steve morris

you're right, I or the union do not guarantee you your job. All we (Union Reps) can do is fight to keep work that our Union members are capable of doing in house. What you are incorrect on is when you say "contractors can always be beat if some project work is completed on straight time." The cost of UAW workers actually goes down when we have to bid work on premium time due to the fact that health insurance etc is no longer calculated into their wages at that point. The point I am trying to make having been responsible for submitting bids is that the UAW is one of the least expensive trades options out there. I have seen a hell of a lot if bids for project work from outside contractors and you would be amazed at the amount of money these guys ask for. Yet Ford is willing to pay more simply because (I hear this alot) they are not in the construction buisness, they are in the production buisness. Yet they have Highly Skilled tradesmen that are capable of doing this work while saving them money. At the Van Dyke plant, our Skilled Tradesmen have saved Ford alot of time and money time and time again. But with every new job that needs to be done, we STILL have to fight to keep the work in house. All i'm trying to say is that without a union fighting for work, this company would be more than happy to outsource the very work you and I do brother, eliminating any chance of advancement beyond production coordinator.

Really? You're a Union Skilled Tradesman and say/ask stuff like this? As a Skilled Trades Committeeman, My Plant Committeeperson and I fight everday to keep outside contractors out of the plant. We fight a constant battle to keep the company from outsourcing work that our people (skilled and production) do everyday. You think the company gives us this work (which keeps people like you employed by the way) out of the kindness of their hearts? As Union Reps, we have to submit bids on all kinds of work that the company would love to simply give to an outside contractor. We spend a lot of time on all of these bids and usually win them because our labor force has some of the best tradesmen and is (believe it or not) less expensive to use than most outside contactors. So before you go off asking to level the playing field for the outside contractors, maybe you should do a little homework. The majority of the time that the company wants to use outside contractors is because they don't want to manage the job or they don't have a management team with trades experience. (considering they let go most of the trades bosses and have production bosses with no trades experience supervising us) By the way, your question of "how many members think the union is doing a good job" isn't really a fair question. Just like any position, there are people that take their jobs very seriously and people that don't. Most people have a very limited view of what their Union does on a daily basis on behalf of the people they represent. There are a lot of people that take the responsibilities as a Union Rep very seriously so before you ask a slanted question like that, consider how you would like it if the same slanted question was asked about you.

The people on the plant floors are the only way to change things. Not all Reps are lazy and selfish but until people start paying attention and asking questions, it will be the same old same old. People on the floor have to stop putting so much stock in a what a Rep says at campaign time and start asking the people that Rep takes care of. Let his/her track record speak for itself. The other problem is that it is a thankless job and if done right, it takes a lot of time. There are some people on the floor that could be awesome Reps, but they don't want to get involved which sometimes leave us with electing the best of the worst. But until we weed out the people that aren't in there for the right reasons, things will NEVER get better.

The root of the problem in all aspects of this topic is GREED. Let's start with the politicians....it don't matter what party you lean towards, they're all puppets to lobbyists and big business. They sell their own country down the river in the form of faulty trade agreements all in the name of fat campaign contributions. You can't even get a bill that makes common sense passed because some idiot politicians won't vote in favor of it unless they get some bullshit added on. (which was asked for by a major campaign donor) Until ALL FORMS of lobbying are outlawed, this country will never have politicians working to improve things for us OR our country ! Correct me if I am wrong, but before all these bullshit trade agreements passed, this country was huge in manufacturing. The issue of "right to work" wasn't nearly discussed as much as it is now because people were working and making a decent living. Now that we are in a global market, we have to slash wages in order to "compete" with these third world countries that the manufacturers are going to. Since the race to the bottom started, "Right to work" it's popping up all over in an attempt to Union bust. Without a Union fighting for fair wages and safe work practices, the company can make more in profits in the name of being "competitive". The problem is that big business has done a excellent job of making the "working class" believe that union members are overpaid and spoiled when in fact we are the last group that still has what working class people SHOULD have. Fair wages and benefits compared to the companies earnings! If the company can afford to pay it's employees decent wages and benefits that they can raise a family on and still turn a great profit, why shouldn't they? Answer......GREED! what people fail to understand is that without a union, these companies would pay their employees $8.00 - $10.00 per hour without benefits and the price of the cars would not fall one bit! PROOF: the price of the cars that are being produced overseas with cheap labor have not gone down one bit. The problem with our unions is the politics that come into play. We have far too many reps that cater to the 10% of people that always seem to be in trouble or always have issues....all in the name of campaign contributions ( oops, I mean VOTES ) even when they know the employee is in the wrong. We have people running for these positions and getting elected for all the wrong reasons. These people keep getting re-elected because most people don't pay attention to how they do their job and then come election time, these Reps tell you everything you want to hear. Just like true politicians! They move up the chain and eventually get downtown NOT because of what they have done or what they know, but because of WHO they know! The majority of people that rarely need representation see all this and then see union dues being taken from their checks each month. Most of us still know the importance of having a Union but more than you think question why they should be paying dues. The Union needs to fix the way it is perceived if they want to fight the "right to work" campaign and gain more members.

"Ford can also form fewer and more efficient integrated teams with both production and skilled workers. The idea is to eliminate waste in the system, such as when one group must wait for another to perform certain tasks, Fleming said." This is the reason I voted No. Unfortunately, I think this was over looked by a lot of people especially in Skilled Trades. In my opinion, these "manufacturing teams" are going to cost jobs and put people in dangerous positions. Currently there are mechanical trades (PF, MW, MR, TM) in each department to cover breakdowns. In the event a a skilled tradesman needs assistance performing a task, he could ask someone within his trade that has the same knowledge and experience for help. Under the new "mechanical teams" he now is expected to get assistance from someone within his "team" which may or may not be from the same trade. This will allow the company to cut heads in Skilled Trades, Which in turn will cost production jobs considering the laid off Skilled Trades employee will go back to production. Secondly, and most importantly, This will put people at risk of getting hurt or killed. I went to college to learn MY trade, NOT EVERY TRADE. Have I learned about the other trades by working along side of them? yes. But that does not mean I can do the work of a PF or MR etc. Unfortunately, we have people that THINK they can and will be more than happy to try. We also have people out there that are to timid to tell management that they don't feel comfortable doing something. The last thing I want is for some other tradesman trying to be the hero, or to scared to say no, to do something that puts me in harms way. IT ONLY TAKES ONE MISTAKE AND SOMEONE COULD END UP BEING KILLED! I was a skilled trades committeeman when the "umbrella concept" was introduced. I heard first hand how eager management was to cut heads in the skilled trades under this program to improve their budget. If you don't think they will do the same thing under the "mechanical teams", you're fooling yourself. I was also called out on numerous occasions to prevent management from trying to force a tradesman to do something he was not comfortable doing under the "umbrella concept". This "mechanical team concept" is just going to do more of the same. The company, health and safety, you, or I cannot stop someone who is to timid to say no, or the person that wants to be the hero from doing something that shouldn't be done and putting people in harms way if we don't know what they are doing. It pisses me off that for years now the company and Union have been pushing safety (which I am all for) to the point of giving people time off for mistakes, but is so eager to turn a blind eye to the potential danger these "mechanical teams" are putting us in! Think about it, If it's not for the sole purpose of saving money, why would they be doing this? The only answer I can come up with is that safety is only important at a certain price. Could I use the signing bonus? you're damn straight I could. BUT I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO SAVE MINE OR A CO-WORKERS LIFE!

"Ford can also form fewer and more efficient integrated teams with both production and skilled workers. The idea is to eliminate waste in the system, such as when one group must wait for another to perform certain tasks, Fleming said." This is the reason I voted No. Unfortunately, I think this was over looked by a lot of people especially in Skilled Trades. In my opinion, these "manufacturing teams" are going to cost jobs and put people in dangerous positions. Currently there are mechanical trades (PF, MW, MR, TM) in each department to cover breakdowns. In the event a a skilled tradesman needs assistance performing a task, he could ask someone within his trade that has the same knowledge and experience for help. Under the new "mechanical teams" he now is expected to get assistance from someone within his "team" which may or may not be from the same trade. This will allow the company to cut heads in Skilled Trades, Which in turn will cost production jobs considering the laid off Skilled Trades employee will go back to production. Secondly, and most importantly, This will put people at risk of getting hurt or killed. I went to college to learn MY trade, NOT EVERY TRADE. Have I learned about the other trades by working along side of them? yes. But that does not mean I can do the work of a PF or MR etc. Unfortunately, we have people that THINK they can and will be more than happy to try. We also have people out there that are to timid to tell management that they don't feel comfortable doing something. The last thing I want is for some other tradesman trying to be the hero, or to scared to say no, to do something that puts me in harms way. IT ONLY TAKES ONE MISTAKE AND SOMEONE COULD END UP BEING KILLED! I was a skilled trades committeeman when the "umbrella concept" was introduced. I heard first hand how eager management was to cut heads in the skilled trades under this program to improve their budget. If you don't think they will do the same thing under the "mechanical teams", you're fooling yourself. I was also called out on numerous occasions to prevent management from trying to force a tradesman to do something he was not comfortable doing under the "umbrella concept". This "mechanical team concept" is just going to do more of the same. The company, health and safety, you, or I cannot stop someone who is to timid to say no, or the person that wants to be the hero from doing something that shouldn't be done and putting people in harms way if we don't know what they are doing. It pisses me off that for years now the company and Union have been pushing safety (which I am all for) to the point of giving people time off for mistakes, but is so eager to turn a blind eye to the potential danger these "mechanical teams" are putting us in! Think about it, If it's not for the sole purpose of saving money, why would they be doing this? The only answer I can come up with is that safety is only important at a certain price. Could I use the signing bonus? you're damn straight I could. BUT I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK TO SAVE MINE OR A CO-WORKERS LIFE! That's why I voted no!

Not sure where that smiley face came from but that's supposed to be : B)

Jeff, I have read a number of your posts and I just wanted to say that I respect the fact that you have the balls to speak your mind while using your real name. Also, for the most part, I agree with a lot of what you say but when it comes to this contract I have no choice but to vote it down. I'm not one of those people that expect everything we gave up to be given back right now although I do think the company should have offered a little more considering they had no problems giving back to management. I'm voting this contract down for the simple reason that we are going to lose Skilled Trades jobs and it creates a dangerous work environment. I was in office as a Skilled Trades Committeeman when they pushed the "umbrella concept" and I witnessed first hand how management tried to use that to cut heads. I also seen firsthand how management abused the language in order to try and force Skilled Trades to do work they were unfamiliar with and have seen people get hurt as a result of this. This "mechanical Team" concept will have the same results. Lets first look at job security: If I (the company) can make teams consisting of mechanical trades that is forced to rely on each other for assistance without lines of demarcation, think of the number of people I can reduce. This not only effects Skilled Trades. If Skilled trades are laid off from their trade they have the right to go back to production. Where do the low seniority production workers go when this happens? Let"s look at safety: Now I know international will tell you that if you need help from someone with your trade experience, you can request it, but in the REAL world out on that floor, I have seen the pressure that management puts on Skilled Trades in order to get the job done. DO NOT THINK FOR ONE MINUTE that they won't try and force someone to do something they are not comfortable with in order to get the line running again. If you do, you're fooling yourself ! Also, let's not forget the fact that we have Tradesmen out there that A) love to act like a super hero to management and will do anyone's job for that pat on the back B) Tradesmen that THINK they can do anyone's job and C) Tradesmen that are too scared or timid to tell their boss no when it comes to lines of demarcation and safety. Take anyone of these tradesmen and work with them under this "mechanical team" concept and you have a recipe for disaster. The last thing I want to see is me or someone I know killed or seriously injured because of something someone else does out of fear of losing his job or out of ignorance of thinking he knows it all. And with this "mechanical Team" concept, it opens the door for just that!!!! There is nothing you, I, the company, or health and safety can do to prevent it! It pisses me off that the company and International preach safety (which I'm all in favor for) with one breath but have agreed to put me and other skilled Tradesmen in harms way in the next by agreeing to this bullshit. And for those of you that think the company is going to properly train people....again, don't fool yourself. I seen the so called training when PF's and Hyd's were combined. The company is going to do as little as possible when it comes to training because training costs time and money. I can't be "my brothers keeper" and Health and Safety can't prevent the potential danger if the Tradesman doesn't tell anyone what he's about to do out of fear that his job is on the line or out of ignorance. For this reason I am voting No. If one of my friends or co-workers get killed, it won't be because I was to scared to fight for whats right!

I have no problem being competitive with foreign automakers wages ....when our upper management starts being competitive with foreign upper managements wages. WHY IS IT THAT ONLY THE WORKERS NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE? One ford- One team MY ASS!

Don't bet your life on that Machine Man. When the company tried to implement the "umbrella concept", management already started to reduce trades. I saw it and heard them discuss it first hand. Now with these "mechanical Teams", the same thing is going to happen. There will not be enough buyouts and in sourced jobs to protect the skilled trades. The concept is to take one of each mechanical trades (MW, PF, MR, TM) and form a team to where the team answers repair tickets. If a PF needs help, he ask another team member, NOT another PF. How many trades in each classification do they really need if they get away with this? How many Skilled Trades are going back to production and how many low seniority production people are going to lose their jobs? How many injuries do you foresee by trades doing work their unfamiliar with because they are worried about losing their jobs if they don't? This is bad news!

I'm voting no on this contract and I'm willing to do what ever comes from that vote! I don't expect to get everything we lost back at one time, but a cap on profit sharing and mechanical skilled trades teams is BULLSHIT!

You might want to ask what effect the Mechanical Teams are going to have. The way I see it, this is going to cost jobs for both Skilled and Production. When the company tried to implement the "umbrella concept" I saw first hand how management cut heads in the skilled trades while saying they don't need as many now. With the mechanical teams, if you don't think they will slash heads in Skilled trades, your dreaming. Mechanical teams will consist of one of each mechanical trade and they will go out as a "team" for repair tickets. If one trade needs help, they are supposed to get help from someone in the team-- not another person in their classification. I see two downfalls to this: 1) the company will cut the number of trades they have in each classification. In turn these tardesmen will go back to production and may cost a low seniority production person their job. 2) your gonna end up with "jack of all trades" and "masters of none" which is going to get someone hurt. You know damn well someone is going to try to play the "hero" and do something he isn't trained properly for and end up hurting himself if not whoever is with him. Also, I would love to hear why Alan Mullaly thinks its fair for his wages and stock options to be based off company performance but our profit sharing is going to be capped regardless of how well the company does. If we are in fact One Team and One Ford, Why is our profit sharing capped and his compensation isn't????? Sounds like someone is talking out both sides of his mouth to me!!!

I didn't say repair tickets are bullshit you idiot, I said I have had production people put in tickets knowing there was nothing wrong just to get a break. It don't happen very often, but it has happened. And they may not be able to walk away at your plant when the tradesman is working on the job, but they can at my plant. So your point wasn't proven, you just don't have the ability to hear what's being said without twisting it Jackass. Obviously this conversation is going no where considering you don't have the integrity to have a honest conversation so feel free to simply go back to your assembly line and jack yourself off while telling yourself how great it is to be a "real man" in "the show" lmao

So to make sure I understand you correctly, are you actually saying that all the people at Romeo who were no longer needed should just be laid off instead of getting the opportunity to go to another plant? I mean if they lost work and don't have any work for them, what are they gonna do? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see anyone displaced but I think ford and the IUAW are doing the right thing by allowing people to go to other locations instead of forcing them to burn their sub and tap. Now I do agree that they need to find more work at these locations as soon as possible so that they can be afforded the opportunity to go back to their basic units, but in the meantime, I think allowing them to go to other locations is the right thing to do. If I am misunderstanding your point, fill me in.

WAIT!....you actually seen a line go up before? If that's the case, How in the world can I argue with your logic? Call me bullheaded but I'm gonna give it a try anyway. Under YOUR logic; I've been to the Dentist and have had a cavity filled and even had a tooth pulled, It didn't look that difficult.....Maybe I should turn in my tools and become a Dentist! Or wait, I've taken my dog to the vet and watched them clip his nails and stitch a cut before. Didn't look to difficult. Maybe I will be a vet. Actually, I'm just teasing but I do appreciate you helping me prove my point by running off at the mouth and showing how ignorant you truly are. As far as Skilled Trades costing the company millions of dollars every year by not fixing the assembly line....you have no idea how many times trades have come out to repair a line and the supervisor refuses to allow the tradesman time to repair it the correct way because the line would be down for 20-30 minutes while the repair was being made. I have actually heard them say they will take the chance on just slapping a band-aid on it to keep the line running when they were told that if it keeps running that way, they could be looking at major down time. You have no idea how many times the correct parts weren't ordered from engineering. There are many reasons why a repair isn't taken care of properly or quickly INCLUDING some tradesmen don't want to do their jobs. But as I said before, you have people like that in ALL classifications. I could very easily think like you do and say that every recall ford has is due to production not doing there jobs correctly and not paying attention but I know better. Or I could run off at the mouth and talk about how many times a bullshit ticket came in for a repair and when I got out there, the production operator just wanted a break and asked me to take a slow look at something to give him 10 minutes and I could ASSUME ALL production people do that. The point is, I know that production people have tedious jobs and the majority of them are back breaking work, but just because I have seen some lazy asses in production does not mean I am going to categorize all production as lazy. I have seen some production jobs that were easy as hell, but I'm not gonna say a monkey could do your job. Again, I know better. You on the other hand would rather bad mouth skilled trades when it's clear you don't know what your talking about. I think the only problem we have is your not man enough to admit it! Now what do ya say we end this conversation considering the topic was meant to be on profit sharing.

I didn't blame no one for the lifestyle I chose. All I said is that I don't agree with everyone getting the same amount of profit sharing regardless of what hours they work. And BTW, Not all functions start according to people's work schedules. 2nd -That's the exact answer I suspected from a loud mouth know it all like yourself. First off asshole, being production... you would be representing production people for the most part unless starting off as a committeeman is beneath someone like you. Then you might have to represent some trades but like I said before, don't waste your time. By just reading your posts I can tell you wouldn't have a shot in hell of getting elected. It's probably for the best anyway, the last thing you need is some "fucktard" coming to you with some grand plan how everyone can get $15,000 every year from profit sharing regardless of what the company does financially. IDIOT! As far as the conveyor goes, I wasn't looking for a pat on the back....I was just proving the point that Ford Motor Company has some of the best tradesmen around and that a lot of them do bust their asses and do good work. Just like a lot of production people bust their asses everyday and do good work. The problem I have is you running your cockholster bad mouthing Skilled Trades because you were either to lazy to go to college or you couldn't pass the test! Lastly, as far as you not going to college because you're as smart as Einstein.... is that why your doing manual labor for a living Jackoff?

LMAO.... you say more than you know! I had you pegged right from the beginning. Your nothing more than a loud mouth that thinks he is smarter than he really is and thinks to highly of himself. Let me help you out a little Smart guy.... a 13 day letter means you have to work 13 consecutive days in order to get one day off. So basically, you get 2 days off a month unless you burn vacation or E-days. So while you ( being in the "show") are working 5 days a week and get the opportunity to get 8 days off if you chose, I have no say whether or not I want to work when I am on the 13 day letter. Now according to your way of thinking, You get the opportunity to pick and chose what overtime you work. If your kid has a football game you want to go to, it's your anniversary, or a family members birthday, you simply decline the weekend and enjoy yourself BUT, you still want to be compensated exactly like I do. Tell me how that's fair Einstein! While your at it Genius, tell me how I get more days off work than you do NOW that you know what the 13 day letter is. As far as your comments concerning Skilled Trades go, you just showed how ignorant you truly are! First of all, I don't care if your trades or production....there's gonna be people in all areas that are willing to work and then there are gonna be some people that do everything they can to get out of working. That's just the way it is. It's the job of Management to get these people to do their jobs. But to come on here and to categorize all trades in one group as doughnut eating, coffee drinking, card playing lazy asses just shows how simple minded you really are. The Skilled Trades in my plant just installed a conveyor line with all of it's stations faster and less expensively than any outside company was willing to commit to. They busted their asses to meet a very aggressive time line and accomplished this one day sooner than expected. That's installed, piped, and all electrical hooked up in less than 2 weeks. So before you go bad mouthing Skilled Trades, maybe you should get a little more educated. Now I am not going to act like Skilled Trades are more important than production workers because they're not. I know production workers bust their asses because I came from production. In fact, I was working production while I went to college on the apprenticeship. So while your busy jacking yourself off about how awesome you are and what a "real man" you are for being in "the show" and all, just know I'm not all that impressed. I worked 10 to 12 hours a day and then went to school at night to get into Skilled Trades. As far as being "lucky" to even be working. FUCK YOU! Because I went to college and spent 4 years on the apprenticeship to try and better myself and my family, I should be out of a job because the economy took a shit? Because the economy took a shit I should be forced to leave all my family and move out of state? again, FUCK YOU. I am not laid off but to say what you did to all the lower seniority tradesmen that are laid off or forced out of state just shows that your nothing but an self centered asshole. Maybe you would like it better if they lay off all the skilled trades and make them go back to production and then all you "real men" with less seniority would then lose their jobs. Be careful what you ask for dumbass. While it may not be you, It surely could be one of your friends you narrow minded idiot. In closing, seeing as how your so freeking smart.....instead of just coming on this site and trying to sound like someone that knows everything, why don't you run for a Union position and put your money where you big mouth is? Oh wait, that is unless your one of those guys that love to sit back and rip current union reps but refuses to step up to the plate. But then again, that wouldn't work either....people like you very seldom get voted into office because while no one ever says it to your face, behind your back they all agree your full of shit and talk out your ass.

So what your saying is that REGARDLESS of how many hours you put in yearly, you should get the exact same amount of profit sharing as I do? Are you freeking kidding me? What about when I am on a 13 day letter and I am FORCED to work a shit load of hours while you are able to pick and chose when you feel like working overtime? Are you seriously saying that while I was forced to miss some family functions or simply didn't have the opportunity to take a weekend off with the family due to the 13 day letter, I should not be getting a little more compensation for that while you had the opportunity to stay home any weekend you chose? What about the people that abuse the system and get a medical every year from "Dr. Feelgood" ? Are you saying that these people that go out on medical EVERY year but know how to play the system to get enough hours in to qualify should get paid the same exact amount of profit sharing as I do? Start thinking about what your saying before you post. You have been posting on this site since SEPT 22 and out of your 19 posts, I'm not sure I agree with any of them.

I'm not so sure making a better product will do it considering how the government has sold the United States down the river with these messed up free trade agreements they signed in the name of fat campaign contributions. The only way to convince people to start buying AMERICAN is to level the playing field by applying the same tariffs on foreign products as they do to ours. Maybe then if the foreign products cost relatively the same amount, we can open businesses here and start producing goods like we used to. Then and only then will it be simply a matter of who makes the better product considering they cost around the same. Now having stated my opinion, the last thing I want to do is start a bitch fest on who (Dems or Rep) pushed these trade agreements through because to be honest, both parties are simply puppets to the highest bidder!

Gotta tell ya, I'm tired of giving! I don't expect to get everything back that we gave up in the concessions all at once, but this is getting old in a hurry!

Damn Ranger, had I known you were going to come on here with all of your words of wisdom to try and make me sound dumb, I would have been more proper and articulate when I wrote my comments. But then again, I wasn't having a conversation with you to begin with now was I. Seeing as how you felt obligated to join the conversation though, if you have something to say, by all means speak your mind. That is unless all your trying to do is start some shit. If that's the case, your response to my comments were brilliant!

Your welcome Brother but I was probably the smallest piece of the puzzle. The Chairman and the Job Standards Rep had the pull to get it done. They are the ones that should be Thanked.

Ya know I'm not sure which plants he called, but I do remember being told that the plants he did call all had the temps on 40 hrs. But that's not really the point now is it....I'm sure the phone call to Region and IUAW didn't take to long to be made and I know no one ever mentioned that there was a violation. So maybe you need to direct your anger somewhere else. The local at Van Dyke fought hard to get those trades in here to save them from burning their sub and tap and the tradesmen on the floor treated those guys good. When the decision was made that the temp trades are to be placed on the overtime rotation, there was no bitching from the room or the guys on the floor. If your one of the temp trades that came to VD, I wish you all the best. If your NOT and your just on here stirring shit, regardless of what is said, your still gonna bitch... so bitch away. All I know is that I was there to see how hard the room fought to get the temp trades in for the construction job, everything may not have turned out perfect, but in the end they saved their sub and tap which is more than some could say. Knowing that, for you to come on here and bitch about the room leaves a sour taste if ya know what I mean.

Listen Bro, I was in office when you guys came here. Don't try and act like Van Dyke was the only plant throughout ford to have the temp trades work 40 hours. The Chairman at the time called around to the other plants that had temp trades to see how they did things and simply followed what they were doing or did. Do you honestly believe no one called IUAW? Do you honestly believe that if IUAW had called and said there was a violation, that the local wouldn't have changed things? be real. It's real easy to come on here and sling mud but do you have any idea how hard the room fought to get you guys in here in order to save you from burning up your sub and tap and to keep the outside contractors out?

How many threads are you going to start on this subject? I am being totally serious when i say I feel bad for your situation, but coming on here and mother fucking the locals and international is not going to get you permanently placed anytime sooner. Bro, locals take care of themselves FIRST, and then if they can help other union brothers and sisters, they do. It is International that works on finding placement for the most part. If International thinks a plant can use you and the company agrees, there is very little a local can do to stop it. They can give their opinions on whether or not they need someone, but in the end, they don't make the call. I seen it firsthand when Van Dyke was force fed 11 toolmakers when as a local we thought that was too many. Let me ask you this: if your old home plant was still going and another plant closed and laid people off, how willing would you be to give up YOUR job so someone with more seniority can come to your plant? Now if you say you would happily give up your job for a higher seniority person from another plant, your a better man than me. My first thought is the welfare of my family. Would I be willing to go to 40 hours a week to make sure all my union brothers and sisters are working? yep. But will I raise my hand and volunteer my job to you? ain't gonna happen bro. I wish you all the best and I hope you find a perm job soon but you really need to direct your anger in the right direction.