Will UAW Strike?

[NoTrespassing]

I've looked at UAW facebook pages and most are complaining about CEO salaries. Evidently the people complaining can't do math. If you divide the CEO's salary up between all UAW members for Ford, they couldn't even afford a meal at McDonalds each week.

 

[ruffdog]

Not to mention all the small businesses that are taking a beating now because they can't get parts from their suppliers. Unions are evil.

Big business isn't about jobs anymore, it's about investment for the stockholders. That is the problem and it is growing.

"American auto CEOs make a lot – as do top brass across many industries in the US. Globally, the base salary of corporate chief executives is somewhat comparable. Yet the size of variable compensation is wildly different – and it's one of the reasons US CEOs make so much more than many executives abroad."

"The bulk of US CEO pay – sometimes 90% or more – is tied to performance. For executives across industries, simply, as their company makes more money, their earnings increase. Performance-based pay is meant to incentivise CEOs to make a business as productive as possible, maximizing value for shareholders. "

UAW auto strike: Why US Automotive CEOs make more than global competition

 

[oldballs]

I don't know how one gets a "degree" in CEO, but I think all of them make way to damned much money along with a bunch of college professors and politicians.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[lilranch2001]

Well I have for the first time ever blocked a TBNer……

So now I never need to see the chiweiney’s annoying barking again as long as you guys do not quote him

 

[5030]

I keep getting this ominous feeling that the auto companies are gonna hunker down and bleed the union strike fund dry and ultimately tell the UAW to pound salt. There are a boatload of workers out there that can assume those union positions on an assembly line putting bolt A into hole B and be quite happy with the wages presently earned.

Fain is playing a dangerous game in my view and I keep suspecting that a boatload of union members won't be happy with the results.

Just sitting back and watching. Problem is, the 2nd and 3rd tier suppliers will take one heck of a bath no matter how it plays out.

Like I said previously, my hunting buddy in Indiana is about to lay off workers because orders for steel have either slowed way down or gotten cancelled. Not many of the 2nd and 3rd tier suppliers are union in the first place. Some are, like Lear for instance, but most aren't.

 

[Torvy]

Big business isn't about jobs anymore, it's about investment for the stockholders. That is the problem and it is growing.

"American auto CEOs make a lot – as do top brass across many industries in the US. Globally, the base salary of corporate chief executives is somewhat comparable. Yet the size of variable compensation is wildly different – and it's one of the reasons US CEOs make so much more than many executives abroad."

"The bulk of US CEO pay – sometimes 90% or more – is tied to performance. For executives across industries, simply, as their company makes more money, their earnings increase. Performance-based pay is meant to incentivise CEOs to make a business as productive as possible, maximizing value for shareholders. "

UAW auto strike: Why US Automotive CEOs make more than global competition

It has always been this way. Businesses don't exist to create jobs, that is a positive By Product of successful business. If you are in business solely to create jobs, you will soon be out of business and those jobs gone along with it.

The fact that some people cannot understand why executives garner high pay explains exactly why you are not capable of doing their jobs. Sure, some executives are bad at their jobs. News flash...they get fired. Bad union employees keep getting paid (talking non-skilled, not trade unions).

 

[milkman636]

A cruise through history paints a bleak picture in any country where the majority of people begin to struggle for basics and have little to lose.

Our economy and prices are not driven by the lowest 51% of wage earners, but our government and our laws could be.

Be careful what you wish for workers that are less skilled or less fortunate in the time that they were born.

These are employed Americans that get up and go to work to build things. And I respect the desire they have for parity between workers doing the same job. Many here seem to think that the higher paid ones should volunteer for the lower tier, like I’m sure we all would in their shoes.

America today is not as benevolent as many of you seem to have experienced. After the good paying blue collar jobs are gone, it will gradually take less and less compensation to entice someone to become an engineer, accountant, or manager, or low level executive too. Labor cost is labor cost. Shouldn’t all labor be globally competitive? That’s what it will take to “preserve American jobs”, and those jobs will become super important as gradually more working Americans need two of them to live the dream.

 

[Oaktree]

The unions destroyed International Harvester. They were some of the most technologically advanced designs of their day. Their large farm tractors were the first ever with on board computers. The Scouts were awesome SUV’s. The final versions set the bar for the full size SUV. The Travelalls were the precursor for the Suburban.

My only experience with an IH vehicle was a late 60s vintage pickup I had in the 70s. Rugged truck, but man, was it crude. Ride quality was rough & noisy, even by truck standards of the day. Major rust bucket too. "Awesome" is not a word I'd use to describe it. Nothing I'd consider technically advanced either.

 

[Joel/ak]

It's a 'lumber wagon' unloaded no doubt but with the camper in the back or the gooseneck on the hitch, loaded, it rides quite nicely.

My wife is finding that out. Needed a bigger truck for towing and hauling crap. I was looking more at a f250 but wife found a clean 08 f350 crewcab long bed. Nice truck and as long as you pull in 1 mirror, actually fits in the garage

 

[5030]

The older Fords and the newer ones, light years difference in not only build quality but they tend to run forever as well (with normal maintenance)). My7 97 has NO emissions junk on it what so ever.

 

[5030]

Every time I think about an IH Travelall, I think of Grumpy Old Men and the stinking fish in the backseat....lol

 

[lilranch2001]

I think about the 4 wheel drive front axle and how it seemed way out of proportion.

My late father in law bought a 1976 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive pick up and as an employee, he was allowed to follow it down the Springfield production line.

It was common to ask line workers to do extra treatments as it went, like extra dumdum and such.

It was a really pretty two tone green truck, but the original sheet metal only last around 12/14 years, but he had purchased all the replacement panels for it and in the late 1990’s before he passed that truck once again looked brand new.

It was one hell of a 5th wheel camper hauler and firewood truck.

We used to go firewood gathering on weekends together, his would be stacked up higher than the cap, my f-250 not much lower….

I forget the engine size, but that binder engine had torque that wouldn’t end coupled with a 4 speed, and 2 speed transfer case….

 

[Hay Dude]

"Archie McCardell, a notoriously anti-union boss, who took over as CEO in 1978....."

Look how quickly Archie destroyed the company by attacking the very work force that made the products. He felt the workers should be made to work long hours without overtime pay, one of the biggest sticking points. He had no respect for the working man. In the end...he was FIRED.

OMG, would you just give it up.
Learn how to admit your wrong with grace sometime.
The Unions savagely destroyed IH and it’s a horrible loss for the USA, the farmer and the rancher.

 

[Hay Dude]

Welp, the strike continues and the S&!t has started to roll downhill. Mandatory one-week furloughs at my employer (tier 1/2 supplier) due to our lost revenue so far.

UAW needs to climb down off the high horse and get closer to a deal. ASAP.

For once, I agree with you.
The thing I can’t believe is when you see what the ”big 3” has offered, any sane person would take it. Also think the American people have little sympathy for the unions anymore. They have far outlived their usefulness.
Just go back to work and do your job. Stop being a panzy cry baby.

 

[Joel/ak]

The older Fords and the newer ones, light years difference in not only build quality but they tend to run forever as well (with normal maintenance)). My7 97 has NO emissions junk on it what so ever.

With the 6.4l, the jury is still out. Luckily everything is new on it

Older is better sometimes

 

[deezler]

For once, I agree with you.
The thing I can’t believe is when you see what the ”big 3” has offered, any sane person would take it. Also think the American people have little sympathy for the unions anymore. They have far outlived their usefulness.
Just go back to work and do your job. Stop being a panzy cry baby.

For once ?!? Just because I tend to argue for gasoline over diesel in casual pickup truck use? lol.

Yeah the UAW's initial ask was so audacious, that they now seem to have no choice but to settle for about half. Which is a crazy good raise and increase in benefits! General public here in Michigan is going to sour on the union really, really soon once the casualties start piling up. This strike sucks.

 

[tradosaurus]

And meanwhile, non-u


The unions destroyed International Harvester. They were some of the most technologically advanced designs of their day. Their large farm tractors were the first ever with on board computers. The Scouts were awesome SUV’s. The final versions set the bar for the full size SUV. The Travelalls were the precursor for the Suburban.

It’s like trying to reason with a 4 yr old over why you can’t eat candy all day, lilranch2001.
Been there, done that. Some people will support unions until they destroy the company, then cry and wonder why there’s no more companies to work for.
‘Nuff said.

From Wikepedia:

In 1979 IH named a new CEO, Archie McCardell, who was determined to improve profit margins and drastically cut costs. Unprofitable lines were terminated and factory production was curtailed. By the end of the year, profits were at their highest levels in 10 years but cash reserves were still low. Union members became increasingly irate over these measures and in the spring of 1979, IH prepared to face a strike. On November 1, IH announced McCardell had received a $1.8 million bonus. After he pressed for more concessions from the United Auto Workers, a strike was called on November 2, 1979.[10] By the time it ended, the strike had cost the company almost $600 million (over $1 billion today).

By 1981, the company's finances were at their lowest point ever. The company sold its Payline division of construction equipment to Dresser Industries in 1982. Further assets were sold to Tenneco, Inc., in 1984.

Sounds like greed from both sides. If profits were at their highest levels why were the cash reserves still low? Why would the CEO take a $1.8 million bonus and then press for more concessions from the UAW?
Having been in the workforce for 33 yrs now as an engineer I've seen the good and bad with unions but mostly good. What I've witnessed is corporations will abuse employees unless there is a threat of a union. I know because as a salary employee I was abused from low pay and working overtime with no pay.

 

[riptides]

.... What I've witnessed is corporations will abuse employees unless there is a threat of a union. I know because as a salary employee I was abused from low pay and working overtime with no pay.....

I lived through a corporate take over that saw "right-sizing" of benefits including the loss of a established pension plan.

The union workers within the same company, saw no such decrease in benefits or plans.

 

[tradosaurus]

I lived through a corporate take over that saw "right-sizing" of benefits including the loss of a established pension plan.

The union workers within the same company, saw no such decrease in benefits or plans.

Now that I'm working for the federal government it's like being in a union in a way. Very hard to get fired and any reduction in workforce would allow you to seek employment within another gov't agency.

 

[5030]

For once ?!? Just because I tend to argue for gasoline over diesel in casual pickup truck use? lol.

Yeah the UAW's initial ask was so audacious, that they now seem to have no choice but to settle for about half. Which is a crazy good raise and increase in benefits! General public here in Michigan is going to sour on the union really, really soon once the casualties start piling up. This strike sucks.

They already are from what I see in the local print papers and talking to folks up town, there is a distinct dislike for the strike in general. Very little positive in the local papers, just an occasional article and not pro or con.