GM Strike

[M-MAN]

A 2017 with a bad timing chain and Ford tells you the aftermarket ones are junk? ??

Aftermarket chains are fine as long as you stay away from the el cheapo from the land of almost right. 

[smfarms]

11 hours ago, Lazy WP said:

Just my opinion but I think all unions should be abolished. 
Let the fire roll. 

There are a lot of us that worked a Union job out there. Just because you think key word think we were over paid let’s compare.  I belonged to the Operators for 24+ years as a mechanic. My wife was able to stay at home to raise our 3 kids. You?? Our insurance was very good too.  Now I am retired with a modest pension that I started drawing at 58. How’s your 401 doing??  I’m not saying I agree with everything that most Unions stand for but they do try and make it so a working person at least has a chance. FIRE AWAY BOYS! A proud Union retiree of Operators Union Local 150

[Ihfan4life]

10 hours ago, 766 Man said:

  I'd take a work truck hand crank windows and all.  But there is less money in building those than the fully equipped models for the manufacturer.  

Probably cost more because fewer demands and would require more assembly rather than plug and play parts 

 

11 hours ago, F-301066460puller said:

I would agree with the corporate greed. Can't speak to the other part. Don't know any UAW employees. Only thing I  know for sure is that they make a damn sight more when they are working than they do when they are picketing.

$500 a week for picketing 

 

10 hours ago, jeeper61 said:

For the US automakers and the UAW to survive they need to get the foreign automaker's plants unionized.

The foreign maker's plants have a $10 per hour lower labor rate  

One of the reasons why companies are choosing to invest in offshore facilities.

 

11 hours ago, lotsaIHCs said:

I don't have a dog in the fight, don't know anyone who does, other than anyone who might be in the market for a vehicle in the near future, and don't know the specifics of contract proposals. If news sources are correct, the last proposal I heard from GM was to include 40% pay increases over the course of the next 5 years on top of regular cost of living raises. That doesn't sound like anything to sneeze at! But then, as I said I have no knowledge of any specifics about the proposal other than what has been reported.

I thought it was 46% pay increases, but that could have included the benefits package, idk. 
I would love a 46% pay increase. After inflation I’d still get a 15% raise😂

[smfarms]

9 hours ago, Farmall Doctor said:

Piss be upon the unions. Nobody deserves $35 per hour to put bolts in bumpers. The mechanics that have to keep those autos running only make half of that. 

Ok so you’re not 30 years old trying to raise a family buy a home and pay for a car?? Even at $35 per hour that won’t make it on 40 hours. Think about it 

[iowaboy1965]

3 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said:

After inflation I’d still get a 15% raise😂

That's a big part of the problem for us all. But we can't go into that without getting in trouble......

[Ihfan4life]

10 hours ago, 766 Man said:

  I need a new (to me) PU but the used market has been all but stripped bare.  I never bought a factory new PU and always found excellent value on the used market using a little patience.  It's not going to happen this time I hate to say.

Cash for clunkers took care of the used vehicles being affordable and available.

[Lazy WP]

4 minutes ago, smfarms said:

There are a lot of us that worked a Union job out there. Just because you think key word think we were over paid let’s compare.  I belonged to the Operators for 24+ years as a mechanic. My wife was able to stay at home to raise our 3 kids. You?? Our insurance was very good too.  Now I am retired with a modest pension that I started drawing at 58. How’s your 401 doing??  I’m not saying I agree with everything that most Unions stand for but they do try and make it so a working person at least has a chance. FIRE AWAY BOYS! A proud Union retiree of Operators Union Local 150

I have slaved most of my life for monthly wages that I am sure you would not even consider a decent weekly wage. I have fought tooth and nail to pay for junk that I need to survive that is way over inflated because you are able to retire comfortably at 58. I don’t have a 401k, because in 2008 I lost it all when the federal government bailed out a bunch of union crybabies. 
What I do have is a great life. I have earned everything I have and I never had to bow to anyone!!

[iowaboy1965]

$35 an hour certainly won't buy what it used to. 

[smfarms]

1 minute ago, Lazy WP said:

I have slaved most of my life for monthly wages that I am sure you would not even consider a decent weekly wage. I have fought tooth and nail to pay for junk that I need to survive that is way over inflated because you are able to retire comfortably at 58. I don’t have a 401k, because in 2008 I lost it all when the federal government bailed out a bunch of union crybabies. 
What I do have is a great life. I have earned everything I have and I never had to bow to anyone!!

I worked hard for everything I have to. But because I had a deicent paying job I had a great life too. Not trying to start a war here. Just stating facts. I’m sorry that you have to work till you 70

[Ihfan4life]

2 minutes ago, smfarms said:

I worked hard for everything I have to. But because I had a deicent paying job I had a great life too. Not trying to start a war here. Just stating facts. I’m sorry that you have to work till you 70

There’s going to be a lot of people who will be working long after 70. The idea of retiring early is fast disappearing for most people. 
 

[Ihfan4life]

8 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

I don’t have a 401k, because in 2008 I lost it all when the federal government bailed out a bunch of union crybabies. 
 

Government bailouts for companies that ignored their own obligations and commitments to THEIR employees. Similar to what that very same government is doing to social (in)security…

[Ihfan4life]

14 minutes ago, iowaboy1965 said:

That's a big part of the problem for us all. But we can't go into that without getting in trouble......

Kinda like a festering wound that you keep ignoring 🤢

[766 Man]

27 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said:

Cash for clunkers took care of the used vehicles being affordable and available.

  I never bought in that part of the market.  My last truck had less than 25,000 miles on it when I bought it in 2009 and I paid 16,500 dollars for it.  I did have to finance it.  

[Steve C.]

26 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said:

Cash for clunkers took care of the used vehicles being affordable and available.

That's what came to my mind too.  Watch the price of decent (or any) used vehicles to go through the roof, and availability will be very sketchy, to say the least.

[766 Man]

23 minutes ago, Ihfan4life said:

There’s going to be a lot of people who will be working long after 70. The idea of retiring early is fast disappearing for most people. 
 

  I'll be one of those people.  Too few quality jobs around here that carry a hefty paycheck with them.  A lot of people fighting for scraps.  

[766 Man]

1 minute ago, Steve C. said:

That's what came to my mind too.  Watch the price of decent (or any) used vehicles to go through the roof, and availability will be very sketchy, to say the least.

  That already happened a few years ago around here.  Drive by any used vehicle lot and you will see there is virtually nothing in stock for a pickup of any category.  

[766 Man]

6 hours ago, jass1660 said:

Look what management did to IHC…

  A lot of truth in this.  The 1979 strike crippled IH quite bad but the 1980's economics would have finished off IH regardless.  IH never had the deep financial division to offer credit like JD did during the worst of it from 1983-1986.  IH also made a low margin on each item it manufactured.  IH also had a double whammy in that both the agriculture and trucking industries were hurting quite bad at the same time.  I know it is unpopular to say here but two gentlemen my dad knew had close relatives who worked for IH in Chicago and there were management and stockholders who wanted to be rid of the ag division because they thought heavy trucks offered a better future.  Like I said the 1979 strike for sure hurt IH but even with no strike IH might have been at a very unpleasant crossroads by 1990.  

[766 Man]

  Hillman, read about the Haymarket riots in Chicago, IL which happened during the latter half of the 19th Century.  It concerned the McCormick's who had a long history on their own and as part of IH.  Can't have your cake and in this case not eat it too if you say IH started in 1831 with the introduction of the reaper.  

[smfarms]

1 hour ago, Lazy WP said:

I have slaved most of my life for monthly wages that I am sure you would not even consider a decent weekly wage. I have fought tooth and nail to pay for junk that I need to survive that is way over inflated because you are able to retire comfortably at 58. I don’t have a 401k, because in 2008 I lost it all when the federal government bailed out a bunch of union crybabies. 
What I do have is a great life. I have earned everything I have and I never had to bow to anyone!!

You said Gov’t. bailed out Union crybabies. Not true. Gov’t. bailed out companies the the Unions worked with. GM. Prime example. Wasn’t the unions fault. Greedy management. I believe the same could be said about the downfall of IHC. Also the economy. 

[acem]

I don't understand why some of y'all say you can't make it on $35 an hour???

The average person in Arkansas makes $29,000 per year according to the US census. That's less than $15 an hour. They make it. 

Many people in the US make less than $10 per hour and make it.

 

[jeeper61]

45 minutes ago, smfarms said:

You said Gov’t. bailed out Union crybabies. Not true. Gov’t. bailed out companies the the Unions worked with. GM. Prime example. Wasn’t the unions fault. Greedy management. I believe the same could be said about the downfall of IHC. Also the economy. 

Not totaly ture the car compainies had to pay workers to do nothing becuase there was a anti-termination clause

This lead to GM"s bankruptcy and bail out

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gm-uaw-idUSN2435023120070524

[766 Man]

3 minutes ago, acem said:

I don't understand why some of y'all say you can't make it on $35 an hour???

The average person in Arkansas makes $29,000 per year according to the US census. That's less than $15 an hour. They make it. 

Many people in the US make less than $10 per hour and make it.

 

  Because things don't cost the same in NY as they do in Arkansas.  Or in Illinois.  Sometimes consumers are their own worst enemy as they are willing to overpay for things such as homes and vehicles if they have a few bucks in their pockets.  I would be willing to bet that those living on 10 dollars per hour give up certain items that make life more comfortable to live.  Also, 10 dollars probably goes further in the mid-South where a snow shovel and milk house heater gets them through the winter where in Western NY if you own any amount of driveway and want to make it to work on time you need to own a snowblower plus you need to own a furnace and feed it whatever energy it requires.

[masteinmann]

11 hours ago, Farmall Doctor said:

Piss be upon the unions. Nobody deserves $35 per hour to put bolts in bumpers. The mechanics that have to keep those autos running only make half of that. 

The workers do more than only put bolts in bumpers. I used to work at Ford's Saint Louis plant. The timed every job. Every minute a new vehicle rolled through and the company wanted you working 59 of those seconds. The plant was hot and the air had oil mist and fuzz in it. A lot of guys had joint issues from the repetitive motions. The problem with the union was they had to defend the useless then as the useless learned the ropes quite a few rose the ranks of the union. 

[hillman]

I have worked in UAW and CAW

 The Union is the bigger problem IMHO than the members, Its really another level of self-inflected government. We paid 2 1/2 hours of our pay a month for Union boys to eat steak and drink beer at lunch on our dime. They had Union retreats/resorts, offices etc just like a guberment.

  I sat on a negotiating committee and found it embarrassing. Much like a government of today which governs by the polls for self preservation  a Union is driven by getting money out of the company for their benefit  and self interests IMHO. often regardless if the company or if the market will bear it

The Union(s) have an organization to support and the only raise they get is one from the members. 

who are they negotiating for ?

the members ?

the Union?

I always wondered which one

 

[iowaboy1965]

1 hour ago, acem said:

I don't understand why some of y'all say you can't make it on $35 an hour???

The average person in Arkansas makes $29,000 per year according to the US census. That's less than $15 an hour. They make it. 

Many people in the US make less than $10 per hour and make it.

 

Never said you couldn't make it. Just meant today's dollar doesn't buy near what it did even 5 or 6 years ago. Inflation is very real and i suspect more than being reported. And as already said cost of living does vary from region to region.