United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)

imidazol97

I bought a Maytag fridge because of good reputation before Whirlpool bought the brand. Few years back had a burn out or thermostat failure on the heater coil/thermostat for the defroster. Replaced with the Maytag (now Whirlpool) item which was made in Mexico. 1 year later, not working again. Thermostat at fault. Replaced with an off brand thermostat I wired in where I didn't have to buy the heater coil and thermostat as a unit. 3 years, it's still working.

andre1969

I get nervous on rainy days and hope the Rain-X is good enough!

It is. The windshield wipers on my '79 5th Ave went out back in December 2004. I put Rain-X on the windshield to get me through, until I could get it to the shop to get it fixed. Now, I don't drive that car very often. It's garaged most of the time, and I try hard to keep it out of the rain. But the last time I got caught in the rain with it, maybe a couple months ago, that Rain-X application still seemed to be holding up.

lemko

I bought a Whirlpool washer and dryer back in 1997 and they are still holding up admirably. The only repair so far was a plastic coupler that broke on the washer last year after 14 years and my wife's excessive O.C.D. clothes washing.

gagrice

I think that Whirlpool factory where my daughter lives in Evansville Indiana was the last to close. 1500 workers lost their jobs and went on the public dole. I read something interesting this morning. We now have 8.7 million workers on SS disability. One person on disability for every 16 people working. 20 years ago we had one for every 35 workers. The fund was running a $25 billion deficit in 2011. Up from an $8 billion deficit in 2009. My question. How many people came up with some sort of hard to diagnose disability when their 2+ years of Unemployment insurance ran out. How will less and less workers support all that are not working? Our country on the Eve of the 4th of July is reaching a critical mass of money being spent with less and less coming in. Very much like the UAW in their panic to get more dues payers.

lemko

It doesn't help that there are [non-permissible content removed] lawyers who advertise on TV between segments of Maury and Jerry Springer on getting people on disability. I'm sure a lot who respond are goldbricks and layabouts. The telephone number is 1-800-CANT WORK. Maybe they should change the number to 1-800-WONT WORK?

I have a ne'er-do-well sister-in-law who went on disability when she was 41. The government denied her initial disabilty claim, so she got one of these shysters to get her disability granted and she won. I don't see anything wrong with her and neither does my wife. I think she's malingering. Well, sis-in-law found out living on disability isn't that easy and regrets it. She lives a hand-to-mouth lifestyle at best.

I see a lot of people who SHOULD be on disability, but still work. I greatly admire these people for pushing forward despite the obstacles. Then I see a lot of crybaby bums who claim "I have a bad back" and go on disability, yet they're in the back yard lifting cinderblocks and big logs.

srs_49

And then you've got administrative law judges like this joker (David B. Daugherty.) in WV who decided 1,284 disability cases in fiscal year 2010, and awarded benefits in all but four.

link to article

fintail

And he's almost certainly a millionaire, entirely on the taxpayer dime, and is virtually unfireable. Unions are the problem?

gagrice

There are a myriad of problems related to Government at all levels. Justice is one, public employee unions another. Self serving agencies with over paid administrators each building a mini empire may be the worst. It would be a stretch to blame the UAW for lousy judges.

fintail

And as so many judges prove, it is not only union workers who are the problem. The so-called "professional" public sector types, often not in a formal union, have contracted benefits and perks that are on another planet, and the judiciary is among the most overcompensated in the public sector - which is saying something. Generous pay, massive retirements, very hard to hold them accountable when they err, and few will say a word. Reminds me of law enforcement, which makes sense as it is related.

Amuses me most than in the government-hating south, each tiny county has its own group of these overpaid sucks, but they don't see the waste and hypocrisy in it. All while they rail against unions and what their 10th grade educations see as "socialism".

tlong

Amuses me most than in the government-hating south, each tiny county has its own group of these overpaid sucks, but they don't see the waste and hypocrisy in it. All while they rail against unions and what their 10th grade educations see as "socialism".

Using simplistic name tags is the simple solution to branding problems that have more actual complexity. The idiots branding Obama as "socialist" should get a bit more creative. Unions like the UAW set the stage for the public employees to unionize, with the current decline of government as is sucks the public ever drier.

fintail

And those who cry about socialism usually couldn't define the term if their little lives depended on it. I wonder what most people in Alabama think of "socialism" now that they are getting a factory of one of the most socialized corporations on the planet. Oops!

And what set the stage for the UAW and similar old time industrial unions? Greedy treacherous shortsighted 1%ers who would cut off their nose to spite their face. Kind of a fun chicken and egg game.

stever

"And what does it mean to be a Socialist these days, anyway?

Not very much.

Center-right parties have embraced or absorbed many of the ideas of socialism: trade unions, ...."

What’s a Socialist? (NY Times)

Same paper had this op-ed a year ago:

"The dirty little secret of America is that socialism and corporate welfare have always been used to keep the masters of the universe on their perches. Lobbyists are paid millions to get tax breaks and bailouts for big corporations. "

Socialism, American Style

Funny how one little label can cover so much territory.

fintail

Comparing Euro to American politics is kind of difficult. They go much stronger left and right than anything here, and both of their ideals will support organized labor and socialized public programs.

Corporate welfare is indeed socialism - American style. The many funding the good of the few, instead of the other way around. It will all "trickle down" via "job creators", right? :shades: :sick:

stever

They have more than two parties. Having to form coalitions means compromise, something pols here seem to have forgotten.

It's pretty bad when you can argue that the UAW gets along with and works together better with management now than the Ds and Rs do. :shades:

gagrice

Corporate welfare is indeed socialism

Yes it is. However I suspect many here believe that deducting business expense is "corporate welfare".

The cost of hiring the UAW worker is a deduction from the revenue gained. It is not corporate welfare. Corporate welfare is giving a subsidy to build a factory in your town. Offering cheap energy and water are examples of corporate welfare. Or offering tax breaks to build in a state are all forms of corporate welfare. And of course most of it got started during the great depression for those suffering from the stock market bubble and crash, along with other things. The circumstances had similarities to this depression. Very high unemployment and lowering standard of living for those that were working for less.

Some would say that offering incentives to move to another town are just good capitalist ideas. I say if a workforce and local government make a business feel welcome they will not leave. When you start extorting money via heavy taxes and over the top Union contracts, you make moving a good business decision. That is what so many cities and unions have done to chase off business for at least 50 years.

gagrice

Whether it is Congress, GM & the UAW or a Church, it is the Leaders that set the tone and produce the harmony. I think as much as people like Rocky hate Bob King, UAW boss, he realizes how fragile his Union has become. And how easy it would be to lose more members.

As for the person that is supposed to keep the House and Senate meeting and passing legislation is too busy campaigning to keep his job. Most divisive, disconnected President in my lifetime.

fintail

Two party system (both owned by the same forces, no less) = one steady decline for America.

UAW and their counterparts in other industries are choirboys compared to the FIRE industry controllers of the Ds and Rs.

fintail

You forgot about the "decider" bumbler and his war criminal VP who was replaced by this strutting nothing and his doddering partner, right?

fintail

Depends on if the deducted expense is legitimate. Plenty of them are not - even if bought and paid for regulations claim otherwise.

Study the definition of capitalism, what you describe is not it. It's reverse socialism, and a part of why the socio-economic gap now is the greatest since before the original great depression. Today, the many sacrifice so a few can gain, all in blind hopes of utterly deceptive trickle down theory, and misled dreams that they too are next in line to hit the jackpot. It keeps any rebellion at bay.

It's funny that those areas who are now "business friendly" are also net recipients of federal funds, receiving far more than they pay in (I am talking about the south in particular) - aka more developed areas are subsidizing their ability to compete. People who will cry about socialism but will gladly extend their palms in bad times. Reminds me of Ayn Rand...

tlong

And those who cry about socialism usually couldn't define the term if their little lives depended on it.

So true, certainly the brainless on faux news and other "outlets".

Didn't one of our famous previous pro-UAW posters pretty much long for a more socialist environment, where merit would not be important and lifelong high pay should be assured? That makes UAW pretty similar to certain socialist ideals.

gagrice

I did not forget. Dubya was hated by as many people as hates Obama. But he was able to get along with Congress both GOP controlled and Democrat controlled. I don't recall any budget crisis over his 8 years. I don't recall him ever threatening to hold back SS checks if he did not get his way. You may not have agreed with the way he led. But he was far more of a leader than Obama. The grunts in the Military loved Bush and hate Obama. Except for the gay ones. And of course Cheney was a good 50 points higher on the IQ scale as Dumbo Biden and son.

stever

Yet both of them supported the auto bailout - you know, the one that helped out members of the UAW.

The topic. :shades:

gagrice

Yes both bought the millions out of work if the automakers went bankrupt, BS. Well we bailed out GM & C and we have millions out of work. Money wasted. TARP and Stimulus will be a millstone around our children's Children's neck. So little to show for the $1.6 trillion wasted. How many UAW jobs were gained by bailing out GM & C? Saving jobs is NOT the same as creating sustainable jobs.

fintail

I don't know, it's not like we (private sector) are in some kind of egalitarian meritocracy either - look at the tiered UAW payscale or overall executive and upper management pay - no matter how "important" some might claim the decisions :shades:

More socialized areas tending to be leaders in engineering doesn't bode well for any thought that merit is unimportant. Pure socialism doesn't exist.

fintail

What did he lead? I must have forgotten, or repressed the memory. I do remember he called himself the "decider", I wonder what would happen if his replacement used that term. Dictatorship! Impeach! :shades:

Of course the military liked him - he kept the infinite gravy train going.

And he supported much of the financial policy, auto bailouts included, that the unwashed now label as socialist.

Evil tends to be smart...

tlong

What did he lead?

Bush was certainly better at smirking than Obama is. :P

I wonder if King should just fly a bizjet to D.C. to ask for another bailout for the UAW, while the party in power is still friendly?

fintail

Part of being born on third base and acting like you hit a home run, as Ann Richards would have said.

Maybe they could drive a Volt instead of flying...would be a better promo piece than most of the ads I have seen.

marsha7

who think that folks get on disability too easily...about 9 years ago, I was assisting another lawyer by showing up at the disability hearing for a client of his...I did my best, as we are supposed to, but it was obvious to me this person was hardly disabled...they were turned down by the judge, which made me happy...after the client departed the building, I went back into the room and thanked the judge for his decision...the truly disabled should get disability, but the worthless "disabled" should get nothing...and no, I did not get paid for the hearing...

tlong

Maybe they could drive a Volt instead of flying...would be a better promo piece than most of the ads I have seen.

GM was targeting 40K Volts for this year, and as of half year they are tracking about 16K for the entire year. An epic fail. I wonder how long before new UAW furloughs begin?

I could earn half the salary of a GM market analyst, with no formal training, and still tell them they were no way going to sell that many Volts at that price.

roadburner

I could earn half the salary of a GM market analyst, with no formal training, and still tell them they were no way going to sell that many Volts at that price.

The analysts were reading their own press clippings and drinking the GM Kool-Aid- the more things change...

fintail

When a Prius is barely more than half the price, it's a tough sell. Speaking of subsidies, the Volt needs generous subsidies to really be viable. It's not like the original Prius paid its own way either - Toyota got its own federal coddling to get the hybrid ball rolling. Some socialism paid off there.

Who says GM analysts have formal training? Their marketers don't seem to either, given the annoyingly lame ads.

gagrice

The only reason the Volt had a small surge in sales is CA gave them HOV privileges. Plus the $5000 CA tax credit, PLUS the Federal $7500 tax credit. Of course the rest of US get stuck with paying for folks to feel green and patriotic buying a Volt that is less than 50% USA made. Don't forget the Battery plant we subsidized to assemble Korean made battery cells for the Volt. Yes we are taking care of our UAW brothers and sisters.

stever

Is that supposed to be Chief Justice Roberts (surely it's not Roberts, R-KS)?

gagrice

SC Roberts is my guess. You have to be in the top 25% to take advantage of the Volt corporate welfare. To have a $5000 tax bill in CA and a $7500 tax bill with the Feds. In spite of the well laid plans by the Congress most of that money left the USA. With the new Honda EV coming on line, even more will be sent to foreign countries.

So much for helping the UAW with their green agenda.

stever

Didn't really get the Robert's reference; the most recent court decision about the EPA and CO2 was the DC appeals court. Guess it goes back to the '07 decision letting the EPA regulate carbon emissions.

gagrice

I think it was about Roberts stretching the Individual Mandate out to be a tax to get off the hook on Obamacare. The Volt is just a take-off on that. Obama would love to make US all drive a Volt to help out the UAW.

andre1969

You have to be in the top 25% to take advantage of the Volt corporate welfare. To have a $5000 tax bill in CA and a $7500 tax bill with the Feds.

I think I paid about $9,500 in federal, and $5500 in state/local taxes last year. And I don't feel particularly blue-blooded. Hmm, maybe I should've bought a Volt!

imidazol97

The "$2000 tax" in the sign is the key it refers to the rewriting the law by Roberts to make it keepable by the court.

Not sure why so many are so critical of the Volt. A different concept than the ICE assisted by an electric motor of the toyota Prius. As noted by Fintail, the toyota company subsidized (dumped?) Prius for a period at a loss and was subsidized by the US tax code with rebates by the government. If GM were allowed to sell Volt at a loss for a couple of years at a workable lower price, perhaps it could have been an instant success. Still I see units at various locations in this area. Ones that show up on the dealer lots are gone after a period of time; someone somewhere is benefitting from the plugin efficiency.

Some are critical of stated sales goals being higher than the number of units actually built and sold so far. Are there other cars from other companies that have not met their sales hopes? I suspect the list is long .

I'm glad to see a US company's Volt being built in the US by US workers. Our leader is prowling Ohio Thursday by bus telling everyone he saved the state and the US car business with his actions in the auto bailout that he now takes credit for instead of blaming his predecessor. As he travels the UAW and union rich areas in the north border, Toledo, Cleveland, maybe he'll mention the green Volt that he allowed his car company to produce.

Isn't there a problem with someone taking credit for saving auto-related jobs in Ohio which the company will be importing cars from China within 2 years to the US? Doesn't that make his a bigger jobs exporter than Bain Capital?

The UAW should be throwing fits about the hypocrisy of saying he saved jobs (theirs) while setting up to import even more cars from China--does the UAW have workers in China? (does C import cars? Will C be bringing in imports?)

lemko

Shoot, just put ME in the commercials with my fleet and be done with it! Born on third base? Shoot, I was lucky enough to even get in the ballpark!

fintail

That's the thing about the Volt - it is a cool idea, but needs to be subsidized just like the original Prius. It is simply too expensive as-is, even with the tax break. It also needs better aesthetics, but that's for another discussion I guess.

Someone else was prowling around yesterday, using false folksiness to woo in the unwashed. I wonder if any of those Cadillacs have a VIN starting with "3"...

Importing cars from China - I will believe it when I see it. Not even the Chinese sweatshop tycoons we have let buy their way in would touch one.

fintail

You drive cars and keep them nice, rather than throwing them away when the note is up. You're not the customer any carmaker wants :shades:

lemko

There was a guy who worked with me a while back who was in a motorized wheelchair and showed up early every day. He could barely talk. The only thing that properly worked was his right hand with which he could still write and operate the joystick on his chair. He couldn't do much, but he made a great effort to do the best job he could. If a guy like that who has just about every reason to be on disability shows up for work everyday, nobody has an excuse!

gagrice

The rank and file UAW people should be very upset with Obama pushing the Korean trade agreement. The ink was not dry before GM signed a $3 billion parts contract with Korean suppliers.

My problem with the Volt is content and tax incentives. The Volt is Less than 50% US made. That means more than 50% of that $7500 tax credit is leaving the USA. Obama has turned out to be a bigger Off shoring president than any before him. Look at our burgeoning trade imbalance. Most of the stimulus jobs created were government temp jobs that are running out. And from what I can see the auto sales are another bubble that will soon burst. Sub-prime auto loans will leave the lenders with lots full of cars worth less than what is owed. Hmmm sound familiar.

imidazol97

>. Most of the stimulus jobs created were government temp jobs that are running out.

The UAW folks blindly follow anything that has the D on it. As for the Volt, I'm happy to have a US car company making it in the US. As for content, some folks have been happy to have foreign companies assembly mostly foreign content product here under the guise that's it's US jobs. I'll take the Volt instead. Of course, GM has been working to have a battery company build them here, but some folks don't like that either because the company was foreign owned. Are those the same ones that love the few hondas and toyotas etc built here with foreign parts or parts made in US by foreign-based companies which have located here so their product is labelled US?

The off-shoring will never be pushed by the MSM because it has a D on it right now. I resent the leader going to the labor union intensive north shore and saying things that aren't try. And the UAW and other D unions will blindly follow.

Maybe the UAW has gotten what they deserve in the cutbacks. But there are many low end workers on the 2nd tier who are earning their way. It's the old guys at the top tier and the labor leaders who deserve to shown the door.

gagrice

I think this article says a lot about disability cases.

More workers joined the federal government's disability program in June than got new jobs, according to two new government reports, a clear indicator of how bleak the nation's jobs picture is after three full years of economic recovery.

The economy created just 80,000 jobs in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. But that same month, 85,000 workers left the workforce entirely to enroll in the Social Security Disability Insurance program, according to the Social Security Administration.

The disability ranks have outpaced job growth throughout President Obama's economic recovery. While the economy has created 2.6 million jobs since June 2009, fully 3.1 million workers signed up for disability benefits.

http://news.investors.com/article/617233/201207060945/disability-climbs-faster-t- han-jobs-under-obama.htm

lemko

...is worse than it looks!

Unemployment Worse Than It Looks

stever

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. workers authorized their South Korean union leaders to stage their first strike in years to demand higher wages and reduced working hours.

A full-blown stoppage would end the lull in labor strife that helped the two Seoul-based carmakers -- both headed by Chairman Chung Mong Koo -- increase sales faster than any other major global automotive group in the past four years. After Hyundai Motor's union was formed in 1987, it went on strike in the next 21 out of 22 years."

Hyundai braces for first strike in four years after union vote (Detroit News)

fintail

In the US, unemployment data is calculated in the most optimistic way possible. Some others might also call it lying. From what I can tell, Europe calculates it differently - hence higher numbers.

The Hyundai strike thing is interesting - from what I have seen of Korean labor disputes, the UAW and counterpart groups here are newborn kittens in comparison. Korean workers like a violent strike now and then.

tlong

In the US, unemployment data is calculated in the most optimistic way possible. Some others might also call it lying.

If you or I did that it would be lying. For the government, it's business as usual. :surprise:

Sort of like accounting standards. If public companies accounted the way the federal government does, they would be prosecuted.

I wonder how the UAW accounts are doing these days? Seems like they are pretty quiet, at least in the mainstream news.

fintail

Unless the shady accounting is in the FIRE industries, then they are bailed out with our money, and their "high earner" employees given even larger and more undeserved bonuses needed to retain the "talent" :sick:

UAW fades from relevancy each and every day, especially in this new world/trickle down economy with scarce jobs, and even more with each new transplant job created.