  Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 4971 Registered: 10-2003 |
So in everyone's opinion (except LYard;s since he knows all and sees all), what do you think the short and long term effects of this strike will be? | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1738 Registered: 10-2006 |
Depends on how long it goes on... | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 1973 Registered: 01-2005 |
Short term? Both sides lose. Long term? Both sides lose. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 2748 Registered: 02-2004 |
Fox local news covered it. I hope this will bring GM to their senses. Bargaining will resume almost immediately, with luck it will be meaningful. I wish it hadn't happened, but I think the UAW will prevail in this one. | ||
Papa Member Username: Papa Post Number: 251 Registered: 09-2007 |
Let us hope that GM goes to independent Union free labor, like their competition. If they don't, they are going to go out of business. Unless you live under a rock, you MUST know GM's financial woes. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 4962 Registered: 10-2003 |
I noticed that most of the strikers appear to be over the age of 50. Any guess why? | ||
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap Post Number: 909 Registered: 01-2005 |
Perhaps its because "with age comes wisdom." | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 420 Registered: 02-2007 |
The members just don't get it, it's not there to ask for anymore. They are truly living in the past. When asked about GM's viability, Gettlefinger had sudden loss of hearing. He knows. The outcome of this may be very interesting. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1374 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, damn those people. How dare they still be working after 50. Get a bus and ship them out. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 2749 Registered: 02-2004 |
Don't be deliberately thick. I'm watching the same coverage and there are plenty of younger people there. They just bought out tons of the older people. Hate unions all you want, don't spin what we can all see. | ||
Belleislerunner Member Username: Belleislerunner Post Number: 361 Registered: 12-2003 |
UAW workers receive $200 a week in strike pay while off the job. This will really hurt the rank and file workers, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck. If this lasts longer than a couple weeks, many may cross the lines to avoid defaulting on mortgages, cars etc. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10220 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: I don't believe anyone is saying that put let's be honest. Many of the older UAW members aren't thinking about the long term ramifications to their peers or the industry, they want everything with no regard to the long term ramifications. Their f you, I should get mine approach will do a major disservice to their younger peers and the company as a whole. UAW members seem to forget that GM is the company writing the checks, not the UAW. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1635 Registered: 08-2006 |
I hope this goes well for the UAW, maybe then those employed at Southern Japanese plants will realize you don't have to take the lowest offer that management doles out. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 5961 Registered: 11-2004 |
As soon as I saw the strike was on, it wasn't going to be good for either side. On the posturing side, Gettlefinger needs to stop his diatribe about his disappointment in GM. If this was truly to be a mutual relationship, he needs to accept partial responsibility too. Saying that, I'm not saying that across the table GM wasn't guilty of it either but Gettlefinger was the first to voice his disappointment at the OTHER side. Again, both sides of the table need to come together. Now is not the time for finger pointing. Posturing right now is stupid. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2703 Registered: 10-2003 |
The Generous Motors that took care of my family and many like them is no more. The days of middle class wages for unskilled labor are over. It is sad and unfortunate, but it is the reality. The domestic auto industry is facing disaster, but they will not go out of business. They just won't build anything here anymore, if they cannot lower their labor costs. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2776 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: The last major hiring push happened in the late 80's. most of those hired in the 80's are now in their 50's. The industry has been cutting ever since. Not too many new hires. Previously layoffs were based on seniority, last in, first out. The last round of cuts were turned into early retirements. So people 55-65 were offered early retirement packages. People retiring off the top and no new workers in at the bottom equals most of the strikers being in there 50's. This also explains the push for a two tier wage system. The companies know there is going to be many retirements over the next 10-15 years. That means the upper wage workers will retire out, only to be replaced by newer lower wage workers. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 4965 Registered: 10-2003 |
Alright, here is a stupid question for ya...Is it possible that the older workers will be replaced by automation and robotics rather than an actual human? | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10221 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: That has already been done for many/most situations but there is always room for technological improvements. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 784 Registered: 12-2006 |
Robots will only do certain types of jobs, and already have replaced some people. Mostly the UAW needs to worry about their jobs being replaced with identical jobs in other parts of the world. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 2750 Registered: 02-2004 |
Do you guys honestly think people walked out with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts? This is serious as cancer and nobody knows it like the auto workers. Patrick, it is a stupid question. Robotics are a huge part of the auto plants and have been for years. This is not the aim of GM (or Ford or Chrysler). They are trying to weasel out of promising job security in exchange for the unions taking over the health care. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4042 Registered: 10-2004 |
dance of the robots | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1636 Registered: 08-2006 |
GM does not want to be in a position where they have to compete with Korean, Chinese and Japanese companies who have factories here and they don't. Thank god the UAW wasn't quaking in thier boots after all the cheap threats about accelerating the push towards moving manufacturing to other countries. With this subprime mess, expect our dollar to tumble even more and before you know it the expense of doing business over seas is less and less attractive all the time. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10223 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: I prefer to see it that they are trying to stay in business. Job security should not be a gimme in any business and job security is what has put the domestic autos in the situation that they are currently in. (management helped with the situation as well) | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 785 Registered: 12-2006 |
This is the last sentence of an Associated Press story about the strike, just so we all know how much respect the investment community is giving the UAW right now: "Despite the strike, GM stock rose a penny to $34.95 in midday trading." Also, I agree with Jt1: "trying to weasel out of promising job security"?! Nobody on Earth owes anybody else any job security. If GM loses money year over year and fails, nobody will have any GM job whatsoever. They are in business to make money, not to make sure you have a job. Good Lord. | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 173 Registered: 10-2005 |
Between the GM/UAW contract talks(and now strike) and the budget circus in Lansing, I've had about enough of the finger pointing and posturing. Gettlefinger's presser was ridiculous. "[p]ushed off a cliff?" uh no, Ron, y'all jumped. get your people back to the table and join us in the real world. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 4043 Registered: 10-2004 |
GM stock's up 0.52%, Ford up 2.43%, so far. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1637 Registered: 08-2006 |
" Nobody on Earth owes anybody else any job security" That attitude is caustic. If I have no job security how do you expect me to make a big purchase like a home or a car if I can be out of a job at a moment's notice? People making large purchases that require loans are responsible for 75% of our economy. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10224 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: And contrary to what yo useem to believe how many of those people have jobs where they can not be fired. It is not the majority, that is for sure. That is just a really weak argument. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 2705 Registered: 10-2003 |
Seriously, I could lose my job for various reasons. I would never expect to be GUARANTEED employment. Sounds like fantasy land, and it must have been nice to have lived in it for so many decades. But those days are done, and no amount of arguing across a table is going to change the reality of it. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 2410 Registered: 06-2004 |
quote: I expect you to be a strong enough believer in your own skills and ability to produce whatever it is that you produce, that if you lost your job, you could find another one. If you don't possess that, you shouldn't be making major purchases. |
