quality from the American auto industry been such a laughing stock? I don't want to hear any complaints about how hard it is to have only 5 seconds to do this or that. If the Japanese can do it better and cheaper, what's the union's excuse? Any HONEST union worker here want to explain the term "What's your hurry?"
Are there flaws with the union? Yes of course there are, but there are also flaws with management too. I personally see the unions as just a 2nd form of management.
The thing that the media doesn't tell you is that the union officials still get paid their normal salary while the workers are on strike and earning strike pay (about $200 a week).
The union keeps what the call a "Fire Watch" in the plant during a strike. These are the highest seniority people and skilled trades.
The way it works the union official get paid the same number of hours as any person whom he represents. So if I work 80 hours a week, he get paid for 80 hours also. Of course I'm in the plant and he's supposed to be available there or at the union hall (which is hard to prove or disprove either way).
I have no problem with the person that owns a business reaping the rewards of their investment and time. What I have a problem with is executives that are hired and paid massive salaries for being in charge of a company no matter how the company performs.
Chrysler has overbuilt vehicles for years now and then cries about how they have too many vehicles built. Where's the logic?
The reason that they overbuild is simple. Upper management sets a build/sales goal (usually higher that the previous year amount). Management over a certain pay grade is paid a performance bonus based on how many vehicles are built (not on what's actually sold). Their bonus is usually to get their salary doubled. Can you see the reason they overbuild? Then of course they have to put rebates on the overstock vehicles.
Their bonus is based on built vehicles, not the actual profit made.
Can you see the flaw with this system?
As far as the difference in quality between manufacturers if you actually look at the CSA (Customer Service Audit) numbers (J.D.Powers) most of the manufacturers are really close together. They are based on the number of issues per 100 vehicles and the last time I saw the specs there wasn't that much difference between them.
But of course 1 point is enough to say you're the best and the public only hears the sound bite and assumes that they are waay better.
If you go in with the mentality that the japanese cars are better, odds are no one is ever going to convince you otherwise.
Every car company builds cars with problems period.
Warfang
Enthusiast
I think we're pretty close with our assessments... it's the people on top of both sides ****** the workers and stockholders in the middle. The whole employer/employee/union structure is outdated and needs to be revamped. Workers need to be compensated based on their performance and the performance of the company. This includes the execs. Unfortunately, the same people on top has too much to lose, so they will maintain the status quo and pretend they're fighting for their own side while living fat.
Smog Dog
Enthusiast
Ultimately the excesses on both the management and union side will be less and less as world competition forces them to work together in order to stay in business. I'm glad the strike was short---hopefully it's a good deal for all and is ratified on a local level.
Ultimately the excesses on both the management and union side will be less and less as world competition forces them to work together in order to stay in business. I'm glad the strike was short---hopefully it's a good deal for all and is ratified on a local level.
I agree with this...it was really positive and encouring to see that the strike ended rather quickly. Seems more good can come from both parties working together.
