[International wants to raise dues]

 

 

 

Another education session for decker----

 

 

In the last few (way to many) contracts have you "TT" found any clause or item returned, reversed or reinstated?

 

Yes, several—

1. COLA was returned in the form of $1,500 per year starting in 2012 per the 2011 CBA. (Please follow cost of living adjustments that would have adjusted no increase since December 2011) a $6,000 cola payment or .75 cents per hour based on a 2,000 work year. Again COLA adjustments would have been zero but thanks to our contract we gained $6,000 more in COLA.
2. $250 Competitive bonus paid over the 4 years equals $1,000 over the agreement or 12.5 cents per hour based on a 2000 hour working year
3. $6000 signing bonus another .75 cents per hour based on 2,000 hour working year over the 4 years of the agreement
4. More open, increased and transparent profit sharing that will most likely average $8,000 per year for each of the 4 years of the agreement equaling $32,000 total over four years of the agreement. Translates to $4.00 per hour wage increase based on a 2000 hour work year
5. Lower office visits to $20 per visit and no cost shifting to us on prescriptions or medical coverage while these increased costs based on an average family of 4, balloon to $2,000 per year no cost to us which translates to a wage increase of $1.00 per hour

Just these few returns added over $6.00 per hour to our wage structure.

Do you really think that without the UAW these items would be given to us because the company is generous??

Without the UAW, we as well as transplants would be working for $15.00 per hour with no seniority, less vacation, no personal time, no voice in the workplace, no more 20 paid holidays every year, little to no benefits etc, etc,….

Please uneducated one, stop your division and tactics of destroying this great union. Lies and deceit is cruel to those that believe your garbage.

 

 

 

TT, I may be wrong (more times then I want to remember) but, in the past you have made reference to being apart of the Trades...? With your teaching skills you have mastered, could you enlighten me to the possible changes you see for the contract that would reverse the lanuage on the mechanical work groups?

We are doing mechanical work groups now when the boss aint around. We care about equipment uptime and efficiency to better keep work in the UAW and improve profit sharing for all. I know many of my past co-workers/trades that transferred to MAP that are successfully doing the mech teams. They are engaged in all aspects of properly running maintenance and embrace this tool to get rid of the supervisors that ruin efficiency gains. I hope it launches in all facilities and gives us trades the voice and respect we deserve. If it’s successful like I’m hearing at MAP then it should be a good benefit. I have not heard of these teams anywhere else so I don’t know of any other examples.

 

 

 

Is it your opinion, backed by years of education, this membership will see gains in their hourly rates of compensation? In my opinion gains established above as I believe more gains should be attainable with our plants flooded with products and investments thanks to the 2007 and 2011 agreements, a well-funded war chest “strike fund” and a sound economy.

First tier members? All should be gaining as shown in the examples above. Entry Level got a $4.50 rate of pay increase and possibly entry level/legacy rates increase in 2015

Can you give some insight into the possible reinstating of the cost of living factor? See post above. I will reiterate again, the UAW had the foresight to see the cost of living factor was not going to gain any benefit (the economy improves, cola goes down) but guaranteed our $1,500 per year or $6,000 per member over the life of the agreement. My personal opinion is that the $1,500 per year is far better than a cola formula (which netted 0 since 2011) that hurts us financially as described above

 

Possibly you could express your knowledge on the manner in which the IUAW will announce (to the world) that they have completely reversed their stance on aiding the companies at our cost and have come to the educated conclusion that their membership`s pockets are empty when it comes to giving up their earned compensation and benefits?

Don’t know about your pockets but I (most trades as well) will have made over $150,000 per year and over the past 2 years mostly because the UAW guaranteed our job security, great benefits and retirement. I made $13,500 in profit sharing last year and should break $15,000 this year. Most trades I work with enjoy this windfall of earnings from our UAW and great benefits. Production I work with are making close to $70,000 up to $85,000 this year and entry level are enjoying their raises and earning potential. Cant speak for the UAW but things are good in the Rouge.

 

 

 

TT, with my lower level of education I have to rely on deductive reasoning to move through the mase of cooperation, that over the years the IUAW and the companies have built their relationship on. Being a member for a few years, I have witnessed the slow removal of compensation and benefits. I`ve watched as both company and IUAW have proven that our hourly rate is excessive, by lowering the rate of compensation to members doing the same tasks as first tier members. We have witnessed the giving and helping one side of the negotiations table has done while the other side manipulates its way to even higher profits.

Your opinion above is nothing more than an effort to destroy this great union. Might I add that deductive reasoning and half-truths are no basis of any opinion.

Please educate yourself as I have respectfully asked in the past. This board is a good tool TO SHARE INFORMATION not spread lies and innuendo.

 

 

 

Our efficiency rates are at or higher than any other manufacturer. The level of quality that the managers will allow, is always met. In your educated terms, could you tell the members how these two facts may or will be used as the tools/strategies to secure or reinstate any lanuage in the next contract?

I can only speak to language I can read and understand and not suppositions, hypotheticals and innuendos.

 

 

 

Once again, (possibly another time) I may be wrong but, I can`t deduce that we will see much if any change in the negotiation methods we have witnessed in the past. I just had the pleasure of listening to members of the IUAW and not one gave anything remotely like a strong sence of hope for the next contract....

Good luck Professor, with that "positive" outlook on filling our plants with product and investment, through the 2007 & 2011 contract. You do realize that we had plants close, right?

UAW doesn’t close plants, it fights to keep them open, lower market share, unorganized transplants and unorganized parts plants will close higher paid/compensated UAW plants.

 

 

 

WAR CHEST? Take an educataed guess to the amount this bank account has been tapped at the last few constitutional conventions, then read how much has been pulled off in between the Con Con`s.... War chest or possibly VEBA`s solvency?

 

Lowest level of members since the 1960s will result in lower dues income while costs skyrocket and eat away at the general fund. The war chest is depleted and you are against funding the strike fund yet ask for bargaining greatness in 2015-------- hmmmm, I would have to say there is no educating your closed mind.

The 3 VEBAs are all separately funded and have no attachment to the UAW operating budget.

 

 

 

Professor, what is the schedule for the next ECON lecture?

No lectures, just correct information sharing and not anti-union rhetoric

Ahhhh yes, a pissing contest on who has more knowledge and education. Im guessing your a man with small girth and a premature trigger. Oh but keep spouting your superior knowledge to us silly little peasants. We are all humbled and impressed. No to raises! See how simple that is? I don't need a lecture on what opinion I should have.

[Flat Rock job postings]

This is just a warning, if you are thinking about transferring to FRAP they have around a thousand members with 20+ years of seniority. If you want days you will be in trim & final. Good luck

 

This is just a warning, if you are thinking about transferring to FRAP they have around a thousand members with 20+ years of seniority. If you want days you will be in trim & final. Good luck

Final doesn't scare people. One plant is the same as the next. Most have worked final. And that seniority is incentive. There will be a lot of people retiring in the next ten years. So if you have 10 to 15 years in, you'll be top dog in no time.

[Why is DTP so MESSed Up]

I worked at DTP fo nearly 2 years. Last job I had was on the Cal Line. Great group of people over there on Days...HOWEVER...I gotta agree with the original poster. DTP has NO Union. Nick K. is a total idiot, and has no real idea of what it takes to be a REAL chairman. Getting the Union out to help with a problem was difficult at the best of times. Getting a grievance filed for anything was nearly impossible. Overtime equalization was over 600 hours off, a month after zeroing out, and Union did nothing. I had to fight my own battle to get out of that place, when it should have been an automatic thing based on my senority when they asked for people to return to my home plant. Took me over 3 months to get it done, cause the union didn;t do anything to help. Nick told me...SORRY...NOTHING I CAN DO! He is a JOKE.

 

I watched fo the two years I was there...Saw Supevision doing hourly work more times than I could count. Every area I worked in, had some really good members working the line, with very few exceptions. But Manegement SUCKED. what a bunch of backstabbing morons. Saw alot of ass kissers trying to "Help" supervision...and each time, I saw it come back and bite them in the ass.

 

The very best day of my 25 year career at ford, was May 13, 2011, My LAST day in that HELLHOLE!

 

The Best of luck to all of those that have no choice to get out of that place. I wish you well, and all the best.

Glad you got out! You speak the truth. It is absolutley time to clean house.

[DTP????]

If someone wants you to sweep a floor for $26.00 (?) and hour and you do not want to that's your call.

I bet there will be a very long line of people that would LOVE to have those kind of problems.

 

Sometimes we all have to do things we do not want to but Ford is a job. If your getting the same rate of pay under the same roof I never had a problem doing what I was asked to do.

 

Those brooms are pretty tricky and usually the instruction are missing.

(Bristle side down the last time I ran one)

Its obvious that you are salary. Nothing wrong with that, sadly, I trust some of the salary people on the floor more than union. You however are one of the silly ones that have comtempt and disrespect for the line workers. Im not going to argue or defend anything with you, it would be a waste of both of our time. I just wonder, if we are beneath you, why bother reading and responding to us "low lifes," posts?

[3rd shift or crew @ MAP]

Your in for a culture shock or slugs dont come here, we wont carry you. Come to DTP you whiners.You have only been in one plant and have no idea what other places are like. You couldnt handle it. There are brothers and sisters that have had to re-locate their entire lives and families from Norfolk or where ever else. You people are the ones in for a culture shock. The people coming, and oh they are coming, have been to 4 and 5 different plants and have had to deal with different locals, rules and management. They dont give a rats ass if you like it or not!

[Company has a plan if voted down]

I guess he has never worked trades?

 

I suppose he would be quite surprised what a few competent trades, especially electrictions can do to put a halt to the ballgame?

 

3-4 days downtime with the right sparky is no problemo! Seeing baffaled engineers is quite funny.

 

A plants trades KNOW far more than plant engineers make no mistake!

 

we may know soon enough! and I would'nt worry about anyting running when your gone!

 

unhappy trades turn into a shitstorm as most of ya know!

This is the best post that I have ever read on this forum. Get um brother!

[Ford is getting ready]

I have posted in the past and am interested in joining a union. Many of you have helped and I have contacted the parties I was told about. I was told it would be a long process if it ever happened. That being said, I think you should know what is going on in my world, the salaried world, behind the scenes regarding this agreement.

 

I have been reading your interesting tete-a-tetes about your tentative agreement. I’m not hourly. But, for all you hourly workers out there, I think you should know something, Ford is getting prepared for a strike.

 

How do I know about this? I was in an impromptu meeting today called by my manager. Some salaried employees who have been on plant launches for builds have been contacted. We were told by the end of next week, all of them will have been contacted. There were about 20 salaried employees in this meeting today. The company is very worried the agreement will be voted down and there will be a strike.

 

I don’t know how a strike works, if it’s one plant or everybody, but Ford is getting prepared. Let me just say that the meeting today wasn’t a “touchy feely” get together about our past plant experiences. It was about which plants we would be sent to if there was a strike. Of course this created a lot of concern. I don’t want to go where there will be very angry union members out on strike. We were told, “don’t worry about it—we have you covered”. I didn’t know what that meant, so I did some more digging and found out that Ford has been in contact with a company called MADI Corp.—a strike breaking company. Here are links to them--

 

http://www.madicorp.com/strike-replacement-workers/

 

I contacted my buddies who are at different plants and they told me they were approached by management and they will have an important meeting soon.

 

My manager told me that Ford cannot stop production and the union members will look very bad to the public. Ford will look great standing up to the union and will have public support.

 

 

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Wow! Thank you for the inside information. Its very unsettling to learn just how heartless Ford executives are. They truly could care less about the workers. I dont want to get all "preachy" on here but, he who is first shall be last. When they stand before God, I wonder if how much money you have will matter or, if how many people did you hurt to enjoy your riches matter more.

[You are so lucky]

I would guess that someone with the name of "The General" would be smart and have good information. Obviously, you do not. I don't know of any salaried who got your money. You may be thinking of all the big shots in management at WHQ rolling around in your money, but not me or my co-workers.

 

I hired in as a FCG (Ford College Graduate) in 2004. We were told by management that we would be in management within five years. It has been seven and I have only been promoted to a Salary Grade 6. I am three grades away from the lowest management position. I felt lucky and believed I was on of the "chosen ones" when the Company was firing all the higher seniority and more experienced salaried workers during the hard times starting in 2007. I actually believed that I was headed for the big time at Ford. You know what happened? I get to work 50-60 hours a week and I don't get paid overtime. Not only that, I don't get a pension or retiree health care from Ford. I even lost my fiancee when I HAD to go out on a launch at Chicago Assembly Plant. Yep, I had to stay at the plant working at least 80 hours a week until the vehicle launched. I was engaged for over a year and because of that assignment, she dumped me. Do you think that is the good life? Or even something to ridicule?

 

I would love to have a contract and guidelines that would make sense and not have to play the company game. I posted because I wanted help and this is the help I get? You guys really need to work on your PR because it sucks.

My sincere apologies for the mean spirited posts. Not all, infact most, (I hope) hourly, union workers do not feel this way. A few continue to make the rest of us look bad. I hope things turn around for you.

[There is a Better Time for Certain Issues]

To My Fellow Employees of Ford Motor Co. and ACH:

 

Everyone is aware of the current extension on the National Contract. With this being said, I would like all of you to do yourselves, your co-workers, and your UAW Reps a favor: STOP WHINING!

 

Everyone wants everything and they want it now. That is not realistically going to happen and you are very aware of that. You should focus all of your negative energy on a point worth proving. Ex: Instead of bitching about how you do not have COLA and how you haven't had a raise in 4 whole years, maybe you should think about the fact that you have some of the best medical coverage for you and your family. Medical Coverage that is not seen in almost any other industry, and I am sure you would like to keep this. So do you want your COLA back, and then a higher co-pay on medial expenses?

 

MY POINT IS: The UAW and FORD MOTOR CO. both have to be realistic about what they ask for and what the ending agreement will be on those topics. The Company and UAW have to make sure that Ford Motor Co. remains a viable business and continues to turn a profit, in order to keep what you already have and to gain what we are asking for in return. I agree that due to the large profits company salary bonuses, that all UAW Ford employees should be given all the things that they lost last contract. It is unrealistic for Ford to tell us that they cannot afford it, that is very clear.

 

I will not log onto BlueOvalNews in order to talk shit about the people that I have negotiating for me, and arguing on my behalf in order to assure that I am given the things I deserve as a UAW Ford/ACH employee. I am going to back the decisions my leadership makes because without them, Ford wouldn't give us anything. Ford is not going to feel bad for the families and the employees that don't see another raise, that pay higher medical copays, or that can't retire at 65 because they refuse to contribute to their 401k plans. The UAW and ALL of the REPS at INTERNATIONAL deserve a lot more respect than what they are getting. While it is impossible to make everyone happy 24/7, I am happy. I am happy that I have a team of UAW Reps that are fighting for me. I am appreciative of the work and the hours that these people put in to serve over 60,000 employees. I respect the hell out of every single one of them for thinking of the "workers", you and me, when they are negotiating. I don't care what anyone says about what these Reps do and how they spend their lunch hour, at the end of the day they are working hard for us.

Its easy for this guy to say, "stop whining" when he has always worked in a parts plant. You will find out what its like "dark blue" to work in an assembly plant real soon. Maybe you will have a different perspective. We all look forward to your arrival!

[IUAW General Election]

This is a call to all UAW members in regards to how we elect our UAW International leaders. I am tired of these leaders having no accountability for what they do. Our leaders are spending most of their time in the support of their political friends than they are the support of the membership. They showed outright disdain to the Ford membership when the last concessions were turned down, as if we didn't know what was best for us and didn't have a right to vote this money grab down! The truth of the matter is, they allowed Ford to go to the well once too often, not caring that it would be at the expense of the membership! They continue to coddle the companies for Tier-2 employees at the expense of the Legacy employees (3 Tier-2 dues-payers gets us more than 1 Legacy dues-payer). They feel confident in these practices because they know there is no way for them to be unseated, with the possible exception of infighting among themselves. I remember I was eating dinner and listening to an interview with Ron Gettelfinger when he said his is an ELECTED POSITION, I nearly choked on my Hamburger Helper! Please, we all know that is an ANOINTED position where the next president is groomed by his predecessor. Don't try to compare it to our Electoral College, our Delegate system is nothing like that (have you ever been asked by your Delegate or your local leadership who you want them to vote for?), it is closer to the way the College of Cardinals elects the Pope, an extremely small minority makes the decision for all of us with no imput from the membership. This Union needs to return to it's primary function of working for the membership's best interest. The only way we can get it back on track is to introduce accountability to these positions and the best way to do that is to have a General Election open to all UAW members for all upper positions at International. In this way, if the membership sees that a particular individual is not working in the best interest of the membership, then they may not gain re-election and possibly even be recalled in extreme situations. I invite any and all replies representing any and all positions! Let's discuss this for the good of our Union!!

Fantastic post! Have you ever attempted to call your international rep? Mine was very angry that I had the nerve to take up a few minutes of his time. I would drive 10 hours to show up for that vote.

[Rank and File meeting on second Tier pay]

The big difference is I have spent 20 years working here at ford, and hired in at full wage you knew what you were going to get and took the job. Stop your whining.

Amen Brother!

[MARK FIELDS SAYS BE HAPPY YOU HAVE A JOB]

No raise since 2003, 8 years and counting.

Thousands of people gone and not available to split the profit sharing pie but still very little pie after taxes for those who are left 40,500 x $5,000

Profit sharing talks abound but still not close to what the salaried side will be getting.

Two tiered wages will allow them to have a competitive wage against other companies and they will still bitch that it isn't enough. Two tiered will bring it down around $50

King begging for a seat at the corporate table??

Job security, seriously??? who is left to build the cars and make them more profits, a lot of hourly have left the building...someone has to build the cars???

Serious savings on medical benefits of those who have left that did not retire.

 

Thanks for posting Skeptic, DTP Nick will be here any minute telling us all how uneducated we are, that there is a real crisis with global competition and we dare not ask for anything else...kinda sounds like Mark Fields "we should be lucky we have a job" look at our neighbors who are out of work... salary deserves so much better than the hard working hourly and we should all be so incredibly lucky that our profit sharing will be designed by their secret, unequal to salaried formula.

I couldnt agree with you more. By the way, DTP Nick is 150 pounds soaking wet and gossips worse than a woman in the plant. People from parts plant suck, they dont know how to work..etc etc. Not worth reading his posts.

[81 needed at DTP]

Posting is up for 81 openings at DTP. Thought truck was full, were they putting everybody? More forced from bottom of seniority in zone?

A friend of mine works in trim at DTP. She said they are always short on people on every shift. The jobs are so over loaded that they have to double up frequently so that they can get that almighty number. I guess the Co. defeats its purpose of saving money because they need 2 people to do one job. I also heard there are a lot of medicals and absence there. People must be getting pretty beat up and worn out.

[Milan Plastic Plant]

The contract with the new owners of Milan Plastics Plant overwhelmingly passed yesterday. The fuel tanks will now be made by Inergy, the number 1 global fuel tank manufacturer.

Some of the current Ford employees will transition out slowly, especially those that have to train the Orange in jobs held by Ford that require some skill (Ford will subsidize their pay until October).

We have moved up on the flow back hierarchy list hoping something opens up soon.

I pray the transition is smooth and the Blue will welcome us wherever we end up.

You will be welcomed where ever you end up. The majority of Blue workers have been kicked around and transferred to so many different locations, that a new face in a plant is a daily occurance. If I were dark blue at Saline, however, I wouldnt be telling people that when I arrived at a new plant. Dont let everyone scare you either about Final assembly plants. Yes the work is harder than a parts plant, but you'll adjust and life will go on.

[uaw local 892 handbill]

Is it just me? Or are there others that are as sick of this Chucky shit as I am.

I used to enjoy comming to BOF and reading the truths, half truths, and rumors. But as of late all it is, is Chucky this and Chucky that. I'm so sick of it I could puke.

No Brother, it is not just you. Thanks for the smile!

[Know your enemy]

I have never visited the Blue Oval Forums until yesterday. I was hoping to find helpful information here. Instead all I see is bickering and personal attacks. Divide and conquer. White collar must be laughing their butts off when they read some of this nonsense. We are on our own here people. The union, local and international, has fallen so far away from the membership, that the last thing we should do is be enemies with each other. I dont know the solution but this is not it. Lets quit the hating please. Not all of us are about that and your making the rest of us look bad. We are far more powerful united. I know all of our stress levels have been very high for the last few years, rightfully so.

I hope our lives get better. Dreading going to work everyday is a sad way to live. God bless all of you.

[times up for 70 plus at saline]

Its overstated as you say...At least you will get to work four days on and three off. And yes we are short people at DTP..good luck

Thank you for your positive feedback. All the negative and venomous hatred from some on this site is just sad!