UAW President: GOP Trying to Break The Union
By Susie Madrak Friday Dec 12, 2008 3:00pm
In an impassioned press conference today, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger upped the ante in the auto bailout fight as he urged the White House and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to help prevent the "imminent collapse" of the auto industry by using TARP funds.
He spelled out a last-minute negotiating process in which he says the Senate GOP caucus blew up a compromise agreement hammered out by the White House and Sen. Bob Corker.
The UAW chief said they knew going in that negotiating with an individual senator was a difficult challenge - that Corker "really didn't have a knowledge of the industry."
"And then the other thing was, quite frankly, we wondered if we were just being set up," he told reporters. (Looks like there's something to that theory: Corker is now blaming the UAW, claiming the union refused to strike a deal because the White House made it clear they'd get the money, anyway.)
Who to believe? Hmm.
Gettelfinger said the UAW was willing to make further concessions, including the release of claims for equity in the comapny. "These agreed-to changes in the balance sheet would have made an enormous difference in the balance sheets of the company and largely solved their financial problems," he said.
But he blamed the Senate GOP caucus (populated by Southern senators who hate unions and whose states host non-union foreign car manufacturers) for rejecting that tentative agreement.
"Sen. Corker went so far as to say to us that the other discussions about wages were about politics in the GOP caucus."
The GOP caucus members first said they wanted to use Toyota as a benchmark, he said. The union responded that their research department was prepared to go in and review their wage structure, management pay, dealer and supplier contracts.
"That only would make sense to me instead of somebody saying, 'Here's the wage and that's what you have to agree to."
Without actually using the words, Gettelfinger made it clear that the GOP Senate caucus demands were about breaking the union.
He said they would treat workers differently from every other stakeholder in the process "instead of leaving it to the auto czar to work out the timetable and the mechanism for implementing sacrifices by all of the stakeholders. And the GOP caucus tried to mandate the precise restructuring terms for workers.
"In effect, that means that the GOP caucus was insisting that the restructuring had to be done on the backs of workers and retirees, rather than having all stakeholders come to the table.
"We could not accept the effort by the Senate GOP Caucus to single out workers and retirees for different treatment and to make them shoulder the entire burden of any restructuring."
He then called on the Treasury Secretary to use his authority to release TARP funds for the auto makers.
Responding to question from reporters, Gettelfinger said the union accounts for "just 10%" of labor costs. He said "even if workers worked for nothing," it would not help the Big 3 make it through January.
Keep in mind: the real religion of the GOP is cheap, disposable labor. They won't rest until all workers get below-subsistence wages without legal protections - a workforce that’s grateful for crumbs because they have no other options.
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....is already feeling the fallout by voting against American workers:
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/...
Love it! Up the worker revolution in this country!
I hope it happens over and over and over to this traitor
Let's hope this mood continues against the vile republicans in our country!
by Republicans to wipe out the gains of America's workers while they hold onto their money off shore.
Ladies and Gentlemen...I give you 'The Center for Downward Mobility"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmOPHEL_3Q
Rather ignorant of you to think that only repubs have offshore accounts.
[Please refrain from personal attacks. Thank you-Sitemonitor]
Not sure what you are trying to say here.
You have the nerve to call someone else ignorant? Look at your screen name - what sort of response are you hoping for with a moniker like that?
I detest ad hominem attacks - they're born out of frustrated anger and a failure of reason & empathy. They indicate a shallow mind and the pathology of a bully. They serve to shut down dialogue rather than improve or expand it. That said, it's still tempting to respond to your insult with an insult, because I suspect it's all you understand.
However, I'll resist temptation and simply point out that the poverty of your character is plain for all to see.
frustrated anger and a failure of reason & empathy. They indicate a shallow mind and the pathology of a bully. They serve to shut down dialogue rather than improve or expand it.
Wow,
check out what some of your buddies are saying! I have been union in the Merchant Marine and the Operating Engineers. I am more than familiar with Unions and I do think that in their current state, they suck!! Lets get back to the original design of unions so I can feel good about changing my moniker. By the way, I drive a 2004 3/4 ton Dodge and I love it. Too bad they are overpriced for the average American....wonder why?
The average American doesn't have a job that's represented by unions and they don't make enough money.
That's a very arrogant comment. At what point is it all about the Unions? I have a job that pays around $9.00 higher than Union scale with great bennies. I also have a side business where the people I employ don't need Union protection as they work their butts off and have fun. They are also rewarded for their work. I put out a product that is affordable to EVERYONE not just union members. Your thinking will put you out of a job.
With your attitude, it's a small wonder that a majority of America want to see the big 3 file bankruptcy and re organize. Please note that I did not say fail. With your attitude, it's also a small wonder that Unions are losing favor with the American people.
Yes, I do want your job to make it but at the same time we should all be able to afford to drive Amaerican.
Unions suck, would you say your job/employment situation is normal? In addition is your side business public or private? Thank you for your time and anticipated reply.
The day job is a private company that is one of the largest retailers in the world and is hugely non union and the CEO is a staunch Democrat. My side job is catering and it takes me from Sturgis to the West Coast. The side job is a realized dream that I have worked for so yes, it's normal for those who reach but not normal for those who are happy where they are or those who dream but lack ambition.
I liked you better when you had the other screen name, and pretended to be a union organizer.
LOL
Otherwise, I'll understand and wish you well. Thanks
Unions Suck...
...you could tell your Union leaders that you only deserve $12/hour, no vacation pay, and no health insurance if you wanted to!
Americans would love it if you did this. Could you also tell members of your political party that they should forgo their Senate salaries for the rest of their careers too? Thanks! I'm sure they would be fine with this.
Kind of a ludicrous comment don't you think? Do you make less than that? Didn't think so. Do you have vacation and health insurance? Bet it's better than typical "non union". That's the problem. Unions were started for working conditions which included the above. I'll bet that the first unions ideas weren't to price themselves out of jobs....that would be a little dumb wouldn't it.....oh wait a minute!! I have no problem with a decent wage and benny but be realistic.
As to the second part....I am with the Consitution party and as of yet we have no one in office so why do you say "your" political party? I am sure that you meant "our" political party. Seems they ALL vote themselve's wage increases, have better bennies, and retirements than thier constituents. I would love to see their pay docked for the mess THEY ALL got us into. Keep in mind that everything they are against in every election are things they caused. Forgo there salaries for the rest of their careers...again a ludicrous statement but thanks for the reply.
If you supported Mr Baldwin, then you should know the core of the problem goes deeper then merely the "Union" as an entity, as it relates to this issue?
I goes far deeper, but the unions are not for the common man anymore and that's part of the problem we are having.
"the unions are not for the common man anymore" I would not totally disagree with that remark, though I believe you have a chip on your shoulder. IMO
If unions suck, it's because the rank and file worker has failed to participate in the running of the unions. Every union I've ever known has a democratic structure with elected officers and is accountable to its members. If the members choose not to participate, then they get what they deserve, just as the American voters got when they failed to participate in choosing their elected leaders. If you don't like something, get off yer ass and do something about it.
I agree with you 100%.
I work in a restaurant.
I don't have health insurance.
I don't receive any benefits.
I have no 401k, or any retirement plan to speak of apart from Social Security.
I don't get a lunch break or any other sort of break.
When the restaurant is open I work from 50-70 hours/week. When business dries up in the off-season, the restaurant closes and we all get laid off for 3-4 months.
Although my employer & I each pay into the Unemployment fund, I not only have to jump through hoops to receive my Unemployment benefits each week, they're also taxed a second time.
Oh, and I have a college degree, but I entered the work force during the last Republican recession, so I took the job I could get, rather than waiting for a job that matched my qualifications.
P.S. I'm not surprised that you're member of the Constitution Party. That, like your asinine screen name, speaks volumes about what sort of "thinker" you are.
I admire your effort but I voted for BO. I could not be further from the constitution party's plank(s), thank you.
PS Teamster....
Added: I must amend the aforementioned to say, that I dislike some of their planks.
That comment was for "Unions Suck."
(I'm retching just typing those last words).
The threading is a little hard to distinguish, but if you trace up, you'll see I was replying to the same comment that you did.
Cascading format, confused me :-/
Thank you for your time.
I can't stand him but I hope and pray that he can get something done. I think though that he will be too busy fighting the skeletons in his and his appointees closet. They seem to be appearing already.
Horseshit.
Why do you have to bring color into the dialogue?
Rummaging through those closets.
Good luck with that.
Without your reasoning, I can only assume your prejudice. It's funny that, though he is a believer I don't see him as proselytizing as much as say, Pastor Chuck Baldwin. You can keep praying, though I don't think it has helped or will help anything. Though I wish you my best.
Don't waste your energy, the constitution party makes the libertarians look sane.
I will agree 100% and thanks for the advise. :-)
I have no college education at all. I too have worked in a restaraunt without insurance or 401. I made things happen and it took awhile and a LOT of hard work with failures along the way. If you want it bad enough you will get it.
Seems that the "last republican recession" was in 2001 when there was a liberal senate under Daschle and conservative house under Hastert so I think blame can be shared. Perhaps if you would have learned anything about the constitution in our failing public schools or whatever college you went to (they don't even teach the constitution in constitutional law by the way) you might see the merit of the party. Pay attention.. I haven't bashed any party as they all hold blame.
As for my asinine screen name, yes it does tell what kind of thinker I am. At least I am thinking! Oh yeah, I spent plenty of time in unions and due to the fact that I don't need them to protect my job and they have outgrown their usefulness, I don't have a use for them. Maybe you could look at the larger picture and instead of whining about your current situation and trying to find someone to blame and do something about it. I hate to sound un caring but I am tired of the "it's not my fault", "I can't do it", "I need govt/union/whatever, to do it for me".
Seems to me that you're the whiner, asinine screen name and all.
Fealty to the laughable Constitution Party indicates that you're a member of the, "I got mine, so screw the rest of you!" crowd. The whole point of unions is, WE not ME.
I merely outlined my circumstance to illustrate the undeniable fact that unions benefit people like me who don't have access to familial wealth or the arbitrary & discriminatory lending system. What I didn't say explicitly enough is that I deliberately chose to remain a member of the working class. This life affords me freedom of conscience, time to engage in civil resistance and freedom from the acquisitive, self-centered rat race that consumes far too many Americans.
Unlike you, I don't resent my sisters and brothers who belong to unions, nor do I blame them for all the ills of capitalism. Capitalism is to blame for its own ills - it's just that the self-serving Jeebus freaks haven't figured it out, yet.
P.S. I'm beginning to suspect that "unions suck" = Joe Wurzelbacher in caterer's drag.
Sounds like a personal problem to me. You sound like an academic who fell short. I don't see any whining in what I've said. I have been Union and it held me back. I still have family and friends in unions. In my catering buiness I hire for results and free thinking and then reward it....I have yet to fully get mine but do spread out what I've got so far. I am a firm believer in the spirit of the individual more often than not but understand the occasional need for the group. We probably pay a whole lot better than your restaraunt gig too. We also donate a large portion of our income to charity...depending on where you live, you may have recieved some of it. I started from scratch with about $4000.00 dollars that took awhile to save....no "familial wealth" or" arbitrary and discriminatory lending" institutions (banks). Nice try though.
I do respect but disagree with your Socialist attitude which crushes your individual aptitude (a little rhyme there for you).
The ills of this nation are not on the back of the unions. I would throw our govt under the wheels of that bus (Union made bus of course)also. Lawyers would be there too. Capitalism?? What do you call it when unions hold out for more money and bennies (many times it's a lot more)? Aren't they practicing a form of capitalism in a collective...some would say on occasion, extortionary spirit? If it wasn't for Capitalism, you wouldn't have a job nor would anyone in the big three. I am sure no one would have called Henry Ford a capitalist as the auto business and his creation of charcoal for BBQ's just fell from the Heavens into his lap. That was sarcasm Fantod. Business's don't usually happen on accident. Never have.
In short, if you want to wallow in self rightous poverty in order to remain "a member of the working class. This life affords me freedom of conscience, time to engage in civil resistance and freedom from the acquisitive, self-centered rat race that consumes far too many Americans" that's fine. Try and stay off the tracks as you may get hit by a capitalist freight train...union made of course.
Next time you are paying for your groceries, please give thanks to the capitalist who started the store, the folks who got the product to you and the taxpayer who made your food stamps possible.
"I don't need them to protect my job and they have outgrown their usefulness, I don't have a use for them."
So maybe you want to give up your 40 hour work week? Or your overtime pay? Maybe you wouldn't mind having your 10-year old son working in a machine shop for 12 hours a day? These are all things the unions fought for and now everyone benefits from. Without union protections, these things will all go away, whether or not you are a union member.
I agreed with you earlier but hows the kool aid taste now.
That wouldn't happen and you know it. What you said is akin to saying slavery will come back if you pull the lever for the wrong candidate.
Unions have done a lot of GREAT things but it sickens me to see their un willingness to bend in order to save millions of jobs. Unions in the EU are fighting for shorter work weeks with no loss in pay!! What business sense does that make? You know 10 tear olds will never see the inside a machine shop....maybe an 11 year old...but not a 10 year old. Be realistic!!!
Everything, including the role of unions need to change with the times. Depending on what's just down the pike for manufacturing and other workers they represent they could regain their true role. I was forced to join one as a kid. They didn't do a thing for me other than make my paycheck smaller.
Many bluecollars today need union representation but the unions respond with annoyance when their help is actually needed. From what I can see unions rally only when their own income is threatened, not through committment to workers rights particularly.
Of course they are trying to break the unions, but I've rarely seen them be so brazen about their intentions. I just hope President-Elect Obama is prepared to back labor to the end, because the political right will do everything in its power to destroy it.
you don't think bush called his 3 little bitches and told them to vote no so he would look like he was trying to help. Citi,Aig gets billions over the weekend, American Auto Workers, just get F*#Ked.
I hope someone can break the unions. Maybe then, we'll bring jobs back from overseas. If you ran a business I don't think you would put a union boss in charge of increasing revenue. Come to think of it, when was the last time most of you got to see how your Union leadership lives? Bet their lifestyle would surprise even you.
It's funny how the auto industry, the airline industry, and education all have one common denominator and they are all in trouble. Unfortunatley, that trouble is trickle down (a little Reagan speak for you) and it affects everyone. The unions of old had a need and purpose while the unions of new have completly gotten away from that.
...in bringing American jobs back here when they're paying people overseas dirt wages? It's all about the profits to big business and when it comes to paying Americans a great wage compared to paying those who speak broken English (or no English) slave-like wages, Americans always lose!
This is the America the right wingers love.
And remember Joe the Plumber and Todd Palin? Bah hahahahaha! Todd works for a Union and Joe...well, Joe was just a typical right wing liar. Nevermind.
It is foolish to think the GOP is going to "negotiate in good faith". They are going to use every dirty trick in the book, and then some. They have no shame and no honor.
If Gettelfinger wants to preserve the union and the workers, he needs to grow a spine, some cojones, and a good, sharp set of claws.
... on our Gettelfinger!
this problem unto Obama.
He will succeed.
Good luck Obama.
I am so freakin' sick and tired of these multi-millionaire Republicans (and Dems, sometimes) scamming the real WORKERS in this country!!! They've all made their money on the backs of the middle-class - they are disgusting, despicable cretins who should all be IMPEACHED!
They should have their wealth seized & returned to the US Treasury.
Then put them on a chain gang & let them break rocks for a few years.
They need the exercise!
Opportunistic thugs. Just like they used the greatest terrorist attack on American soil to attack Iraq they are using the greatest recession since the Great Depression to further another political agenda over America's economic security and American jobs.
Republicans are filth.
and the choice is no job, or reduced wages, what choice do you really have? Honestly, there will be no UAW if the Big 3 fold, so really, the union heads themselves are really doing a little bit of self preserving as well as the corporations. It's a no win situation for workers. If it comes down to less wages or lose your house, etc, most people whether union or not, would vote to keep their jobs. Nobody is going to win this mess.
take a look back 15 years, the UAW has given up lots. so they are to just keep giving up. So just how much would you do to keep your job, KISS there ASS.if so they have you. next, you will be on your KNEES.
of working or letting my family starve? I'd work thanks. Talking big is great, and so is solidarity, but in the end losing your house and starving does more to influence anyone's decision.
After all this time and all of the sacrifice, haven't we learned anything? What's on offer for workers is a Hobson's Choice - and I don't just mean the auto industry.
To tell a person that they can either work for less than a living wage or not work at all is not a real choice, it's indentured servitude. This is the rot at the heart of capitalism that no one dare speak about in America and I'm sick of it.
I'm also Canadian. My family were dirt farmers in Saskatchewan during the Dirty Thirties. Faced with the "choice" of slowly dying of starvation or working as little more than slaves for wealthy land barons & conglomerates, they did what they had to do - they organized. They bequeathed us Social Insurance, Medicare, the forty hour work week, the ban on child labour, the minimum wage, lawful break time and on and on.
My ancestors shed blood and died for the right to work in concert for the good of all & I'll be d@mned if I'll let their sacrifices be in vain. Unions didn't just create the middle class, as it's become so fashionable to say, they saved the thoroughly bankrupt a$$ of capitalism.
Ever since reforms were enacted, right-wingers have been trying to dismantle the gains of the CCF in Canada & the New Deal here. To hell with them, their disgusting anti-worker propaganda and their hollow philosophy of greed above all else. Nationalize the industry and to hell with the CEOs. Who needs private banks when we already know how to band together and form credit unions?
It's long past time to unplug the life support & let capitalism finally die so that the people may live.
The epoch of Capitalism's senile decay drags most tediously on
Unions have bent over backwards far too often & most have developed their own layer of bureaucratic fat.
We are taking steps toward a period of Factory Committees & occupations: http://www.marxist.com/usa-workers-occupy-chi... , http://www.marxist.com/messages-solidarity-fo... . I grow more hopeful by the day =-)
Why bother?
Let's just cut to the chase and appoint a real Czar over the whole country.
It'll save time and trouble and since Czar's seem to know how to get things done, we'll all be better off.
CZAR!!
Henry Ford had it right almost a hundred years ago: if employees don't make a reasonable wage,they can't buy the products they manufacture. I guess the Rethugs don't want employees to be able to buy anything with the wages they want to pay. Well,that's not quite true: actually,
the Thugs don't give a flying F*** about anybody else but their masters
You are right, palolo lolo.
The Repugs want to bring back the slave economy, with themselves as the slave owners. And they are willing to destroy the country to do it. In their mind, American workers have no rights, whatsoever.
This all started with Ronald Reagan, a former UNION president.
You can count on the Repuglic***s to stand up for lower wages, fewer species, a dirtier environment, and unregulated, unrestrained, and fuck anybody who gets in the way, greed.
Yeah, but at least those uppity gays won't be able to marry.
The most effective way for the Republicans to break the unions would be to get behind single-payer ("socialized") medical insurance. That would take away the most potent issue the unions have, as most strikes these days are over insurance.
Those sounds you hear are Republican heads exploding over whether to hate "socialized medicine" or unions more ... What delicious irony.
I think universal health care would be a big step toward making the Detroit 3 more competitive, because it would enable them to off-load their legacy costs, which are killing them (and, by extension, the UAW).
It would be a stretch to say that universal health care would save the UAW, but far from destroying them it would at least give them a chance to survive.
over the entire country.
The next president, Obama, will inherit dictatorial powers.
The big issue isn't Iraq, the economy, Detroit, etc.
It's whether Obama will relinquish the dictatorial powers he inherits from shrub.
We'll know on day 1.
The current GOP are little more then mendacious, selfish swine who worship the god of profit and hubris. They are fixated on the little picture of their selfish interest over the better interest of our nation and are determined to punish anyone who crosses them irregardless of the consequences.
Gettlefinger also produced an e mail (see npr.org, All Things Considered) that was forwarded to him written by Republicans describing their internal strategy in this issue. The stated Repub intention was to use this issue to punish the labor unions for supporting Obama and Democrats.
The GOP Senate actions were so outrageous and blatant that even the Bush White House would'nt back them. Now that's pretty damn bad when that happens and points to how utterly stupid and inept these GOP Senate assclowns are.
If you are a Republican in Michigan---you better get into witness protection asap.
.
[It's working now-Sitemonitor]
yeah - karma is a bitch. Especially since Bunning started his pro career with Detroit.
"I'm not trying to get rid of the unions, but I am saying they appear to be an antiquated concept" – Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?...
Or the US Constitution
Or the Bill of Rights
What is it with the American news media, its elected representatives, and its citizens? Why is the elephant in the room being ignored? It is time for the United States of America (and most of the other nations of the world) to admit that capitalism and and the way we have designed our financial systems with parasites feeding off interest and creating "money" out of thin air are utter failures.
Capitalism must be discarded and replaced by socialism backed by the economic system devised (but never implemented) by Thomas Jefferson--or one closely similar to it. Those who feed off the suffering created by wars such as the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, those who feed off the labor of the productive workers, and those who feed off of interest and the manipulation of finances should be recognized as the parasites they are and rounded up, tried by tribunal, [Deleted. Please don't advocate violence at this site. Thank you. Site Monitor].
In addition, the American "royalty," the ruling class comprised of only 1-2% of the population must be destroyed by eliminating all inheritance. When anyone dies, all assets should revert to the state. Social Security will provide for dependent survivors.
Take away the killing and I'm on board. I don't believe that retribution has any place in a democratic revolution. Whatever your ethics are, in practical terms it's nearly impossible to tame bloodlust once it's been ignited, which means that groups of like-minded workers striving for justice quickly become angry, violent mobs.
History has demonstrated repeatedly that angry mobs are as useless as greedy capitalists for building a stable foundation of justice.
I am of a mind to agree. It brings to mind the February & October Revolutions of 1917, which were both peaceful affairs until the intervention of the western imperial armies instigated the counter-revolutionary Civil War.
Follow Trotsky's advice:
"Finerty: So, Mr. Trotsky, it does not lie within your political philosophy either to exercise individual acts of terror against the bureaucracy or mass terror against it?
"Trotsky: Mass terror depends upon the circumstances of the bureaucracy itself. I repeat, I hope, even in the critical moment, this powerful and terrible bureaucracy would be absolutely pitiful, and then even the revolution could be more bloodless than the February Revolution in our country and also the October Revolution. But I cannot carry any responsibility for that. If the bureaucracy will oppose the masses they will naturally take severe measures. But individual extermination, no. It is not a revolutionary perspective.
"Finerty: And not a political necessity?
"Trotsky: Not a political necessity."
Oh yes, crony capitalism so unregulated it would have made Adam Smith sick failed, so lets go to socialism even though it failed both east and west Europe and has been jettisoned in all but name in every country that has ever tried it. Sure. Let's not strengthen the type of regulated capitalism and mixed system that led to great prosperity in America's mid-century and in West Europe and Japan. No, lets leave the creation of new automobiles, computer technology, video games and and consumer services entirely to unimaginative bureaucrats. Yeah. After all, Jaguar was such a better car when built by a nationalized car company, and the soviet cars were always so much better than anything made by the Japanese.
And sure, we won't tax the wealthiest estates into responsible charitable foundation building, we'll suggest stripping everyone, especially small business and modest family farm estates, of all their assets and totally kill middle class upward mobility.
Are you TRYING to kill the progressive movement before it even starts? Are you a Freeper trying to make this site look bad? Are you one of the 5 people left that don't realize, whatever capitalism's flaws and needs for regulation, full-bore socialism is not viable?
but I am saying they appear to be an antiquated concept."
A Gooper America-fucker ALWAYS tips his hand in the first part of his sentence. How many unions in S.C.?
Who is going to supply the tanks and vechiles that will be needed for the next war if we do not have a company here in this country that makes auto. Remember in WWII our car companies went off line making automobiles to making the necessary vechiles to fight the war. I guess the Republicans will outsource the job to China or Japan.
I love 'Crooks' but goddamn if it isn't always a crapshoot when trying to watch a video on here.
That's a very arrogant comment. At what point is it all about the Unions? I have a job that pays around $9.00 higher than Union scale with great bennies. I also have a side business where the people I employ don't need Union protection as they work their butts off and have fun. They are also rewarded for their work. I put out a product that is affordable to EVERYONE not just union members. Your thinking will put you out of a job.
With your attitude, it's a small wonder that a majority of America want to see the big 3 file bankruptcy and re organize. Please note that I did not say fail. With your attitude, it's also a small wonder that Unions are losing favor with the American people.
Yes, I do want your job to make it but at the same time we should all be able to afford to drive Amaerican.
I am glad for you. And I am a believer both that Unions need a general rethinking and reorganization to find ways to protect worker interests without being reflexively anti-business, and to be more open and transparent in their workings for their members.
HOWEVER, there are a LOT of people who DON'T get the sweet deal you get, and this bogeyman that working for a union would somehow be worse keeps a lot of people from getting a fair working arrangement. They get scared away by rhetoric and even though they earn near minimum wage after years on the job, they never even investigate for themselve what the difference would be. (Your description sounds almost too good to be true and I almost want to demand you identify this side business to prove those claims, but we'll accept your description for now.)
If you can come up with a way to get workers a fair share without a union, please do. Its one thing for skilled workers to get a fair wage from a small employer in a safe business niche, its another for a mass of workers at low-skill jobs (say Walmart or Target employees) to go up against that corporation without having SOME type of organization that represents them against all employers at the same time.
I'm not blind to Union faults, but not every workplace is your utopia.
It has absolutely nothing to do with healthcare costs. That is a line of bullsh*t!
Now wait. How is it possible that the big 3 are bankrupt in the US because of healthcare, when, oh I don't know, they are failing in Canada AND there IS HEALTHCARE!!! Bust the unions? If that is the case, then there is nothing anyone can do about it. The average UAW employee earns around $28/hour. That's great. Good for them. But when all their neighbours earn considerably less, they cannot afford to buy their vehicles. Why is this so hard to grasp? What would McD's charge for a Big Mac if their workers were paid $28/hour? Could you afford to eat there to support the union? What would happen to those unionized workers when nobody ate there?
McD makes billions and billions of dollars every year. I think they could afford to pay their employees more. On top of that, I don't eat that empty calorie shit anymore. Yeah, after I eat, I love to feel exhausted and be hungry again in less than 2 hours! It's da best!
using them as an example, but they wouldn't be making billions and billions if they had no customers. And if they had no customers, union or no union, their employees would not have jobs. I realize that it sucks when massive amounts of people lose their jobs, but realistically, that is why there are businesses. To make money. Shareholders and investors want a return on their money. If there is no return, there is no investor. No demand, nothing to supply.
I somehow think that this is the biggest manufactured scam in human history, that did not have to happen. What, bankers, investors and rich people all woke up one morning afraid for their lives? It's a crock.
THe GOP war on the middle class continues and Rachel Maddow is correct, make the GOP filibuster the bailout bill.
Why are they so concerned about union auto workers wages when they railed against wage and bonus setbacks for AIG, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch etc....?
Because those GOP scumbags are still wedded to trickle down economics and the less that trickles down the better it is for the GOP overlords.
I think most governments around the world, regardless of party affiliation, are now engaged in steal as much as you can get away with economics. Doesn't seem to matter where you live, or what idealogical party is in power. They all seem to want to give a most excellent Christmas to executives worldwide.
That's why I wish there was a Union party, a Union of Workers, and a Union vision for a Nation.
Question: What would that do to "closed" shops and required Union dues?
Its clear to me the GOP does not care about the American worker. Its funny how to the GOP thinks Americans make too much.........unless of course, you are a CEO. Then its "take the money and RUN".
After having it sit on my shelf for years, I've finally gotten around to reading The Grapes of Wrath. It seems like a well-timed decision. While reading a section describing how the big banks and business owners maneuver to pit workers against each other for ever-decreasing wages while labeling anyone who tries to unite the laborers as a "red" and destroy that person's life, I had the news on and they were talking about how the big three going into bankruptcy would destroy the union. People responding to the Cafferty file today were making the same excuses for cutting worker pay that I had just read about. In a way I feel like I'm reading the playbook of the greedy and the selfish and it's making me sick that it seems to still be working. That being said, if the choice really comes down to reduced pay or no job, I can't blame anyone for thinking that reduced pay is the better option. I'm getting really depressed over all of this lately.
- Who is telling us that the choice is between no work & work for less money?
- Why do we unquestionably support this unfounded assertion?
- Why is that unspeakable "choice" being presented to some people but not others and to some industries but not others?
- Why do we believe the fiction that, `What's good for GE/DOW/Monsanto/Wall Street/Boeing/Name your huge, multinational conglomerate,' is good for America?
Qui bono?
From the Pinkertons to the Bonus March Massacre to Taft Hartley and on and on. Ever since Taft-Hartley there has been an unrelenting campaign of anti-union propaganda + anti-union legislation. It's sponsored by huge corporations, bankrolled with the product of our labour through taxes and reduced wages & benefits and enabled by corrupt politicians.
Modern Western hatred of unions didn't come from nowhere, nor did it develop organically. We have been systematically brainwashed to work against our own interests.
How there are tons of movies about mafia meddling with unions.
But not a single movie about the Pullman massacre, or about how the 40hr work week came to be?
Organized labor has been so systematically attacked in this country. That we don't even allow "Labor Day" to be celebrated on the day it is celebrated in the rest of the world: May 1st. In fact if you ask what "May Day" is to the average American, they may think it is some sort of red commie thing. The irony is that May Day was established to memorize the 1st massive victory of Organized Labor in the world, which happened in USA of all places.
Sometimes this country sickens me, how low we have allowed ourselves to fall... when we have been born in the shoulders of giants, literally.
I'd like to see someone do a movie about the Ludlow Massacre. What's Oliver Stone working on right now?
Amen!!!
Why is it that my time and labor is worthless and those who sit in ivory towers time is valuable beyond compare?
Why shouldn't we the laborers be paid living wages?
Why do we work and vote for those who could care less about what our lives are like?
Having just wrapped up a long and grueling volunteer session in this past presidential election, I am ready to go to work again to rid our country of the last vestiges of these tired, old white men in the Grand OLD Party. They and their female counterparts, along with their whores and mouthpieces in the MSM and on church pulpits, are the ones who are responsible for plunging our country (and the world) in this financial vortex where we now find ourselves. As long as these people remain in power, there will always turmoil and America will never realize it's greatest potential.
Yes the REPUBLICANS are trying to brake the UNIONS that has been there GOLE all along. Another thing lets not FORGET the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA has the REPUBLICAN BACK,you bet. All you have to do is tune into CNN(FOX) and just listen to WOLF-E boy. The only one on the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA that has the UNIONS Back is Ratchil Maddow of NSMBC.
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