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If there is any truth in your statistics, why are the UAW shops going broke and the Non UAW automakers still making money? I will give you a clue. Legacy costs and outdated inefficient work rules.
In fact, the latest industry data show members of the UAW and the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) are already more efficient and productive than their nonunion counterparts.
The UAW and CAW are no longer connected at the hip. The CAW broke from their corrupt brothers in the UAW 25 years ago. Yes the CAW does set standards of excellence. The UAW does not. Nice try at posting misleading statistics and hanging onto the CAW shirt tails.
Why is it that we are so preoccupied with our neighbors wages?
I really wasn't until the American taxpayers (me) had to bail out GM and in order to keep those inflated wages going.
No one is twisting anyone arm or holding a gun to their head.
That's debatable!
They in fact have more bargaining power than, lets say you going to the gas station, food store, or other business establishments. I know you certainly don't bargain their prices.
No, but I have other options if I don't like their prices. I can shop at lower cost store B rather than gucci store A. I can buy Crown gasoline instead of BP. If I think the movies are too high, I don't have to go.
Doctors have to take the going rate, which is set by Medicare from insurance companies/managed care, or forgo seeing their patients.
No, all of them. Some doctors are not seeing Medicare patients anymore because they lose money or make very little on every Medicare patient they see. You just can't spend even as short as 15 minutes with a patient and expect $15 to cover it.
I saw a medical surgeons bill for 21K reduced to 7K as the agreed upon rate
Reimbursement rates today are, to a large extent, set by what doctors and other care givers were billing 3 or more years ago. So, that $21K procedure you see today will start showing up in the reimbursements in 2013. Maybe not all of it, but a good portion of it.
Japanese-owned auto companies such as Toyota and Honda aren't represented by unions, a fact that's allowed them to avoid the costly pensions and health care costs of their U.S. competitors, but the wages they pay their employees are nearly identical. According to The Harbour Report, this has allowed Japanese car makers to remain more financially stable than the traditional large U.S. manufacturers, despite the dramatic cycle-time, quality and assembly-time improvements achieved by Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler in recent years.
But while unionized auto workers posted impressive productivity, union membership has been on a steady decline since the late 1970s, when the UAW had 1.5 million members (as compared to approximately 600,000 today). In 1999, unions represented just 48 percent of U.S. autoworkers, down from 61 percent at the beginning of the decade. And although auto industry employment grew by more than 100,000 in the 1990s, the number of union members dropped by 51,000.
Facts are facts...Unions are going away...fast. Wonder why?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Regards,
OW
In today's knowledge economy, however, collective representation makes little sense. Machines perform most of the repetitive manufacturing tasks of yesteryear. Employers now want employees with individual insights and abilities. The fastest-growing occupations over the past quarter-century have been professional, technical, and managerial in nature. The jobs of the future include Web designers, interior decorators, and public-relations specialists, among others.
These jobs depend on the creativity and skills of individual employees. Few workers today want a one-size-fits-all contract that ignores what they individually bring to the bargaining table. Union-negotiated, seniority-based promotions and raises feel like chains to workers who want to get ahead.
Additionally, economic changes mean that unions can no longer deliver large gains to their members. Unions boast that their members earn higher wages than non-union workers. But they don't create money out of thin air. They use their bargaining power to take it from someone else. Contrary to popular impression, that someone is usually not business owners. It is consumers, who pay higher prices when companies pass on the added cost of the union-wage bill.
But companies can pass union costs on only when customers cannot shop elsewhere. Deregulation and free trade have increased competition, and benefit both consumers and the economy. NAFTA alone saves a typical family $2,000 a year. But increased competition also means that unions cannot win above-market wages through collective bargaining. Companies no longer have monopoly profits to afford those inflated wages.
Take General Motors, which used to pay its janitors and security workers the union rate of $75 an hour. When Toyota and Honda started selling better cars for less, they drove GM to the brink of bankruptcy and forced the United Auto Workers to agree to new contracts paying market rates. As this has happened at company after company, the difference between union and non-union wages has steadily shrunk.
You can complain all you want but the Union Way is deteriorating fast. That's a good thing! Change or die!
Regards,
OW
My only wonder is why a person like, let say, Rush, has a following of sheep? How does one relate with an Oxycotin druggie? A person who goes to the Dominican Republic, a place well known for sexual abuse of children, with a bottle of Viagra, which wasn't even prescribed to him???
Thanks for writing that. Every time I think I might like a new Mustang GT I will remember that it's built by the UAW and I'll recall the political views held by most of its members. You continue to reinforce my decision to buy my cars from Germany and my motorcycles from England.
I sincerely appreciate the reminder!
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I had a UAW steward once tell me after the last Calif GM plant closed,
"But we did not give in!"
And she was proud of that. It will stick with me forever!!
In addition, there are probably as many druggies among the UAW ranks as can be found anywhere else, -- no rocks to fling here!!!
I agree with both posters. It is always someone else's fault the UAW is losing jobs. I thought it was a case of the kettle calling the pot black with the drug slam. I know drug abuse knows no demographic boundaries. It is rampant from the top to the bottom of our society. And much of our cultural problems can be traced right back to drug abuse. I wonder if the UAW members all have to have random drug tests as we did in the oil fields. Test positive and you are on the next flight out of there. The Unions would not fight dismissal for drug abuse.
"But we did not give in!"
And she was proud of that.
That's sad. Unions right now see this as a zero sum game. They equate concessions with losing. That's short sighted and will lead to their disappearance.
At Walmart. FMLA rules would allow an employee 12 weeks leave for an illness or to care for a sick loved one (must live in your house if not an member of your immediate family). This is for any company w/ over 100 employees.
You don't mention what they were absent for. Working in a steel mill, I would imagine it would be very easy to come down with a chronic respiratory ailment.
You seem to forget that the day off with pay, whether it be a vacation or sick day, has already been budgeted for.
What makes you think that the UNION WORKERS who built your German car are any less militant than the UAW???
I think instead of Limbaugh I could substitute many names from the current president to past ones and congress people who do things related to drugs and (alcohol) and abuse thereof. Since I'm sure the host doesn't want this to devolve into a political thread, I won't. But I also suspect a lots of sports stars could be found to be drug abusers.
In fact, The Doctors program late this afternoon showed Madonna looking as thin as a meth addict they arrest on the TV news. Do you suppose? They also showed another female celebrity with the same emaciated look.
So I feel get over the idea that drugs are a special problem.
As for the idea that Limbaugh went to a foreign country for child prostitution--I'm surprised the host left it posted. It's too low a statement without any support.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Now come on, you know that's not what I'm talking about and FMLA doesn't mean your employer has to pay you your wages when your at home, plus you need to fill out paperwork to be eligible. I'm talking about unexcused absences.
It's still an added expense, budgeted for or not. GM can't operate like the government and run deficits forever. Well, okay, as long as the government loans them money it can.
You leave one thing out. That is 12 weeks unpaid leave. Some companies pay during that time; others do not. The only real requirement is that the company keep the employee's position available for them to return to within 12 weeks.
And, missing 1 day/week for weeks on end is not the same as a 12 week leave to care for an ailing parent, for instance. I don't think Monday morning hangovers during football season qualify for FMLA consideration.
LOL, what about the spouse of the person with the hangover!
That's fair, but we were talking about a steel mill. What if it were a chronic respiratory ailment?
Even though the leave may be unpaid, somebody has to cover for them.
They would most likely be on disability, you have to pass a physical to work in the mill. Plus the report my friend shared with me was for unexcused absences. Health issues would be excused.
I doubt a few sick days are going to break the bank.
Maybe so, but I'd still rather drive a BMW than a Buick. :shades:
A few certainly won't and is totally acceptable, but what I was talking about was employees at Bethlehem missing 50 days+ a year unexcused and they still were being protected by the union. That's crazy.
Ford Motor Company has been tallying up the cost of chronic absenteeism and finding that it is taking a toll on the bottom line. For every one percentage point change in absenteeism, the company states that it spends $100 million
Hardly chump change. That means every 1% increase takes $100 million from being used elsewhere (like engineering). That's a huge opportunity cost that can run much more than $100 million.
If my money goes to German union workers I can be relatively sure that -unlike the UAW- their union won't spend millions of dollars attempting to elect their toadies to US local and national offices.
And maybe -just maybe- my "un-American" buying habits will hasten the demise of the UAW.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Not exactly UAW related, but it is union related and is along the lines of why unions get a bad rap. I've experienced the BS at McCormick and I see it's starting to cost them.
Among the galling circumstances: Union electricians must push audiovisual equipment to the proper locations, and they charge so-called push fees that add $20,000 to the bill, Malone said, adding that this was something the group has encountered only in Chicago.
"And we had exhibitors tell us they had seen electricians intentionally going really, really slow," she said. "Or they would forget a wire and would go to get it and be gone for two hours ... and meanwhile the clock was ticking." Many exhibitors saw electrical services bills four to eight times greater than the previous year in Orlando, the group said.
It's freaking extortion! What's really sad is the above quote was for an IT show, so I'd say most of the companies at the show were more than capable of setting up their own booth.
I'm sure that you'll be shocked -SHOCKED!- to learn that Union thugs increase Detroit conventions costs as well.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
That's fine, but don't use the UAW as a reason for not buying a Buick then.
We are doing this to help our customers save money. We are encouraging our customers to try and set up during straight time during the week days. Labor costs for union labor ordered through Freeman are at an hourly rate of $55.00 per person, straight time. If you traditionally set up on the weekend, think of how much money can be saved if you can set up during straight time. (Overtime Freeman rates: $82.50, weekdays 6:00am - 8:00am, 4:30pm - midnight, 6:00am - midnight Saturday & Sunday. $110.00 for double time, midnight - 6:00am any day of the week and on recognized holidays).
You can save 30% to 50% on labor rates setting up during straight time.
If you use and Exhibitor Designated Contractor, please check with them regarding their Labor/Rate Policy.
How can I make up some of that set up time that I am losing from the weekend?
We have actually extended the set up time during the weekdays on Friday, January 22nd and Monday to Wednesday, January 25 to 27. The weekday set up hours have been extended by 6 hours on Friday, January 22, and 3 hours on Monday and Tuesday, January 25 & 26. Your team can also work on the booth for an extended time Monday thru Wednesday, January 25 - 27, as long as they stay inside your booth. Anyone leaving the show floor after published move-in hours have ended will not be able to come back in until the next day at the published start time.
Will you have more labor set up for the weekdays?
There will be sufficient union labor to fill all advance orders and there should be adequate labor available for on-site orders as well. It is in your best interest to order labor in advance of the start of move-in to ensure your labor call is filled.
It would also be in your best interest to ship all containers necessary for your booth's construction to begin to the advance warehouse by January 19, 2010. Shipments will be accepted at the warehouse beginning December 28, 2009. That way, your truck(s) won't be stuck in line at the Marshalling Yard waiting for dock space to open up so they can be unloaded. Freight shipped in advance to the warehouse is delivered to your booth prior to your arrival for your target time, so you can begin unpacking/construction and make the most of your set-up time.
What about tear down after the show, is Sunday, January 31st a Dark Day as well?
No. The show closes at 3:00pm, Saturday, January 30, when move-out begins. Sunday, January 31 is a move-out day like always, with access to the floor from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Move-out continues Monday, February 1, 8:00am - 5:00pm and Tuesday, February 2, 8:00am - 3:00pm, when all exhibitor materials must be removed from the OCCC exhibit hall floor.
• Exhibitor-appointed contractors must agree to abide by all rules and regulations of the show,
and agree to abide by all union rules and regulations.
• Exhibitor-appointed contractors are allowed to do display work only.
• All rigging will be done by the Orange County Convention Center.
http://downloads.lightreading.com/lrlive/telcotv09/esm/section3/Show%20Managemen- t%20Rules%20and%20Regs.pdf
Its more like working the overtime and taking paid days (vacation or personal time) during the week. In any case this is the GM/Delphi policy on attendance since 2003.
"The Corporation may implement a no-fault attendance policy under which all employees absences/tardiness are tracked including leaves of absence. After reaching defined thresholds, the employees will be subject to automatic, non-grievable corrective disciplinary action, ultimately leading to discharge."
You mean it's actually OK to USE the days that you are allotted??? Good God what is the world coming to. Next thing you'll say is you're actually entitled to a 15 minute break for every 4 hours you work.
Limbaugh came to manhood in an era when the nation had a military draft for the Vietnam war. He avoided service by having his physician certify his medical unfitness due to an "inoperable pilonidal cyst" and "a football knee from high school." He played one year of varsity football in high school, and his coach, Ryland Meyr, said later he remembered no injuries to Limbaugh. Those who loathe Limbaugh sometimes describe his pilonidal cyst as "a boil on his butt", but that is an oversimplification.
Limbaugh, of course, has always called for harsh penalties for drug abusers, arguing that "if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up." After admitting his own addiction, he took a month off his radio show to undergo rapid rehab. He then spent the next several years battling Florida investigators who sought his medical records to investigate him for "doctor shopping" -- the crime of obtaining the same prescription from more than one doctor, since Limbaugh's use of oxycodone had been far in excess of the amount any doctor would plausibly prescribe.
In June 2006, Limbaugh had further drug problems when a bottle of Viagra was found in his luggage at the Palm Beach Airport. The prescription was not in Limbaugh's name, but no charges were filed against Limbaugh, who was returning from a vacation in the Dominican Republic with four male companions.
Do you know something we don't?
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I don't know, but I have set up for shows in Cleveland, Columbus, and Chicago. Chicago was a nightmare, The shows in Cleveland and Columbus we brought in our own product and setup our own displays, we didn't have to pay an electrician just to plug in an extension cord. Why should we be held hostage and have to use outside help (regardless if union or not) when we had our own people to do the work?
Bottom line, Chicago is loosing convention business to other cities due to their exorbitant prices and even the mayor is aware of the problem.
Good reason to avoid conventions in Dallas. If enough places with stupid work rules and overpaid workers get snubbed the cities will rethink their contracts. Las Vegas is already paying the piper. Unemployment equal to the worst in the country. Many think that LV will be the next Detroit. From my sister's perspective when she left LV 5 years ago and moved to Phoenix, it was the work rules for dealers in the Casinos that she could not live with. The Union's "one for all and all for one" sent her to greener less restrictive pastures. So you can put another one up for the Union destroying our economy. The Motto of the AFL-CIO should be "one town at a time". Who's the next to fall under the repression of Union labor? Detroit is gone. Chicago & LV are on the brink of financial collapse. Reuther is in hell playing his fiddle. :sick:
What happens when several workers decide it is a good day to play golf? I was talking to a SSI case worker last night at dinner. She said she was going to lose 48 hours of vacation on December 31st. I said you should take it now. She said that would leave her fellow workers short as vacations were already on the books. I wonder how conscientious the UAW workers were about upsetting the work load? Taking leave is usually part of a contract. Doing it in a manner that does not negatively impact the company is the right thing to do.
A few may not but hundreds a year by a the amount of employees GM has, will make you go belly up LOL. And it did.
The only show we've done where the unions raised their ugly heads was in Long Beach on the ex-RMS Queen Mary, but that was in 1985 - and we no longer will do a show in that area.
Sounds like smear campaign is working overtime! And he's not even elected. If you haven't noticed, you can turn off the program! Novel concept. Sounds like someone fell for Barry's "blame Limbaugh and others for my problems" excuse when he wore out "blaming Bush" for all he wasn't fixing since January 2009.
Spend the equivalent amount of UAW space on Rachel Madcow or Keith Oberego, or Barry Obama or Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi "It takes a women to straighten up the House," (guess she hasn't done that with all the pork spending!!!), or Barney Frankfurter lover, or Dodd, or Biden, or Ted Kennedy.
Lots of material there, and they're all elected.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I was just responding to a poster that lives in Dallas and believes the UAW or any other Union can do no wrong. I have no idea about Dallas being corrupted by Unions. I do know, as you have pointed out about the Long Beach Convention Center. My friend in the Greek Tourist Ministry said that the Union thugs damaged their display and refused to admit it. And made all kinds of ridiculous demands on moving folding chairs around.
Barack Obama has not released transcripts for his grades from Occidental College, Columbia University and Harvard Law. He has also not released his SAT and LSAT scores. No explanation has been offered for not releasing them.
Per the Wall Street Journal September 11, 2008, "Obama's Lost Years," Obama graduated from Columbia University (to which he transferred after his first two years at Occidental College in California), with a degree in Political Science without honors, so had a GPA less than a 3.3. His roomate Sohale Siddiqi indicated Obama itially felt alienated, felt "very lost," and used drugs to get high, which could have led to low grades initially
What Rush Limbaugh and Barry Obama have to do with the UAW is this: The UAW dumped a lot of money and time into getting BO elected. Rush spent a lot of air time trying to keep him from getting elected. Both legal under our system of government.
So there you have it two drug users. One President the other a talk show host.
All of which explains why I will never again buy a UAW built vehicle -new or used- and listen to conservative talk radio. The UAW drones can boycott Rush and I, through my purchasing habits, can do my utmost to hasten the demise of Organized Thuggery...er, Labor.
Ain't free enterprise grand?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
"More than 400 workers have signed up to transfer from Spring Hill, TN, to Lansing's Delta Township plant"
Hundreds of Tennessee GM Workers to Head to Lansing (wilx.com)
I would think there would be more than enough unemployed GM/Delphi workers in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio to fill those jobs without needing to bring up workers from the "right-to-work" South states that took so many jobs from Northern businesses. What is GM thinking in Delta Township!!!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Well, if the vacation books are full and she can't use it, that's her fault for not taking it sooner. As far as upsetting the "work load", one would think that it's management's responsibility to regulate the work load. If they offer 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 sick days per year, then it should be budgeted for properly by management.
If having too many people off one day is a problem, then I would assume that having too many people work too many days in a row w/o taking any off could be a problem as well.
That's one thing I'm thankful for with my company, is that you'll never lose vacation time. If you go over your limit, they cash out the overage at the end of the year and pay it to you.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) backed out of an event with other organizations promoting the Senate healthcare reform bill Wednesday over concerns about changes made to the legislation to accommodate centrist Democrats.
The SEIU had planned to participate in a Capitol Hill press conference along with the AARP, the liberal advocacy group Families USA, Consumers Union and the American Cancer Society Action Network. As recently as Tuesday morning, the organizations distributed an advisory to the news media that included the SEIU.
But the move by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to excise provisions of the healthcare reform bill to create a government-run public option health insurance program and to allow people between 55 and 64 years old to buy into Medicare gave the labor union pause, spokeswoman Lori Lodes said.