Auto Workers Set Sunday Strike Deadline in GM Contract Talks

[Yo_Mama]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-24/auto-workers-set-strike-deadline-in-general-motors-negotiations

The United Auto Workers said it informed General Motors Co. that it will terminate its contract with the automaker at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, effectively setting a strike deadline for talks to reach a four-year agreement.

The Detroit-based company confirmed in a statement that it had received the deadline from the UAW, saying it was “working with them to address the issues and remain committed to obtaining an agreement that is good for employees and the business.”

Here it comes. I know DU isn't always very interested in actual union actions, but the bottom line is that after the membership rejected the agreement UAW had reached with Fiat Chrysler, they went back to the table and got a much better deal.

Now, with that under their belts, they are going to the mat with the somewhat higher-level targets.

The main difference is union membership - there are far fewer second-tier workers at Ford and GM. GM has especially few, and I wonder if the locals will be willing to do what's necessary to bring the second-tier workers to some sort of parity.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2015/10/22/uaw-confirms-ratification-fiat-chrysler-contract/74385746/

The new agreement delivers signing bonuses and raises for both entry level workers and longtime workers and provides entry level workers with an eight-year path to $29 per hour, making them nearly equal to workers hired before 2007 and effectively eliminating the two-tier wage system.

The key question now is whether the pattern set by the UAW with Fiat Chrysler will be followed by Ford and General Motors and which automaker the union will turn to next.

Historically, the UAW has used the agreement it reaches with the first automaker it selects as a pattern for its contract with the two other automakers.

The downside to the FCA deal was that FCA can hire all the second-tier workers it wants, although over time, the difference between second-tier and first-tier workers will almost be eliminated.

[B Calm]

1. 8 damn years to make nearly equal what workers hired before 2007.

That's total bullshit.

[Hoyt]

2. Yeah, I bet no one will apply for one of those cruddy jobs.

[B Calm]

4. Do you think it's fair that the guy standing next to you at work, doing the same

job, is getting more pay? These two tier wage scales started under Reagan and need to be stopped!

[Hoyt]

5. You know what, I really wouldn't care if I was making more than I ever had, had better

benefits, and was on a structured plan to make $60,000 a year in today's money (rather than the $25,000 or so I was likely making before).

[B Calm]

6. and that's the problem. .

[Hoyt]

7. What's the problem? Why should I care some guy who has been on the job longer than me is making $40

or $50 an hour, when I'm only making $29.

Assume I was making $12 before. I guess I should have told the GM that I'd just stay working at Walmart because I'm not going to work for $29/hour when someone else is making $40. Sorry, man. That's really nuts.

[Yo_Mama]

3. It's a lot better than the first UAW draft at FCA!

Union negotiators agreed to something the membership would not accept.