Delegates Call For End Of Two-Tier At UAW Bargaining Convention

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: March 25th, 2015

delegates call for end of two tier at uaw bargaining convention

Delegates at this week’s 2015 UAW Bargaining Convention in Detroit are pushing hard for an end to the two-tier wage system in place since 2007.

Detroit Free Press reports that while the union may likely “bridge the gap” between Tier 1 and Tier 2 workers as far as pay goes during its talks with the Detroit Three — FCA US, Ford and General Motors — in September, the delegates want nothing more than the complete end to a scheme that was meant to be a temporary solution to keep the trio afloat through the darkest days of the Great Recession.

One delegate, Bill Parker of UAW Local 1700 in Detroit, went as far as to convince the 900-plus gathered inside Cobo Center to pass a resolution formally committing the union toward complete dismantlement of the two-tier system; the resolution did not pass:

Ending the two-tier wage and benefit relationship is something that we the delegates want to make abundantly clear coming out of this convention. Not as one of many things that have to be corrected, but as the issue that needs to be corrected.

As of this moment, 28 percent — 39,500 — of 137,000 hourly workers on the floors of the Detroit Three are under Tier 2, earning $15.78/hour with a raise to $19.28/hour after four years; Tier 1 employees — those hired before 2008 — earn $28/hour in comparison. FCA US holds the highest percentage of Tier 2 employees at 42 percent, with Ford and GM holding 29 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

#2015UAWBargainingConvention #Detroit #DetroitThree #FCAUS #Ford #GeneralMotors #Two-tierWageSystem #Uaw #UnitedAutoWorkers

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments

Join the conversation

7 comments

HerrKaLeun on Mar 25, 2015

Agree, put them all in the lower tier and give them a 3% cost of living increase each of the year the contract is for. Remember, 2 tiers is what the unions wanted so only nrw hires had to give something up. Hope the lower tier workers remember that.

Like Reply
- See 3 previous
- RobertRyan on Mar 25, 2015
  
  Interesting the non-Union transplants are paying as much or more than the UAW, negotiated Tier 2 wages. What a weak Union negotiating, such miserable wages for the vast number not on Tier 2
  
  Like
- Highdesertcat on Mar 25, 2015
  
  @RobertRyan Maybe they do that to keep the UAW out.
  
  Like
- RobertRyan on Mar 25, 2015
  
  @highdesertcat Very weak Union indeed, no way would you get something like that here. To treat a larger percentage of their members like second class citizens is unbelievable. So much for a "Very strong Union"
  
  Like
- Highdesertcat on Mar 25, 2015
  
  @RobertRyan I think all unions used to be a lot stronger in America than they are today. My dad was IBEW and my mom belonged to a union that evolved into the SEIU. That was a long time ago. These days unions in America are just persistent, no longer imposing, but still a threat to the health and profitability of their employers. So many regulations and mandates, edicts from government, have been levied on employers, that employees have far more rights than the owners or shareholders of a business do. I believe America would be more productive if American business was not being strangled by government and unions. But businesses are actually fighting back. Many are leaving America for elsewhere, others utilize tax-inversions and off-shore accounts to protect their financial interests. Apple is one of the most astute to protect their interests. Why bring money back to the US when it does much more good elsewhere and only adds to the bottom line? I hope to see Apple become a $1T company during my lifetime.
  
  Like
Waterview on Mar 25, 2015

There are a few very interesting dynamics in play here. As I recall, the UAW typically chooses a "target" for pattern bargaining. In the case of getting rid of Tier 2 (by moving them all up to Tier 1 wages), GM has the least to "lose" (20% of its workforce), while FCA could get creamed (42% of its workforce). It will be interesting to see if this is the driving issue. If GM said "okay, we'll move the Tier 2 to Tier 1, but no raises for the Tier 1 folks", would the UAW retreat and simply seek raises for Tier 1? Very interesting stuff here.

Like Reply
Indi500fan on Mar 25, 2015

I think a lot of this is going to be a tradeoff between wages and labor content in the plants. Now that the "jobs bank" is gone, I'd expect cranking up Tier 2 wages just leads to more outsourcing and contracting of labor. Back in the day, we had guys mowing the lawn and shoveling snow for assembly line wages. I assume most of that is long gone in 2015.

Like Reply