Fatso

Rory may be a good choice but the next election the rules should be changed so the same old 'good ol` boys' clique does not just automatically get to appoint another one of "its own" using some mock election.

U.S. attorney,Matthew Schneider, stated that the corruption charges against the UAW are "based on greed"."Putting your own interest above others".That sums up what our union has become in a nutshell.Years ago,I was told by my mitty-man to "cut a deal".I was informed that,the local would absolutely not stand in the way of anybody`s deal.Furthermore,this would be hilarious if it was not true,I was told that if "They dont like you,I cant help you".That mitty-was successful in winning elections at not only at that plant but also other facilities that he transferred to. In a deal shop,once I got my deal,why would I want to stick with my other union members at the risk of potentially losing my deal?The local I work for now goes by the rules and if there is a grievance they attempt to resolve the issue according to rules that apply equally to everybody.No more,crawl under the bosses desk.No more,look at ME boss,I am the best ya got and I agree with you,that other guy {my union brother} is an loser.No more cutting the bosses lawn.What good is any union if there is not equal enforcement of the contract among its members?After the union leaders are cleaned out the membership has to change as well.We need ethical leaders who will restore the concept of what it means to be a strong union.I think they exist.Whats on every UAW Presidents wish list this Christmas?Soap on a rope! I would have sympathy but I am just too tired of being lied to and I am too frustrated to care at this point.If found guilty,go to prison and serve your time.

I read an article online yesterday in the Detroit News that says the Feds aint buying the reforms Rory puts in place as being good enough.The current IUAW leadership has lost all credibility.The union needs all new people at the top along with reforms and an open and honest election for leadership positions, that can be more easily participated in by newcomers seeking election.No more 'Good Old Bozo`s' network or the clique will "BOOOOOO" you off stage.

Its turned into a "DEAL" union.Meaning that everybody is out to cut a "DEAL" for themselves.Those that are left,that dare to have some pride turn into targets for management to harass.Stop the "deals" and insist on equal enforcement of the contract for all members.I hear your laughter!

The IUAW,which includes the most influential and powerful UAW leaders,needs entirely 'fresh blood'.Rory cannot be trusted simply because he stood around while "allegedly" the current and former presidents were themselves accused by the FBI of corruption.Self-policing does not work.The UAW needs some fresh faces.Some local presidents or reps or chairman who have clean records and honorable, ethical reputations of being foremost for the members they were elected to represent.I know they are out there.I have met them but they just dont have the popularity to be elected.

I know this is politics but may I also state that the "rich" will turn out to be the middle-class.Corporations will simply raise their prices and shift the taxes or lobby for tax breaks.Its to the point where,Why even Try?OF COURSE there is injustice and OF COURSE life is unfair.There is also much opportunity in the USA.One original Henry Ford is worth a million of fatso`s {otherwise it would be Fatso Motors and you`d all be working for me}as far as what`s good for the economy.Stop blaming "the rich' and instead take a hard look at yourself.

HIGHLIGHT said {paraphrasing} 'A $60,000 bonus for A-L-L production employees and up to 200 skilled trades eligible to retire" that stupid flashing , cartoon ,that Dilbert posted ,is messing with my computer

Yeah and notice the issue with taxes is ALWAYS pay more, we need more programs.Never, cut spending,eliminate waste,fraud and abuse or encourage people to work for money.Heres a clean hypodermic needle.Go ahead and 'shoot-up' buddy.Need $$$ for drugs?Just make sure your larceny = less than $950 and its only a misdemeanor, the police dont fully enforce anyways.You can sleep,defecate,urinate,aggressively panhandle, right in front of that business with the HELP WANTED sign posted in the window.No personal responsibility or accountability required or expected.They say you can`t beat the weather,living in California,Oregon and Washington.The "deplorable" taxpayer,the one pulling the wagon?Your 10 hour factory shift starts at 5 a.m. and you,better not be late.Progressive-Liberal motto = Aspire to do as little as possible , righteously,blame the "rich" for your plight and then demand to be given more,endless, "FREE" stuff.

Wheeeeee,,,,,,Dogieeeeee!

Okay,,just ignore the negativity B.S.and stick with the issue.Its none of my business,how much seniority you got,but know this.If you go before you got 30 yrs. your pension is gonna take a big hit.Also make darn sure you got healthcare coverage.Once you leave Ford,consider yourself "on your own" because aint no lower seniority people gonna ever care about what gets done to the retirees in future contracts.Ford has not released the details of the retirement incentives which tells me they dont know exactly what they wanna do just yet.Packages offered may come down to how much seniority you have.Hang in there,when they do come out with the details,examine the offer and sign up if you still want it.Meantime start thinking like a retiree.Save those coupons in the mail.A dollar saved is a dollar earned!You`ll get it,,,,,,,you lucky duck!I`m in the trades,,here is my offer,,,,,,"wanna work another weekend'?

Thats gotta make a nice sound when you rev it up.Lets see an electric vehicle match that!

Also,if you were planning on leaving and signing up for Social Security,there is a 3-4 month lag before your SSA checks arrive.The Contract Highlights state "workers who retire AS DETERMINED under the normal and early retirement provisions of this agreement".The company is still working out all the details but you`ll probably get the 60K.

Also this explains the treatment of workers at the local level.The intimidation.The deals.The unequal enforcement of the contract.Arbitrary and capricious enforcement of the rules.Your basic "They can do that","Be lucky you have a job","we dont like to write grievances" " Be compliant" Long time ago.If a supervisor was acting like an abusive narcissist.I saw the local union president along with a couple elected union officers confront the supervisor in the cafeteria.The union president was talking loudly,pointed his finger in the sociopath supervisors face and telling him in no uncertain words that if he did not stop,they would put him on the street.Management no longer faces any retaliation from the union.Like you said the union is on managements side.

I read in a finance article that GM has 2 dates listed.They want to know who is interested in taking the retirement incentive by 12/14 with the understanding that if it is granted then the employee will be exiting around 3/14.The article said that Ford is still working out the details of its retirement incentives and that Ford has up to 4 years to close Romeo Engine.I guess Ford would not allow itself to get pinned down on the issue during negotiations.I assume that,manpower needs along with the best time to take the hit of the cost on its financial statements.At this point I would call the Contract Highlights,too vague,in order to get a firm understanding of how it will work.Good-Luck.

Now jest SETTLE DOWN a dang minute,ever last one of ya!. GM has already set dates to accept the buyout offer,I read around, Dec.14 and dates for leaving ,I read around mid- March.Seniority will determine who goes first as far as GM hitting their target number.Ford has said that the company is still working on the details of its buyout/retirement incentive offers and threw in that Romeo Engine has up to 4 years to close.The company usually has manpower requirements or, a number of employees in mind that they want to see leave.Also the company has to figure out when it wants to absorb the costs of the buyouts on their financial statement they release to Wall Street.The contract Highlights read "retire as determined under the normal and early retirement provisions of this agreement".I dont see a lot of wiggle room there but I am no lawyer.Seems to me that if you are production or one of the "up to" 200 trades {make me laugh} selected and you are eligible for a normal retirement,meaning 30 + years then you get the bonus?Its like an addition to your retirement and you should be able to collect it when you want?Wait----"provisions of the agreement" is in there.I guess,here we go again,brace yourself for whatever happens and get ready to hear your union say "Yes,they can do that" .

GET BACK TO WORK All of ya and NEXT TIME read the fine print in the contract before you drop your slip into the plastic bucket your mitty-man is carrying around the plant.

Killin me to think that our dues may have to pay for legal fees to defend these guys.Innocent until proven guilty, probably gives them the cover they need for their legal expenses to be covered.There was a mayor of Detroit named Kwame Kilpatrick.He faced a corruption trial.He was surrounded by high priced lawyers.Kwame`s mother was a long serving U.S. Congresswoman.None of that helped Kwame,he is serving a lengthy sentence in Federal Prison.The lawyers use these cases as a gold mine when the truth is ,the merits of your case are the most important determining factor in the final outcome.Best thing Gary and the gang could do for themselves right now MAY be to plead guilty and cut a deal.? DONT SHOOT!

I am gonna assume that, in that case ,the first people out the door with buyout $$$$ {the lucky ducks} will be people at plants that are slow or slowing down.

Somethings gotta be "up".Ford must expect a slowdown.I am interested to see how many production people take the bonus and split.Ford announced to its shareholders that this massive buyout offer will reduce operating costs.All kidding aside,these buyouts {in my understanding} are contingent on manpower needs.Meaning that there is a ,"number" , Ford wants to hit with these buyouts.Seniority means something at a time like this,so does the plant you are working at.TAKE ME WITH YOU

I am not the person with the "best" taste in automobiles but I like the Mustang e-suv.Dont be surprised at how fast an electric vehicle can be,now.Ford can make an electric version of the Mustang that is quicker than the gas model.Basically its not an SUV its just got a big trunk + a trunk in front.The only thing I dont like about it is that it is Hecho en Mexico.

I saw the dates posted inside my plant------PARTY TIME,,,,theres gotta be a silly face thing for this,,,,,,that a good one?

"Its not the people who vote that count.Its the people who count the vote",Joseph Stalin ,dictator of the Soviet Union.

Now both of you all just ,hold your horses, for a minute.There are many factors that must first,be taken into consideration.Like how we gonna 'run' without ya?Manpower needs must be addressed.Everybody cant just simply hit the door all at once!Dont ya want some O.T.?C`mon stick around,misery loves company.

Thank You. That seems like a light turn out.I did meet some fine lower level union people {shout out to my Mitty-Man}while I was at the Rouge.I would follow Gary Walkowicz or Nick Kottalis, into hell.The hourly workers,who pay dues ARE the union.Contract passed ,we are in the $$$$$$$$.Special thanks to all my union brothers and sisters at GM who sacrificed to make it all possible.DAMN,the company is hard to beat!

Wait a minute,,,okay the contract passed at Local 600 but no numbers of votes have been posted yet?Are all the plastic paint buckets {if they still do it that way}accounted for?Or is Local 600 the Wild Card just in case Local 862 gets a mind of its own?For the record,that is a "suspicion" and not an "allegation".If the UAW really wants to regain credibility, it needs to operate as transparent as possible,making itself above suspicion.That may mean giving up some control because right now the IUAW answers only to itself and we all see how that turned out.IUAW might be headed toward receivership if the current and former presidents are found guilty of corruption.For the record I voted YES and would like to see this contract passed.For the record I have met many fine UAW local reps who I trust.I do not know anybody 'high up' in even the local.At this point the union needs new leadership desperately."I COULDA been a CONTENDA",Marlon Brando from 'On the Waterfront'.