UAW Strike - Tentative Deal Reached - Pending Vote

[Chobham]

Let's start with the fact that the UAW has some very real grievances. In 2009, under the Obama administration, COLA's were suspended for UAW workers. Up until recently the slow erosion of real wages fell under the auspices of 'boiling a frog.' Obviously with the dramatic acceleration of inflation they want to at least catch up. While their wage increase demands seem exorbitant that is just an opening position. The real sticking point is the re-reinstatement of the COLA's. It is thought that the UAW will give ground on the wages if the COLA's are put back in place.

Working against the UAW is the fact that they are low on their strike fund. One of the reasons that only three plants have struck so far. They are trying to rotate the pain on the members because if they were to strike all plants their fund would be depleted in 3 weeks and that would put them on the ropes for negotiating purposes.

Even more problematic are the Biden administration energy policies and I have no idea how the UAW is going to address that so far. The union leadership, and its members, are well aware that it only take 40% of the man hours to turn out an EV than it does an ICE. They are also well aware that most of the EV plants are in non-union states, AND that off-shore manufacturing will be the greatest beneficiary of those policies. To them that represents the loss of upwards of 400,000 manufacturing jobs and that doesn't count any of the downstream effects (mechanics, after market parts suppliers, restaurants, etc.).

To a degree I sympathize with the UAW but the issues go far beyond mere salary negotiations.

 

[RandyRebecca]

I'm 100% behind the striking workers. The strikes should spread.

 

[icanhelp1]

Let's start with the fact that the UAW has some very real grievances. In 2009, under the Obama administration, COLA's were suspended for UAW workers. Up until recently the slow erosion of real wages fell under the auspices of 'boiling a frog.' Obviously with the dramatic acceleration of inflation they want to at least catch up. While their wage increase demands seem exorbitant that is just an opening position. The real sticking point is the re-reinstatement of the COLA's. It is thought that the UAW will give ground on the wages if the COLA's are put back in place.

Working against the UAW is the fact that they are low on their strike fund. One of the reasons that only three plants have struck so far. They are trying to rotate the pain on the members because if they were to strike all plants their fund would be depleted in 3 weeks and that would put them on the ropes for negotiating purposes.

Even more problematic are the Biden administration energy policies and I have no idea how the UAW is going to address that so far. The union leadership, and its members, are well aware that it only take 40% of the man hours to turn out an EV than it does an ICE. They are also well aware that most of the EV plants are in non-union states, AND that off-shore manufacturing will be the greatest beneficiary of those policies. To them that represents the loss of upwards of 400,000 manufacturing jobs and that doesn't count any of the downstream effects (mechanics, after market parts suppliers, restaurants, etc.).

To a degree I sympathize with the UAW but the issues go far beyond mere salary negotiations.

Larry Kudlow had a very interesting and informative segment, your narrative mirrors his. He was especially critical of Biden’s energy policy, Biden may not get the backing of the UAW this campaign cycle.

 

[Chobham]

Larry Kudlow had a very interesting and informative segment, your narrative mirrors his. He was especially critical of Biden’s energy policy, Biden may not get the backing of the UAW this campaign cycle.

Not the rank and file anyway. Trump is already hammering away on the policy issue. Sadly the rest of the GOP field hasn't addressed the issue yet.

 

[icanhelp1]

Not the rank and file anyway. Trump is already hammering away on the policy issue. Sadly the rest of the GOP field hasn't addressed the issue yet.

Things are starting to boil over. New Yorkers are furious over immigration policy, AOC and Nadler got a face full this afternoon.

 

[Chobham]

Things are starting to boil over. New Yorkers are furious over immigration policy, AOC and Nadler got a face full this afternoon.

Karma's a bitch. It seems that them telling us it's raining while they're pissing down our back isn't working anymore.

 

[jaF0]

Let's start with the fact that the UAW has some very real grievances. In 2009, under the O ...

Dam yur dum.

 

[Chobham]

Dam yur dum.

Eat shit.

 

[SubzeroGirl]

Not looking good for the strikers so far. Ford laid off 600 workers at the Michigan factory because of the strike. I watched an interview with GM’s Mary Barra and she seemed to indicate they weathered the covid lockdowns and were prepared and willing to weather this strike.

 

[Chobham]

Not looking good for the strikers so far. Ford laid off 600 workers at the Michigan factory because of the strike. I watched an interview with GM’s Mary Barra and she seemed to indicate they weathered the covid lockdowns and were prepared and willing to weather this strike.

One of the downsides to the strategy of piece meal plant striking. Yes, it disrupts the supply chain but that disruption ripples throughout the manufacturing chain.

 

[SubzeroGirl]

One of the downsides to the strategy of piece meal plant striking. Yes, it disrupts the supply chain but that disruption ripples throughout the manufacturing chain.

I really don’t understand that strategy.

Also I think their demands are unreasonable. A 40% wage increase and a 32 hr work week, but being paid for 40 hrs. Kudo’s to them if they get either of these, but the stock market doesn’t hate the strike and corporations are beholden to the stock holders.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

It’s not me you moron, I’m not trying to delete anything, I type a reply then post it, the site logs me off or I get an OOPS , nothing works till I close out then log in and everything is gone or scrambled or I can’t log back in at all. Since the new format it’s been a royal pain in the ass.

lol, and it's not you.

You're not alone in having this problem,but you seem alone in figuring out how to recover....

 

[icanhelp1]

I really don’t understand that strategy.

Also I think their demands are unreasonable. A 40% wage increase and a 32 hr work week, but being paid for 40 hrs. Kudo’s to them if they get either of these, but the stock market doesn’t hate the strike and corporations are beholden to the stock holders.

I believe the 40% wage increase is spread over 4 years, which is reasonable. Inflation has really taken a toll. May want to listen to Larry Kudlow’s breakdown of the situation, I believe after listening to his perspective you’ll come away with a different opinion on things.

 

[RandyRebecca]

Not looking good for the strikers so far. Ford laid off 600 workers at the Michigan factory because of the strike. I watched an interview with GM’s Mary Barra and she seemed to indicate they weathered the covid lockdowns and were prepared and willing to weather this strike.

More of the labor movement should be involved in striking, perhaps even a general strike. That's how you get the bosses to take notice and show them who really makes society function, i.e. it isn't the billionaires in Wall Street or Silicon Valley, or any other establishment institution. Ultimately, workers should be looking to run society ourselves.

 

[ll74]

Bloomberg says, it's time to choose, Biden.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/a...green-energy-hypocrisy?embedded-checkout=true

I've heard similar takes in this forum. I don't see how supporting unions is opposed to supporting climate change. It definitely leads to an interesting conflict here. When you create new tech that requires more precise actions, humans are left out. Doesn't matter what industry.

 

[LLCox]

I have never been in a Union but look what has happened since Big Biz has made war breaking Unions in the past decades. Wages have been stagnant across the board. Union wages raise all boats.

 

[RandyRebecca]

Bloomberg says, it's time to choose, Biden.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/a...green-energy-hypocrisy?embedded-checkout=true

I've heard similar takes in this forum. I don't see how supporting unions is opposed to supporting climate change. It definitely leads to an interesting conflict here. When you create new tech that requires more precise actions, humans are left out. Doesn't matter what industry.

That's capitalism. It only cares about corporate profit, and not human beings and their welfare. It uses improvements in technology to increase corporate profits, put a lot of workers out of work, and then increase the workload on those workers that remain, or outsource the jobs abroad. Capitalism does not use the technology to reduce the workload for all workers without loss of pay, or to increase workers' pay. It makes sure that the capitalist bosses get absurd rises in pay though.

Big business capitalist hypocrisy on the environment is them dressing up their austerity measures in "green" packaging, and causing yet another culture war between Democratic support for "green policies" and passing the financial burden onto the poorest and Republican opposition to "green policies" and letting climate change batter the planet. The super rich are supposed to be the ones paying economically for green policies, not ordinary working people who can't afford to pay. As I said, there are no prizes for guessing which side both the Democrats and Republicans are on in this matter. Capitalism means exploiting human beings and the planet's resources, and destroying the environment.

 

[SubzeroGirl]

I believe the 40% wage increase is spread over 4 years, which is reasonable. Inflation has really taken a toll. May want to listen to Larry Kudlow’s breakdown of the situation, I believe after listening to his perspective you’ll come away with a different opinion on things.

I read his opinion. I see the union dropped its demand to 36% and they said the auto companies are leaving off about 80% of the unions demands. This may not be the latest, but it’s still not looking good. I don’t agree with bashing the auto makers. At the end of the day you still want them to succeed, otherwise the union will have no jobs to go back to.

 

[Chobham]

The big deal is the electrics. The manufacturers are being forced into making vehicles that no one wants at prices they can't afford that will cost the unions at least 40% of their work force even if the cars were popular and affordable.

The administration has essentially put the manufacturers between a rock and a hard place when it comes to negotiations. They're caught between the government edicts and the UAW. What's going to be interesting is if this strike drags out long enough the administration will eventually step in and on which side?

 

[ll74]

The big deal is the electrics. The manufacturers are being forced into making vehicles that no one wants at prices they can't afford that will cost the unions at least 40% of their work force even if the cars were popular and affordable.

The top selling car so far this year is the Tesla Y .class.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/tesla-mo...Tesla Model Y is,the world's best-selling car.

 

[ll74]

Ford Mustang EV is quickly becoming a top seller as well.

People want EVs.....whether you do or not.

https://electrek.co/2023/09/05/ford...ord's Mustang Mach,US, behind Tesla's Model Y.

 

[jaF0]

I don't mostly due to the cost. And used ones apparently don't have much value due to the replacement cost of batteries. And then well, you can't work on them yourself, so service and repair costs are high. Insurance costs are high due to the parts costs and fire risk.

You don't even save on gas taxes in some places that now assess a per mile use tax of some type annually.

 

[Chobham]

Ford Mustang EV is quickly becoming a top seller as well.

People want EVs.....whether you do or not.

https://electrek.co/2023/09/05/ford-mustang-mach-e-becomes-2nd-best-selling-ev-suv-august/#:~:text=Ford Mustang Mach-E sales,SUV behind Tesla's Model Y&text=Sales of Ford's Mustang Mach,US, behind Tesla's Model Y.

What are the numbers as a percentage of the entire market??? The numbers aren't shit. They are unwanted, unaffordable and impractical in huge swaths of the nation.

 

[ll74]

What are the numbers as a percentage of the entire market??? The numbers aren't shit. They are unwanted, unaffordable and impractical in huge swaths of the nation.

Lol....yes, I get that you don't like them. The infrastructure hasn't been there.....that is changing. EVs arent going away. They will be cheaper and better over time.

And the UAW is right to need guarantees.

 

[Chobham]

Lol....yes, I get that you don't like them. The infrastructure hasn't been there.....that is changing. EVs arent going away. They will be cheaper and better over time.

And the UAW is right to need guarantees.

And as usual, you're wrong. They make perfect sense for commuting in an urban/suburban environment. One son has a Tesla as a second car and he loves it, but he won't do a long distance road trip with it. For that he uses a 'gas hog.' For my purposes an EV would make sense for about 1/2 of my driving given that I'm not going to support two automobiles for a 50/50 situation I'll stick with gas/diesel.

Bottom line is that their usefulness is highly situational and in many cases doesn't overcome the downside. We have no way of efficiently recycling the batteries and replacing the batteries is horrendously expensive (one of the reasons they're traded in early). Charging stations are not fully deployed and there is an issue with many of them not working at all and even worse being faulty and damaging the car. Another draw back is the grid itself. For example, CA only generates approx. 1/2 of the energy it uses and the power infrastructure is lagging behind demand and this is true for many other states as well. The proposed goals far exceed what the extended infrastructure will support.