More examples of good ole Unions doing their best

[GoingUp]

I guess 56 days off a year weren't enough for canadian auto workers. They want more.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0507/13/C01-245759.htm

No wonder the big three suffer b/c of unions. Look how much extra time their union employees get off.

 

[waggy]

yeah the Auto union is one of the biggest scumbag unions around.

though not sure wich is worse. the Auto union or teacher's union.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: waggy
yeah the Auto union is one of the biggest scumbag unions around.

though not sure wich is worse. the Auto union or teacher's union.

How about the Fraternal Order of Police, aka Freeze Our Pay.

 

[Viperoni]

Jeez 53 days off in a year.... if I worked fulltime at my place I'd only get 14 vacation days

 

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I guess 56 days off a year weren't enough for canadian auto workers. They want more.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0507/13/C01-245759.htm

No wonder the big three suffer b/c of unions. Look how much extra time their union employees get off.

I always knew that Canadians were greedy! :frown: *Ahem!* :roll:

 

[BlueWeasel]

I need to get out of engineering and into that union.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
I need to get out of engineering and into that union.

QFT (except law for me)

 

[Triumph]

i dislike unions, but this is in canada so i don't care.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: Triumph
i dislike unions, but this is in canada so i don't care.

yea but if the candian unions get more benefits, then the US autoworkers will push for more as well

 

[GhettoPeanut]

scew that, GO CANADA. who the hell wants to work anyway, i would kill for just half that time off at my job

 

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: Triumph
i dislike unions, but this is in canada so i don't care.

yea but if the candian unions get more benefits, then the US autoworkers will push for more as well

That's a slippery slope argument. Maybe you should make the connection rather than making such leap in your argument. How do you know that the US autoworkers would do the same? Is there reasonable expectation? If so, what are they?

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: DearQT

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: Triumph
i dislike unions, but this is in canada so i don't care.

yea but if the candian unions get more benefits, then the US autoworkers will push for more as well

That's a slippery slope argument. Maybe you should make the connection rather than making such leap in your argument. How do you know that the US autoworkers would do the same? Is there reasonable expectation? If so, what are they?

"The negotiations are being watched closely because they will set the tone for talks next year with the United Auto Workers in the United States, where Detroit automakers are seeking relief from soaring health care and other costs."

not a huge leap....

 

[IronWing]

Go unions! The monied side likes to cast this type of thing as greedy workers doing in their own companies and that is hogwash. Corporations exist to make money. If the companies agree to the contract terms it is because they can make more by doing so than not. The minute the company decides that it can make more by dumping the contract it will. Only one way for the workers to find their true worth to the company: push it.

 

[Hammer]

fire those stupid fvcks and move the plants to mexico

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: waggy
yeah the Auto union is one of the biggest scumbag unions around.

though not sure wich is worse. the Auto union or teacher's union.

How about the Fraternal Order of Police, aka Freeze Our Pay.

yes, they are #1 :|

 

[Toasthead]

wow...thats NUTS. I hate that my job REQUIRES me to belong to a union....at least I didnt join it.

 

[meltdown75]

I wonder how many of those days off are due to plant shutdowns? Right now, all of the big 3 here in Windsor (automotive capital of Canada) are on shutdown with the exception of skilled trades workers and maintenance staff. It's either two or three weeks...

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: Hammer
fire those stupid fvcks and move the plants to mexico

no thanks, i'd rather not see my local economy come crashing down and thousands of lives ruined.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: Hammer
fire those stupid fvcks and move the plants to mexico

no thanks, i'd rather not see my local economy come crashing down and thousands of lives ruined.

and the diffrence is what?

 

Originally posted by: Yossarian

Originally posted by: DearQT

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: Triumph
i dislike unions, but this is in canada so i don't care.

yea but if the candian unions get more benefits, then the US autoworkers will push for more as well

That's a slippery slope argument. Maybe you should make the connection rather than making such leap in your argument. How do you know that the US autoworkers would do the same? Is there reasonable expectation? If so, what are they?

"The negotiations are being watched closely because they will set the tone for talks next year with the United Auto Workers in the United States, where Detroit automakers are seeking relief from soaring health care and other costs."

not a huge leap....

It may not be a huge leap, but it still is a leap because the article says the following:

"Canadian workers already get more time off than their U.S. counterparts. GM, Ford and Chrysler also want to reduce retiree benefits expenses to cut North American operating costs.

The negotiations are being watched closely because they will set the tone for talks next year with the United Auto Workers in the United States, where Detroit automakers are seeking relief from soaring health care and other costs."

"'Given that the dynamics of the industry at all three companies are much different in Canada than they are in the U.S., our bargaining has to be based on the contribution that our members and their families have made to the success of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler,' he said."

"Because of the additional time off enjoyed by Canadian workers, the operating costs of GM, Ford and Chrysler are 6 to 8 percent higher in Canada, compared to Big Three operations in the United States, independent auto analyst Dennis DesRosiers said."

I don't think any of the paragraphs/statements suggest unreasonable or luxurious demands from US auto workers as, arguably, the Canadians' requests. And even the article does not suggest that the US auto workers will suddenly demand more if the Canadians get what they want. It only suggests that they might be successful, more aggressive or persuasive, at least, at getting what they already sought from the automakers.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Go unions! The monied side likes to cast this type of thing as greedy workers doing in their own companies and that is hogwash. Corporations exist to make money. If the companies agree to the contract terms it is because they can make more by doing so than not. The minute the company decides that it can make more by dumping the contract it will. Only one way for the workers to find their true worth to the company: push it.

If it was a free labor market, I'd agree with you. But it's not. Unions are to powerful and the companies don't have the cash reserves to break them. So instead, they'll just keep shipping the jobs overseas every chance they get.

According to the article, even the lowest US plants have 36 days off a year. WTF? I think I'm doing pretty good at 15 days - I think I hit 20 days at the 7 year point if I stay at the same company. And that's it. I don't think there is anywhere in my career field where I could get to 36 days a year. One company I used to work for, you could get to 30 days after about 25 years. Alot of people in proffesional fields start at 10 days a year, sometimes only 5.

 

[KarenMarie]

Unions were vital, and positive in their day. but like most other things... it has become corrupt and greedy. It is more about "how much can I get, not matter what" than it is about being fair to and protecting the workers.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Unions were vital, and positive in their day. but like most other things... it has become corrupt and greedy. It is more about "how much can I get, not matter what" than it is about being fair to and protecting the workers.

And this differs from corporations how? Corporations are required by law and charter to ask every day "how much can I get, no matter what". Workers don't owe their companies anything, period. It is a agreed contract plain and simple.

 

[meltdown75]

I'm not siding with anyone, I'm just saying - it would be more/less the same as a nuclear bomb going off here if those plants were to move. You can't grow up here without knowing or being related to someone in the automotive industry - that's just Windsor / Detroit.

They do get a TON of days off, and they also make a ridiculous amount of money. Hell, university grads work at the auto plants - it pays that well. $30/hr or so is nothing to scoff at.

Toyota recently announced a new plant coming to the area, so we must be doing something right. But the area is retrofitted with all the complimentary shops and tool & die makers already which probably makes it quite attractive.

Can't really yay or nay unions, but I do love my fellow Windsorites and an astounding amount of them are employed directly or indirectly through the automotive industry, especially the Big 3.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: ironwing
Go unions! The monied side likes to cast this type of thing as greedy workers doing in their own companies and that is hogwash. Corporations exist to make money. If the companies agree to the contract terms it is because they can make more by doing so than not. The minute the company decides that it can make more by dumping the contract it will. Only one way for the workers to find their true worth to the company: push it.

If it was a free labor market, I'd agree with you. But it's not. Unions are to powerful and the companies don't have the cash reserves to break them. So instead, they'll just keep shipping the jobs overseas every chance they get.

According to the article, even the lowest US plants have 36 days off a year. WTF? I think I'm doing pretty good at 15 days - I think I hit 20 days at the 7 year point if I stay at the same company. And that's it. I don't think there is anywhere in my career field where I could get to 36 days a year. One company I used to work for, you could get to 30 days after about 25 years. Alot of people in proffesional fields start at 10 days a year, sometimes only 5.

So form a union and find out how much you are really worth to your employer instead of complaining about other workers who did and discovered they were worth a lot.