Fatso

The current,Good Ol Boys at the head of the IUAW need to get broken up.Then the door may get open to elect some people who are passionate about unionism and are not just playin the position of union executive, for their own personal benefit.I believe there has got to be somebody,somewhere at some local who is a genuine union person.Someone who is a leader, who is willing to sacrifice for the common good of the membership.I, along with other posters on this message board would do a better,more ethical ,job than the current collection of Good Ol Boys!This one jerk,Vance Johnson,who was a UAW Regional Director has plead guilty and now he can start singin' to the Feds.How do you like them scantily-clad, cigar lighting ,young ladies paid for with our union dues,at your private union parties now,Vance,jack-ass?I got this suspicion that our union dues paid for more than just cigar lighting services.Makes me feel like a real chump being a union member walking into the plants at all hours of day and night to start my shift . these "things" are kinda fun!

Whats even worse is the arbitrary and capricious way in which the union allows the company to discipline employees.I have worked for smaller UAW shops that would NOT allow only certain workers to be disciplined.Whats wrong is wrong and whats right is right for everybody.That is called solidarity.That is how you create a stronger union.That keeps a lid on deals being made and co-workers running around smilin with cum their faces.Local 600 the largest local at Ford,selling out.The kick-backs must be good there!Maybe its time for some "fresh blood" to take the reins.

The company does to us whatever the union lets them get away with.At the same time they allow the company to break the contract in an arbitrary and capricious manner.Oh well,,,,,I gotsta scratch my ass,,,,,where is that camera? Good old Burkie {sarcasm}.I wonder what his pay off was?

Of course this whole topic is so absurd it could all just be a hoax. is this the right 'thing' to use at a time like this? I miss role models like John Wayne,Steve McQueen,Charles Bronson,Clint Eastwood.Its a new day and time is passing me by.

If Nick is Nick K. I remember him as being a 'good guy' when it came to standing up for the workers.He helped me out in the past at a time when labor relations was looking down their noses and being difficult to all hourly workers.Nick K. was not even my Mitty Man at the time.Nick saw I was stressed and I was not getting helped by my skilled trades chairman and Nick was a production Mitty Man but he was the one who helped me out.Does negative campaigning help solidarity in any way?Instead of a vote against Nick focus on why a person should vote for John.

I signed up for SRI-special retirement incentive because I am eligible to retire based on years of seniority.If I get have to get real lucky. I was told in the trades it will probably take 43 years to get the buyout.The SRI package comes with VEBA participation.The STEP-special TERMINATION employee package does not.You take a STEP then you are not entitled to participate in VEBA.Also I noticed the legalize regarding when the buyout checks arrive.Let me paraphrase the way I understand that.There is NO set time as to when you will receive your money.It will depend on what is best for the companies balance sheet and quarterly wall street report.A person looking to also claim social security might have to delay their first check due to the earnings limit cap but I would have to ask the social security office to be sure.If you are planning to participate in VEBA,check into how much it will cost you per month.I think it is $17 for individual and $34 for family.Also you must pay the first $400 of costs before VEBA kicks in which may include trips to the dentist as well.I am not saying this is good or bad,just trying to get a handle on what the landscape will look like IF I do get a buyout.Also a perosn leaving under the SRI would need to file for a pension using the NESC system.I asked the person handing out the forms,a seemingly knowledgeable "old timer" if the company was offering buyouts because they want to hire in new workers for less money.His opion was that the company really does not like doing this but the UAW basically hit a home run for {my opinion} production.The level in union representation between being a UAW production worker and a UAW skilled trades workers is enormous.200 token buyouts?Just so the union can claim TRADES BUYOUTS?I am not into production vs trades {I know one works,one dont}and one thing for sure I have learned is the phrase,"die mother lover" ,is the standard response when a person reaches out for understanding inside of an auto plant.This being an employee forum I just wanted to say that I am disappointed in the way that the union represents me as a tradesman.That being said I am glad for my production UAW brothers and sisters.Do your due diligence before you leave and good-luck to all.

Mr Dye, an electrician, might just be able to obtain one of those "up to 200" trades buyouts? Its to the point where I have no confidence in ANYTHING involving my union.The top IUAW leadership has to be replaced,for sure.A new example of good ethics must be set from those at the very top.I am also an electrician.Imagine if I was working with Mr.Dye {I dont know him personally or if any of the allegations are true} or anyone else who had such a good "deal" going for themselves. Think that they would have any concern for me as a fellow union member in the trades?I would say NO ,because siding or sticking up for another ordinary union member may place his "deal" in jeopardy.Wonder why 'some' management has zero respect for 'some' of the local unions?Let me also add the the Company is playing a big part in all this.By selectively handing out ,'The keys to the kingdom', they are purposely dividing us.I have no sympathy for anybody who gets legally punished as a result of these investigations.Jail aint nothing.Just wait until the lawyers get done with em!I hope GM wins its lawsuit against FCAU.It wont be a clean sweep until the Company is also held ethically responsible.All union members deserve a level playing field.

Ford pension does not pay much per month.Then comes a reduction when you reach social security age at 62.In the past,what made being a loyal Ford employee beneficial was the health care you could receive once you retire.Now once you retire,your health care is administered by the union {gives you a real confident feeling?} VEBA fund.Once you turn 65 you apply for medicare and VEBA becomes a secondary payer.In the long run,VEBA may save you from having to purchase additional insurance to supplement medicare for things like dental,vision,prescription.Welcome to the understanding that the retirees ,which if you take the buyout you will soon be,have been paying for the contract ever since the good old,concessionary days, of Bob King.Dont expect the new,fresh workers who Ford hires to replace you,to stand up for you in future contracts.Everyone is in a different financial situation and you have to look over all the details very carefully.I am wondering what is the current co-insurance payment per month of having VEBA?Is that amount expected to increase with more people retiring?Its not a question of 'will I get sick' its a matter on 'when and how'.

The new plant manager`s office is being re-decorated right now.When he gets to CAP he will walk around and let all the salaried workers and union reps kiss his ring.How many of these guys have you seen come and go?It must be nice.He probably cant wait to get to work everyday. He will take all the credit if things go well and he can shift all the blame onto production,vendors and the trades when things go wrong!

"I always put the concerns of the hard working men and woman of the United Auto Workers, first.Now get back to work,dont give any supervisor any of 'yo shit' in response to his shit and always,always remember,,be lucky you got any job at all. You want better treatment?You want equal enforcement of the contract?Then do what I tell everybody else I represent to do,,,,,kiss ass and make a deal.It aint so bad if you carry a bottle of mouthwash with ya" Fat Cat. Kidding aside I would be glad if all the cliques that sold everybody else out, to get a deal ,were broken up and all new people were given a chance to run the UAW.

I guess it was just a matter of time before the Feds got around to investigating UAW/Ford.Innocent until proven guilty so lets wait and see.All these bribes and kick-backs involving vendors for trinkets and SWAG? I have not been given a jacket or even a pen in a decade! WTF? The greedy union 'fat cats' kept it all! Aint dat a bitch! here I like this one.

Assuming that VEBA has a set amount of funding.I would expect co-insurance payments to increase?I dont know.I am guessing that VEBA is a pool of money from which ALL retirees who qualify draw from.More retirees on VEBA = higher individual costs and co-pays.Does anybody know how it work out, as far as costs in actual dollars for retirees?

Article in the Detroit News 12/23, "8 UAW Locals urge convention to reform leadership elections".That is the change that is needed.When the top IUAW officials are elected by a popular vote of every dues paying member, then a member with a reputation as being, a good "union person" ,will at least have a chance to get elected.Break up all those arrogant,untouchable,union FAT CATS who cozy up to the company {we all like rich friends!} and serve as another ,Company Management Administration Department.I dont think any of us would begrudge a dinner or banquet,here or there understanding ,in that position you do have to be sociable. MILLIONS of $$$$ in kick-backs from the Company?Go To Jail.Go Directly to Jail.Take your butt-fucking/ass kicking and dont rat.Above all else,do not show your ugly face around any union facility ever again.You are SCUM.Any long term high ranking union officer who had a reasonable opportunity to suspect that unethical behavior was happening-HAS TO GO.Open up those elections.

First, everything you said is illegal and can be punished up to and including termination.Who is "LOT" anyway?I sit out in the open and JUMP when called on my cellphone or in person.Other places I had a radio in my ear.There are NO ergonomics or restrictions in the trades.Without O.T. {not guaranteed}I make 100 bucks a week more than a production Team Leader.Why spend your life,holidays etc. at a job,with a harsh atmosphere, where you are totally unappreciated?If the trades "aint working" then why does Ford have us there?I can walk out of Ford with my trade license and duplicate my hourly wage working at another company.Try that as production.I wish Ford would eliminate my trade and give it all to production since I "aint working" most of the time anyways.Oh wait,,,,there are licensing requirements and OSHA to consider.In all fairness to your post,,,,,,yes,,some people are allowed to get away with murder and can do no wrong.Rules at Ford all hinge around that little chicken dick supervisor you report to everyday.How many supervisors steal Ford blind and shake down vendors?You got a point.

Okay,thats fine.Its their company and they can do what they wanna do.I dont know what the job in the battery crib involved.Ford wants or needs trades so desperately I guess that is the theme.Ya know the human body wears down both mentally and physically.I saw a funny sticker that read "The older I get,the better I use to be".Probably a lot of trades are disappointed.What the heck,its fun on payday.Those leaving with the $60,000 better hope inflation stays low and VEBA stays funded.

47 years seniority is a pretty high hurdle.I knew when I hired in over 30 years ago that Ford was a UAW shop and that production took center stage."Production is our customer",is what I use to be told.Oh well,its nice to be wanted .I am glad we got that $1000 "tooling allowance" paid twice over 4 years.If they had called it a trades bonus instead of a tooling allowance well,,,,the money would be divided among everybody and we would end up getting $150 bucks.Funny thing is that Ford announced in the news today that it is planning on hiring, about 3000 new employees in the next few years at Michigan Assembly and Dearborn Truck.Face it,trades are second class citizens as far as the UAW is concerned.Here is the offer to trades,,,wanna work another weekend!

Now dont, "might stick around".Walk fast outta CAP and dont let that doorknob hit ya in the ass!

Bud,,,,just slow down.They are working out the details.It is nothing personal.Every one of us is just a sack of blood with a social security number.We can all be replaced,that is for sure.BUT Ford needs their factories running,in some cases like DTP 21 hours a day,in order to make a profit.The wording generally states that A-L-L production employees are eligible.Take it easy and start making plans.What will you do with all that $$$$$

Until the by laws change there will be no real reform.The Feds are onto them now and although the IUAW can simply ignore dissent among the rank and file the Feds are a different story.This seasons hottest gift item down at Solidarity House has to be soap on a rope."KY Jelly,anyone got some?",Dennis?Gary?Time to put up,put out or simply STFU,you 2 tough guys.

Sit back and enjoy the upcoming 8 paid holidays your union negotiated for us and wait until all the details are worked out.GM is a different company with different needs.I think its all about manpower requirements.I cant believe it when the contract says ALL production personnel will be eligible for a retirement incentive or severance pay if they chose to leave."ALL"?Who`s gonna be left?Fatso?The trades?You wanna hear some screaming and hollering?Wouldnt that be a bitch if hidden in the small print of the contract was allowing the company to assign production work to members of the trades.Quality would take a hit,thats for sure.If thats the case I would make em hafta fire my fat ass.

If you agree to the inverse seniority lay-off are you also given a call-back date?Is the date in writing?Is it worth the risk?How long are you ready to stay out?I mean for some its like a vacation.Here is a tip.If you do go out and an Unemployment Office recording,asks you, "are you looking for work?" always say YES.I had a call back date and so I said NO one time.The recording then says "report to the unemployment office immediately" and hangs up.I had to walk in and explain myself.

When the details are final it will be put in writing.The risk in leaving on 'who said what' is that if anything goes wrong it will be hard to prove 'who said what'.Ask the union rep who says its okay to "leave right away and you will be back paid,$60,000" to put that in writing and date and sign it.

I dont like to place myself on layoff

Get it in writing---from labor , cover yourself.

I assume from noticing the posters in the plant and what the UAW reps are wearing that the political message must be liberal and progressive enough otherwise you face disciplinary action up to or including TERMINATION.Compliance with 'group think' is mandatory.