Fatso

and how well has the UAW been doing at unionizing other auto manufacturers with their "we are a more friendly, arm of management" approach?Dont combine the 2 issues, strike and expanding UAW membership.As a dues paying member in good standing I want my concerns addressed not the IUAW`s business expansion plans.My guess is that Ford will be the target.After a settlement with Ford the UAW will turn to FCAU {corruption scandal} and GM {plant closings} and use the threat of a strike as leverage.A Strike is the most powerful tool any union has in its arsenal.The Company gives you nothing because they like you.You are not management.Even the foreign,transplant auto-manufacturers have it better because of the UAW they just don't recognize that fact.

This is the quietest its been before a contract that I can remember.Only a couple rumors posted on someones Facebook page about buyoutsI am also hearing about an increase in Lifetime Retirement Benefits.If buyouts happen that would be the icing on the cake for those who are ready to go.I know Ford needs massive restructuring in Europe and Ford is also eliminating salaried employees.I doubt that their will be much left to go around after that but who knows.The question always is how much will we have to 'give back' in order to receive a $1500 signing bonus?I say STRIKE EM while ya can and I am at a plant that will probably get targeted for a strike.Free coffee,free donuts,possible picture on the evening news,get to holler.Ask for everything settle for 75% or unleash Fatso on em!

Settle Down,,,,,and just be glad we got jobs and while you are voting take a free pencil and a UAW button!

I am not going to "opt out" I like my knee caps too much.Besides maybe we can get a good contract this time around and I dont want to make myself un-eligible for a buyout.So whats the choice?

Hey,give the guy a break.He admits he is "not perfect".Be lucky you got a job and always be compliant towards management.Its our new theme.

Standard UAW reply seems to be "be lucky you got a j-o-b"

The Company sure seems to have a lot goin on.Should be a smooth contract.I think Ford will be the target because it has no major obstacles like GM {plant closings} or FCAU {corruption investigation}.If the UAW can get a quick deal done with Ford that will pressure the other 2.Ya wanna strike,fine.Ford will gladly eat your lunch,I mean sell more trucks and SUV`s.The old union guy inside me would like to see a better shake for the temps as well as something a little extra for the retirees.

Ford Rouge Complex is near the Train Station and has plenty of room.What I do know is that LTP is adding a 2nd shift with transfers from FRAP ,to assemble transmissions used in the new Ford Escape.Ford is hoping that vehicle will be a big seller.If Ford is building or converting an existing building to make autonomous vehicles Local 600 is gonna have some say in the matter.Local 600 has the most members of any local.Business is looking good,should be a smooth contract.I think Ford will be the target company because there are no scandals {like FCAU} or bad feelings {like GM}.C`mon buyouts,,,,,C`mon buyouts,please.

Typical responses {pick all or any that apply} "They can do that","if they dont like you,I cant help you",,,"Just be lucky you have ANY job".

I heard that 600 UAW workers are being transferred to Livonia Transmission,many from Flat Rock,maybe as early as March?LTP ,local 182,is a good place to work.Its 'climate controlled' during summer!!!!!!!

Local 600 will determine the fate of the next contract.Isnt that right Bernie Rickie,my lord.

Retirement Incentives and buyouts will all come down to Ford`s manpower requirements.Its possible that only certain classifications of employee will be eligible for buyouts.Before higher seniority employees start jumping for joy at the very idea of buyouts remember the 500 pound elephant in the room-VEBA.Will VEBA be fully funded in the new contract?ACA is expensive.Medicare is where we all eventually end up anyways and it is a bargain compared to the ACA if you are a paying participant.Ford seems to be well managed right now as far as supply and demand goes.At least Ford is not being caught with its pants down like GM.If you want to be offered a buyout then submit a resolution to the national contract.That is what I will be doing.A guy can dream,cant he?

Hey Da Bears are looking like contenders and ya still got the best pizza!Whattaya want,seniority rights?Seniority has been diluted over the years of 'give-back contracts'.I don't understand all the particulars of what is happening but how does it make business sense for Ford to train all the lower seniority employees when Ford must still lay-off by seniority?Or at least I hope the company cant just pick and choose who they lay off.

If, and only If it is true that FCAU ceo ,Sergio Marchionne told his employees to keep the union officials "fat,dumb and happy" then its obvious that unethical business practices are expected and given the okay from the man at the very top of the corporation.The investigation into corruption is not closed by law enforcement and it will be interesting to see how far up in the IUAW it goes.You know,I mean no disrespect to the local union reps many of whom I have met are ethical and good union people.I understand there is only so much they can do.That one Chrysler executive who was found guilty had purchased a $37,000 pen?WTF is that?I must really be a Michibilly because I could look at that pen all day and not understand what is so great about it.Now take that $37,000 and instead,spend it on a UAW workers child to help him/her with their education and yeah I can say,now that is worth $37,000.Who sells their soul and goes to prison for a $37,000 pen?We got a contract coming up and issues like,temporary workers and retirees and healthcare are important and yes,buyouts too.Lots of good union people on this website and that is a moral boost!

reads an article in the Detroit News on 11/6/2018.Human nature combined with unethical people is the root cause of corruption be it in the UAW or politics etc.Therefore rules and penalties need to be established in order to try and prevent corruption.When Gary W. from local 600 tried to pass a referendum that would require,that a vote on the UAW National Contract, to have the same safeguards in place,as a local vote for president it was refused.This tells me that the IUAW will not change.The only thing that will change will be the names of the people who get caught,next time.At Local 600, basically the old Rouge facility plus DTP,I saw a mitty-man walking around with a plastic bucket with a slot in the lid,handing out pieces of paper with YES or NO,asking if you wanted to vote and if you voted you checked YES or NO then dropped a slip of paper into the plastic bucket and your name was scratched off a list.I ask you,is this what you would consider a secure vote?Did I see any actual "funny business" occur?No.Was I there to witness the counting of those slips of paper?No.Am I sure that the vote was either legitimate or illegitimate?No.I was busy on that Factory Floor,the same one that all those IUAW fat cats are so fearful of ending up on.By the way I voted yes on the contract.What I am saying is that rules and procedures and penalties need to be in place and in force in order to prevent the temptation that naturally arises from our own human nature.WE are the union people,lets demand change!

Take whatever you can get.You also get to pick a present from a catalogue and a framed certificate.Now all ya need is a BUYOUT

Kanye would look good in a MAGA Cap while tearing up sands dunes in a Raptor!

It seems like in the mid 90`s going into the millennium the local at the plant I worked at then,started,,,well an elected UAW official outright told me "We wont stand in the way of anyone making a "DEAL" and when I continued pressing him for representation and all I wanted was equal enforcement of the contract I was slammed by an elected UAW official "if they don't like you I cant help you".From that point on solidarity took a big step backwards.As a result,union employees see a benefit if they kiss-ass,cut the bosses lawn and throw each other under the bus and if they got a "DEAL" it is their "DEAL" that comes first not solidarity.When I first started out any special assignments were offered to the higher seniority employee first and if they cant do it,only then,would I understand giving the assignment to a lower seniority employee.I am currently at the best UAW local I have ever been at now.The rep is always available,the workers are more laid back and not trying to cut each others throat for a "DEAL".It is a much less hostile atmosphere than working in a "DEAL" shop.I read that the Feds are not finished investigating collusion and corruption between the IUAW and the big 3.You know darn well that "DEAL" making goes all the way up to the top, now proving it may be difficult.All most union workers want is a fair contract that is equally enforced.I understand that Ford Motor signs my paychecks and the company deserves respect.All I expect for my union dues is, no special overtime deals,no special attendance rules,no special tools given out,no arbitrary and capricious disciplinary actions,just to name a few.I hope,if guilty,they all go to prison and get their ass kicked.

Listen,it don't matter what ANY of us wants it all comes down to Jefferson Avenue and Michigan Avenue.The IUAW and Ford World Headquarters and once they agree then local 600 {the largest membership}will be the last local to vote and reps will be walking around with plastic Homer Buckets collecting pieces of paper tossed into them.We can only hope they cut us a fair deal.

The question is how many employees does Ford want to eliminate and what plants and classifications.

Gonna putta STRIKE on their mother fucking ass Livonia Transmission Local 182 is ready! What do these things do? Like a buncha little kids?Sheeeeeet!Get ready for it!

'They' can do 'that',,,,,be lucky you have a job is the standard reply I hear.In other words,refrain yourself.

Just keep showing up Fuzzy,,,you can do it and you will get there everybody who is high seniority now was low seniority at one time.

Ballot Boxes?At the Rouge local 600 the reps walked around with plastic buckets with slots cut in the lid.You checked YES or NO on a slip of paper folded it and stuffed it in the bucket after you presented I.D. and had your name scratched off a list.Ballot Boxes,,,,,,all ya need is an old plastic paint bucket.The problem with corruption is greed/temptation, it is embedded in human nature, it is not unique to any particular union or corporation.One of the suspects in the FCAU/UAW case bought himself a Ferrari and a $37,500 pen .I didn`t know there was such a thing,I mean whats the point,oh yeah,showing-off,wow.What do you do?Hold up the pen and say out loud "Do you know how much this costs"?Everybody or most people anyways, prefer to have rich friends.Some people at the Big Three are handed "the keys to the kingdom".They are not scrambling to be on the clock or put on the spot to constantly learn new tasks.They don't need to follow thousands of rules.All we ask of them is to be fair with us and look out for our best interest with the understanding that we know they can only do so much.I mean it is the FORD motor company not the UAW who signs our paychecks.The latest contract is not all bad,I voted Yes.I don't think a strike would have been worth the cost.These people under investigation by the Feds are in for a rude awakening and I have absolutely NO sympathy for them.