What's Wrong With This Union?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Ford’s announcement that it would restore merit pay increases and 401k matching to salaried employees has drawn protests from the UAW even though it has restored profit-sharing for UAW workers. The UAW’s head of Ford representation Bob King tells the Detroit News:

They’re two separate issues. We gave up a long laundry list of benefits. None of that is being restored. We think they should use the money to pay down debt

We agree that they’re not linked,” say Ford spokesfolks. “But we don’t believe that we violated the contract.” And while the union bashes Ford for restoring white-collar benefits, it’s actually reaching out to salaried Delphi retirees, as MLive reports that UAW boss Ron Gettelfinger has written a letter to Delphi asking it to restore salaried pensions which are being cut. So does the UAW support salaried auto industry employees, or does it see them as an opponent in a zero-sum game? More than likely, the answer is neither. Or both. As this video of chaos breaking out at a UAW meeting of NUMMI workers seems to indicate, the UAW is still an out-of-control juggernaut, unable to share a coherent perspective on the industry. But hey, thanks to their ownership of a majority stake in Chrysler and about 15 percent of GM, they’re an out-of-control fact of life.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Russification Russification on Jan 30, 2010

    go to church, take an interest in the government taxing policy

  • Windswords Windswords on Jan 30, 2010

    Smartest guy in the room: 1:58 - the man with the teal jacket sitting calmly in his chair while the chaos erupts all around him.

  • Gardiner Westbound Gardiner Westbound on Jan 30, 2010

    I feel badly for anybody who loses a job, especially a good one. Been there, done that! It's highly unlikely the majority of these workers will ever secure another with comparable wages and benefits. I have interviewed similar job applicants and found their credentials, work habits, attitude and history seriously deficient. Many companies treat a union affiliation like the plague. Few employers will risk having their workforce contaminated Most difficult are the good people who come out of the military after 10 or 15-years. You really, really want to accommodate them, but there are not many civvy street opportunities for machine gunners. If there is room in the budget you put them in a trainee position, but they rarely stay.

  • Windswords Windswords on Jan 30, 2010

    I found this in the info box on You Tube: "Javier Contreras, Bargaining Chairman of UAW Local 2244 was the union leader who incited a riot at the January 24, 2010 union meeting. The video captures him using profane language towards a displeased membership. His lack of professionalism proves that he is in no way capable of leading us through anymore failed severence negotiations! When you disrepect one of us you disrespect the entire union! You ask...why all of the hostility? These hard working people have been waiting for thier union leadership to sit down at the table with the company to agree on a severence package. While the company has made thier offer public, no information has been given to the membership on union counter proposals. The union dues ...are being spent on lavish trips to Palm Springs rather than providing the services they pay for! Who wouldn't be angry??? " -- Sounds to me like a little Tea Party like dissatisfaction with their own leaders.

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