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Post by steelhorse on Oct 13, 2011 9:07:52 GMT -5
Brothers and Sisters, let me start out by saying I will be Voting NO on this contract. That being said, I've been through a strike early in my UAW career. Local 2283, in 1989. This is what I seen when I "walked out". There were 5 vans full of Wakerhut Security Vans full of Security Thugs and 5 State Troppers. Thats when reality sits in. Ford will have 20 vans full of security people and I bet 15 State Troopers.
All I'm saying is NOBODY wins when we strike but there is a time in your life when you have to stand up for a shitty contract. My gripe is there is nothing for the people that fought more my right to make $28 an hour. they even lost there Christmas Bonus...sad
Just remember during a strike the bills will pile up. Contact your creditors and tell them your situation. Some will work with you, the ones that don't, when you get back to work drop them like a hot rock.
One more thing, We make $28 an hour, If they drop that to the 2 tier rate how long do you think it would take Ford's suppliers to drop there wages? When people ask you why you when on strike tell them, I'm not only fighting for myself but I'm fighting for everybody in the Automotive industry. That includes the suppliers...
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Post by ScottR@KTP on Oct 13, 2011 9:29:18 GMT -5
Great post!
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Post by catfish on Oct 13, 2011 9:30:53 GMT -5
Thanks steelhorse im with on the no vote
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Post by informer on Oct 13, 2011 10:02:08 GMT -5
Ford will replace striking workers with scabs (lower waged employees without benefits) and they won't call you back. All current UAW members should accept the contract but then enforce the mandatory safety and equipment requirements in the plant, and follow the job procedures and regulations exactly, and work only on Ford's time (not your own) NO MORE HOT TIME the company is using this against you! This would make it more difficult for the company to cut jobs, they would also have to provide you with the equipment you need to do your job safely and correctly. This would strengthen the Union membership, increase jobs and force the company to invest some money into the plant! They have our money, make them use it for us!!!!!
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jagr2
New Member
Posts: 48
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Post by jagr2 on Oct 13, 2011 15:40:04 GMT -5
A repost from another thread.
At Eastern Airlines, we voted down 3 contracts. In each one I never saw much of a change between the 1 we voted down and the new one that was passed.
Our Union and its members got a reputation for being militant. It came down to a showdown. The economy was as bad as it is now, with the wealthy flaunting themselves and all.
It was finally a contract that proposed 50% wage cuts. Thats what we finally struck for (or was led to). When you strike you may never know what comes next. In Eastern case it was a 2 year strike.
It wasn't a good environment then as now. As a result there were thousands of people devastated. Many never recoverred. There were many suicides.
Its possible to find something better. It will take some skill and as much luck to start over again. Start over with vacations, seniority, job classification, etc.. and just an overall pain of being in the bottom again. But it is possible to get something else. You won't really recover.
I've been there and just thought it my duty to make this knowledge available to you. I know how most of you must feel, especially the young ones, (I was young at Eastern) and know the militant mentality. Just wanted you to know how real this can get. I've learned when the union and company are happy, its about as good as its gonna get. Thats how you feel when you begin to get older. The fight in you tempers down, I guess.
Not here to tell anyone what to do or how to feel. Just wanted you to here of 1 fight and how it ended.
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Post by informer on Oct 13, 2011 15:44:24 GMT -5
But when you start over it doesn't teach Ford a lesson, it just saves them money. When you strike, you are saving them money, they will just hire in people at the lower pay and less benefits...you are doing them a favor. Don't let them do this to you..stay and fight! You have so much that you can already do if you just look around you...what do you know that they don't want anyone else to know? What do you know happens out there that is not supposed to happen? Think about it ....
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Post by ScottR@KTP on Oct 13, 2011 15:46:12 GMT -5
So you are saying Ford saves money with every day all of their plants are idle? That makes no sense whatsoever...
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Post by informer on Oct 13, 2011 15:47:57 GMT -5
No, I am saying that what money they lose, they will make up with the lower wages they will pay your replacements. They don't have to pay the same amount for the benefits that you are allowed either! Their plants won't be idle! They have the right to hire in scabs and they will!
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Post by ktpelec on Oct 13, 2011 15:53:39 GMT -5
Toyota is #1 in the world without union workers, you can bet Ford would like that advantage also.
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Post by ScottR@KTP on Oct 13, 2011 15:54:59 GMT -5
So they will resume normal production at all facilities as soon as we walk out? No loss of production...workers needing no training...machines won't break down...suppliers won't miss a beat...easy to find replacements to for all of our teamsters...not gonna happen. I don't see them being able to keep scabs...turnover...fear of driving across picket lines...etc
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Post by informer on Oct 13, 2011 15:57:03 GMT -5
Toyota is a relatively young company here in the USA. I look for changes to be taking place there very soon. Those workers who are making the big money there and the good benefits will soon be finding out that they are on the chopping block...the Japanese government is feeling the world economic pinch just like everyone else. They will need to begin finding cost savings, and the US companies will just prove to them that it can be done, Union or no!
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Post by nvsked1 on Oct 13, 2011 22:04:57 GMT -5
Brothers and Sisters, let me start out by saying I will be Voting NO on this contract. That being said, I've been through a strike early in my UAW career. Local 2283, in 1989. This is what I seen when I "walked out". There were 5 vans full of Wakerhut Security Vans full of Security Thugs and 5 State Troppers. Thats when reality sits in. Ford will have 20 vans full of security people and I bet 15 State Troopers. All I'm saying is NOBODY wins when we strike but there is a time in your life when you have to stand up for a shitty contract. My gripe is there is nothing for the people that fought more my right to make $28 an hour. they even lost there Christmas Bonus...sad Just remember during a strike the bills will pile up. Contact your creditors and tell them your situation. Some will work with you, the ones that don't, when you get back to work drop them like a hot rock. One more thing, We make $28 an hour, If they drop that to the 2 tier rate how long do you think it would take Ford's suppliers to drop there wages? When people ask you why you when on strike tell them, I'm not only fighting for myself but I'm fighting for everybody in the Automotive industry. That includes the suppliers... Good post!!! I've been on strike 1986 not at ford, pre- ford United Steel Workers. Those Regan years, strikes were a big gamble, a few years earlier Regan had fired all the air traffic controllers which set in motion the practice of hiring replacement workers... We went out in early Nov... colder than a bitch. The company brought in sales people from company affiliates to man the production jobs came in vans tried to run over picketers cops just watched from a distance... A private security force was at the gate and a shit load of police outside. Two picketers got cuffed and stuffed for waving their picket sign at vans carrying salary people across the gate. Trucks carrying product out came next, a picketer tripped and fell in front of a truck, you think that teamster was going to stop...SOB sped up, if it hadn't been for us walking the line the guy would have been killed... we pulled him out of the way in time just as the truck rolled by!! Cops came in big time pushing people around arrest (5 people) no cop went after truck, it was like it's ok he's with the company.... 6 weeks went by Dec no Christmas for my kids, add went into paper company hiring, some people were no longer walking picket after christmas they were out looking for another job... people had to eat, no picket duty no check strike asistance from union... Eventually we settled some people came back others had new jobs some of the replacement people stayed....nothing was ever the same the steel company eventually folded....I moved on in 1988 better job, think long in hard about a strike it's nothing to play with... Vote your right, I'm NOT real happy with the contract, but be ready for that picket line, it gets ugly quick. With todays economy bring your stuff be ready for those picket lines..... I'm not real happy with the contract, and I'm voting for it, BUT I'LL BACK MY BROTHERS PLAY.... Anyone who has medical issues make sure we get some sort of coverage while on strike.......... SOLIDARITY FOREVER!!
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Post by ihatemyjob on Oct 13, 2011 22:39:50 GMT -5
Brothers and Sisters, let me start out by saying I will be Voting NO on this contract. That being said, I've been through a strike early in my UAW career. Local 2283, in 1989. This is what I seen when I "walked out". There were 5 vans full of Wakerhut Security Vans full of Security Thugs and 5 State Troppers. Thats when reality sits in. Ford will have 20 vans full of security people and I bet 15 State Troopers. All I'm saying is NOBODY wins when we strike but there is a time in your life when you have to stand up for a shitty contract. My gripe is there is nothing for the people that fought more my right to make $28 an hour. they even lost there Christmas Bonus...sad Just remember during a strike the bills will pile up. Contact your creditors and tell them your situation. Some will work with you, the ones that don't, when you get back to work drop them like a hot rock. One more thing, We make $28 an hour, If they drop that to the 2 tier rate how long do you think it would take Ford's suppliers to drop there wages? When people ask you why you when on strike tell them, I'm not only fighting for myself but I'm fighting for everybody in the Automotive industry. That includes the suppliers... Good post!!! I've been on strike 1986 not at ford, pre- ford United Steel Workers. Those Regan years, strikes were a big gamble, a few years earlier Regan had fired all the air traffic controllers which set in motion the practice of hiring replacement workers... We went out in early Nov... colder than a bitch. The company brought in sales people from company affiliates to man the production jobs came in vans tried to run over picketers cops just watched from a distance... A private security force was at the gate and a shit load of police outside. Two picketers got cuffed and stuffed for waving their picket sign at vans carrying salary people across the gate. Trucks carrying product out came next, a picketer tripped and fell in front of a truck, you think that teamster was going to stop...SOB sped up, if it hadn't been for us walking the line the guy would have been killed... we pulled him out of the way in time just as the truck rolled by!! Cops came in big time pushing people around arrest (5 people) no cop went after truck, it was like it's ok he's with the company.... 6 weeks went by Dec no Christmas for my kids, add went into paper company hiring, some people were no longer walking picket after christmas they were out looking for another job... people had to eat, no picket duty no check strike asistance from union... Eventually we settled some people came back others had new jobs some of the replacement people stayed.... nothing was ever the same the steel company eventually folded....I moved on in 1988 better job, think long in hard about a strike it's nothing to play with... Vote your right, I'm NOT real happy with the contract, but be ready for that picket line, it gets ugly quick. With todays economy bring your stuff be ready for those picket lines..... I'm not real happy with the contract, and I'm voting for it, BUT I'LL BACK MY BROTHERS PLAY.... Anyone who has medical issues make sure we get some sort of coverage while on strike.......... SOLIDARITY FOREVER!! One very important part of what you said. The company folded after the strike. Ford has just as much to lose with a strike as the uaw does. Ford family isnt going to let that happen. Mullaly only has so much power and then the family is gonna step in.
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