GM Has taken the first step.

mcreyaufmiller · October 12, 2005

Although Delphis is no longer owned by GM, if the plan goes the right way, Delphis will put the pension back on GM and begin the process of breaking the UAW. When GM becomes responsible for the pension plan, they will begin their part of filing to continue the rupture of the unnion.

The AFL/CIO has already taken the first step in breaking themselves. During the last election, they spent a considerable ammount of money campigning for the Democrats (being as they are a part of the DNC anyway), but some of the membership (about 50%) did not like this. They have broken the union into 2 parts, the new formation will campign for who they think are the best canidate.

Elwood 2000 · October 15, 2005

I am sorry, but everyone in that pot is to blame. Union workers who want too much for giving too little and GM for thinking that one employee working can support one million retired.

Sadly, it will all come crashing down, but the government won't let GM take a total dump. I read the other day, one out of eleven Americans are finaicially dependent, in one way or another with GM, be it GM themselves or one of their suppliers.

redvett · October 15, 2005

Apparently you have never worked in an assembly plant. The abuse by Management isnt nice and the toll on the workers bodys doing the same thing everyday. I personally saw it from my engineering side.

The pay was well deserved and correct at a time when GM was much bigger and made much more money but now that the market is world- wide and people are buying foreign products, everyone has to lower there pay to Japan & China pay levels. You too will soon be getting pay cuts if this keeps up. The only way to equlize is to put tarriffs on products brought into our country to equlize our spending overseas.

gave20 · October 15, 2005

I've never worked in a assembly plant but if the someone doesn't like the treatment or pay, work elsewhere. The consumer pays in the end with higher retail costs thanks to over paid workers; at one time unions were needed, now with labor laws and the ability to work most anywhere or even the opportunity to go back to school they are an overpaid nusiance to the company.

redvett · October 15, 2005

I've never worked in a assembly plant but if the someone doesn't like the treatment or pay, work elsewhere. The consumer pays in the end with higher retail costs thanks to over paid workers; at one time unions were needed, now with labor laws and the ability to work most anywhere or even the opportunity to go back to school they are an overpaid nusiance to the company.

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I hate to tell you this but unions are still needed. For example WALMART. Poor wages, benefits, they treat people bad and lock them in stores at night, steal there pay by erasing there worked hours and not letting them go home while not paying them while clocked in.

Sierra54 · October 16, 2005

Many GM employees are overpaid for what they do. I have toured several plants which are referred to as "country clubs" by the employees themselves. The powertrain plant I toured where the engines are casted actually appeared to require rigorous labor. Production line employees who work at the new assembly plants have essentially hit the lottery. Great pay and benefits to assemble "widgets" using power tools ergonomically positioned so that minimal effort is required. It's shameful that people with no education and minimal job skills can earn such salaries. While there may be a time and place for unions, with todays labor laws and safety regulations these situations are becoming less frequent.

Mark_in_Tulsa · October 16, 2005

There are more than enough people in the US, never the less the whole world, that is willing to that work for half the price that those guys are getting paid now.

Lets see them try and do what I do all day with out their bodies breaking down.

2004GMC1500CC · October 16, 2005

I've never worked in a assembly plant but if the someone doesn't like the treatment or pay, work elsewhere. The consumer pays in the end with higher retail costs thanks to over paid workers; at one time unions were needed, now with labor laws and the ability to work most anywhere or even the opportunity to go back to school they are an overpaid nusiance to the company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hate to tell you this but unions are still needed. For example WALMART. Poor wages, benefits, they treat people bad and lock them in stores at night, steal there pay by erasing there worked hours and not letting them go home while not paying them while clocked in.

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Then quit.

redvett · October 16, 2005

I've never worked in a assembly plant but if the someone doesn't like the treatment or pay, work elsewhere. The consumer pays in the end with higher retail costs thanks to over paid workers; at one time unions were needed, now with labor laws and the ability to work most anywhere or even the opportunity to go back to school they are an overpaid nusiance to the company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hate to tell you this but unions are still needed. For example WALMART. Poor wages, benefits, they treat people bad and lock them in stores at night, steal there pay by erasing there worked hours and not letting them go home while not paying them while clocked in.

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Then quit.

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redvett · October 16, 2005

Thats easy for you to say but those workers have rights and bad employers arent needed. Most of those workers work as many hours 35 hrs a week as they can and still have to get government assistance to live. I know i have a renter in one of my rentals that does. Bottom line is the tax payer foots the bill while companies like Walmart show unbelievable profits.

98vert6spd · October 17, 2005

FREE MARKETS WORK

believe it or not

if you dont like your job cause you get screwed

then quit and workl down the street

over time the company will suffere too much turnover and will increase the wage until the problem is cured

basic economics people

unions were needed when there was 1 place to work in a town and if you didnt work there you didnt work

that is just not the case now where even the smallest towns....such as where i live

Massillon OHIO

have 10-50 factorys and over 100 other places that are hiring

granted these jobs arent 50k a yr to assemble bolts but they are a competitive wage for the job you are doing

mcreyaufmiller · October 17, 2005

Unions are outdated and unneeded in todays market. For the most part. I agree with what was said eariler, if you are not happy with your job, go get a new one. If you cannot find a new one because you do not have enough training, go get more training. There is no reason in todays economy for me to have to pay $60k for a pick-up truck. By the time I sign the papers, the payment is larger than my house payment and I have a nice house. If GM can reduce their overhead by reducing salaries or benefits, then maybe the normal everyday person can afford to purchase a nice vehicle without having to take out a mortgage on their house. I blame the unions for the outrageous prices of new vehicles. In addition, look at all of the people that get paid to sit in a chair and watch a robot do all of the work because the union does not want to loose the job. That is pure waste.

Okay, I put the soapbox away.

GuyZ71 · October 18, 2005

Unions ARE outdated. I agree with everyone else that if you're working at a place where management is abusive and the environment is not up to your personal standards than leave. My father-in-law works for GM at the Lordstown plant in Youngstown, OH and some of the stuff that goes on there because of the UAW is outrageous. There are broom-pushers making $25/hour and the UAW thinks that's a fair wage for that job?? They could hire high-school kids in the evenings or college interns far less than $25/hour to push a freakin' broom. Other funny things is that if a dock is open and a truck is scheduled to unload at 1:00 and that truck is even slightly early it will sit there until 1:00. Nevermind the tow motor operator is sitting there with nothing to do and the truck outside is running. I'm talking it will be 12:59 and they will not move. Another union story, copier runs out of paper and the person standing there needs to make a copy so they walk to the supply room and grab a pack of paper. They return to the copier, load the paper and finish making their copy. Two days later they have a grievance filed against them by the union for loading paper. Apparently loading copy paper is a job specifically defined by the union for a specific position. How about triple time on holidays for volunteers even though the assembly line isn't running. They're paying triple time for assembly line employees to voluntarily come in and stare at an assembly line not running. Again, this is beneficial for America how?