Empire

It’s easier said than done on COLA and any other type of pay increases which are fixed costs that add to our labor rates. Just like everyone else I too would like COLA and performance bonuses back but the IUAW must walk that fine line of raises and gaining more product investments like the 2007 agreement that filled our plants with jobs and stopped the investments from going to Canada and Mexico. The Chairmen were doing their job when relaying the information to the leadership and that is great. The IUAW must get the mixture right with some sort of wage increase (possibly performance bonus attached to quality, safety and efficiency) and still get new investment as we all know that these products are cyclical and have a life expectancy of only 3 to 4 years or less. As always we do have the last word. We voted down the October Modifications and continued to work under the previous agreement. This time is different. Our contract will be expiring and we need something acceptable that continues our job security and grows more members. I am certain the IUAW will bring us a good agreement. If voted down this time there is a good chance of a strike (just being honest) like they stuck GM and Chrysler in 2007 over product. We must be wise this time because voting no just for the sake of voting no may have a different outcome.

Why must you spread lies and innuendo? You are a shit stirring jerk!!! Not one statement is correct in your post. Do you really think anyone on here believes any of your stupidity? Crawl back under your rock and think of a better rumor that may have a shred of truth.

What you fail to realize or just want to ignore is that the IUAW steered the whole "structured bankruptcy". Tactical planning by the IUAW during the worse economic depression we have ever seen as Americans. The IUAW negotiated us through a devastating time period where things could have been quite a bit worse and possibly a collapse of the industry. We set the level by voting in these changes in our agreement to not only save our 2007 investment commitments (job security) that were based on "economic conditions" but many other factors. Namely GM and Chrysler who had the real possibility a severe cut in pay and wages like what is paid in the right to work states of Alabama, the Retirees and Surviving Spouses Of GM and Chrysler who, if not for the forward thinking of the IUAW would have lost their pensions to the point of pennies on the dollar. In the end our (including GM and Chrysler) rates of pay and benefits remained untouched and our industry was saved. In the end the IUAW proactive plan was nothing short of brilliant. These Socialists that write these articles are simply stuck in 1950 USSR. Their platform is strike, strike, strike while companies just outsource to a different country. No planning, research or resolution to the downward pressures affecting our industry I also can be thankful these Socialists are not running the IUAW. I'm sure my plant and many plants would be closed and the work gone if they were running a union There are many variables that are attacking our job security, wages and benefits and the IUAW continues to protect us and for that I am grateful Sorry but I support my union, I am not one to tear it down like many on here do on a daily basis.

Oh Republican Sheeple, Please tell me what do Republican Governors Rick Snyder, Scott Walker and John Kasich have in common? Union busting….. Oh and they are coming for the private sector next. You seem to be belly up to the Republican Kook Aide bar getting a belly full of republican elixir. Keep on supporting Republicans and we will continue to struggle for pay increases. No pay increase since 2005? Gee your hero and American Traitor GW Bush, yes a Republican just about killed this country with the Republican agenda. I thought the Octo-mods specifically said we would not strike over wage and benefit increases??? Do you really think we are in a position to strike over wage and benefit increases?? You must have been misinformed again by your Kook Aide addiction.

Good post Dale Unions also gained seniority rights, fair job bids and piece of mind from threats of out of line Supervisors. Also dont forget Unions are the only entity fighting for social and economic justice In other words............. They are the only organization stopping the Republican agenda from destroying the middle class.

Gary, Gary, Gary You are not representing me or my future. You seem to think you were our Liberator but we were voting that October Modification down with or without you. Nothing you did changed the chain of events. We all knew that the company was going to report a profit in November of 2009 because it was a windfall from the cash for clunkers program. You can post all of this crap you want but the 2 tier is not going away. The 20% will not be increased so there is no threat of them “taking us over”. We voted for the 2 tier in 2007 for the fact our labor rates at $70 per hour would continue to lose jobs, mainly to Mexico. We voted in the 2 tier and the IUAW was successful in gaining jobs and security which is evident upon all of these job opportunities at Chicago (Assembly and Stamping), Louisville (KTP, LAP) and most likely Michigan assembly will be adding a shift. This was the reason we voted for the 2007 agreement. Job losses stopped and our numbers are growing. Sure GM agreed to 40% entry level in the Orion plant only. This was only for that specific site to build a sub-compact in the US at a profit. There is no other sub compact assembly operation anywhere in this country, not even the Asians. So once there is investment in American you can build on wages. Your position would be to not have the investment at all and build that product in Mexico. Your irresponsible thought process puts our jobs and future at risk. I don’t need you to feel your need to negotiate for me. Although I voted down the October Modification it wasn’t because of your rhetoric. Your stance on voting no on anything before it is negotiated is hasty, reckless and puts us all in danger. You were ineffective as Chairman when you negotiated a 26 page local agreement that was basically a company document with your signature on it. You point out perceived flaws with no resolve. Your direction of no, no, no puts me and my family at risk. The IUAW was successful in bargaining my good wages and job security. As to you, your non-service and lack of education puts you at a severe disadvantage in looking at the whole picture and inability to make a rational decision on the betterment of our futures Again, Thanks but no thanks, stick to things you are good at like defending your hideous 26 page local agreement.

Um, I believe they have already stated publicly just a few weeks ago "no new concessions", Old News (snoring in the background) Source: Detroit Free Press No new concessions, UAW President Bob King warns Detroit Free Press Jul. 20, 2011 UAW President Bob King is preparing to enter negotiations with GM, Ford and Chrysler next week with a clear bargaining position: No new concessions. King said he understands domestic automakers' need to maintain competitive labor costs. Still, UAW members have made sacrifices in recent years, King said, and the union plans to resist any effort to raise members' health care contributions or cut wages and benefits. "I've said a number of times, there is no justification for any further concessions in this round of bargaining," King said. King, 64, will lead the UAW's first contract talks with the Detroit Three since Chrysler and GM emerged from their gut-wrenching, government-backed restructurings in the spring and early summer of 2009. The negotiation of a four-year contract to replace the one that expires Sept. 14 is being watched closely from Wall Street to the White House. The talks will test King's ability to meet members' expectations of winning back concessions made since 2007. In return for keeping labor costs competitive, King said it is reasonable for the union to ask for a higher wage for entry-level workers as they replace older workers who retire. He also wants permanent seats on the companies' boards of directors, no increased contributions to health care insurance and tweaks to a profit-sharing formula so workers share more in each company's financial success http://www.freep.com/article/20110720/BUSINESS01/107200337/No-new-concessions-UAW-President-Bob-King-warns

Thanks a bunch.

Looking at getting a new Explorer limited. Sticker is $45,000. Anyone know what the A-Plan discount would be around? What percent off? 10%, 12% 15%. Thanks

Most are thankful for the ability to return to Ford. DTP and other locations are more of a culture shock than a hard job. Just like anything else jobs are tough at first then become tolerable.

Yeah, This letter was posted in my building and all of the BS rumors stopped. Once the company and union testify to the judge its all up to the Judges interpretation. I spoke with my Chairman yesterday about this process and he said the UAW Legal Department is handling this high profile case. Hopefully the UAW Lawyers kick some butt !!!!!

There are ignorant ones here that are spreading ignorance to this board by stating, and i "quote" "No Wage Increase Means A Wage Cut" "the union leadership supports profit-sharing, but not wage increases, for Ford, GM and Chrysler workers in the new contract" "a wage freeze is a wage cut." "We need our raises and our COLA back." "The history of profit-sharing shows what a scam it is" "who is going to help us pay the electric bill, the mortgage and our car note? " "Competitive with who?" "autoworkers need competitive wages so that we can pay our damn bills!!!" How is that for ignorance?? Guess who would rather bump our rates back up to $70 per hour and watch investments and JOBS go back in to Canada and Mexico??? Guess who is voting "no" on the agreement before a tentative has been reached??? Yes the ignorant one, I ll give you a guess ......... On a similar note>>>> The American people are growing less and less concerned where manufactured goods are produced. Over the next 4 years the company could start investing in these countries (mexico and Canada) as we watch our job security vanish. Good post btw

Sad to say but a strike would create a hardship for 90% of us. I am afraid if there was a strike most would vote it in just to avoid $200 per week strike pay. I trust King will not bring any further concessions as he has said several times in the press. I am all for striking but being honest the majority will vote yes just to avoid a strike of any length of time. Personally i have saved my money just in case. Coworkers I have spoke to have not and they live week to week. Just an opinion, this time around if we vote no, and the Negotiators cant bring back anything different they will call a strike to get leverage.

Strike over wages and the company can lock us out. Republicans are coming strong to destroy us. They infiltrated the public sector and are coming for us next. The republicans want to take out the competition, unions are in the way of total destruction........... Look at how they handled the budget putting us all at risk There's s a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.— Never more true than today

HHHHmmmm ............ Name calling??? Nothing in the forum jungle says you lost the argument when it comes to name calling Point.......... Empire

Louie tells it like it is............No spin but the truth Most of the sheep that listen to the wafflewitz dribble cant fathom the truth so they hate on him like you joker You want the truth????? Louie dishes out the truth -----------You cant handle the truth

You are as uneducated as your icon wafflewitz. Your only solution is through politics and half of the UAW membership vote republican so that wont change as we know republicans want us off the face of the earth So your resolution is to raise our rates back up to $70 per hour and watch our job security investment go right to Canada and Mexico. You just put all 40,000 of us in meltdown mode where the company would send our work elsewhere over a short period of time Sorry, but 20/20 hind sight of the proactive IUAW tells me I will be set with job security for years to come where we are no longer "losing jobs" but gaining investments and jobs Go spin your job jeopardy platform and lack of education elsewhere

Teabaggers supporting a "Union Entitlement" ?????????????????????/ hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah aah hhahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahha.................... hehehehehehehhehehehehhehehehehehehehheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhehehehheheheh OOOOOOoohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lololololololololololololololololollololololo You gobble up the Teabagger (conservative drivel), hook, line and sinker.

Empire, on 29 July 2011 - 04:20 AM, said: Pensions??? How ridiculous. The Teabaggers (conservatives) view that is an "entitlement" and wrong for you to expect "pensions' as something that is sustainable. Teabaggers (conservatives) want to end pensions now to help profits. Shame on you for expecting a pension. Social Security???? The Teabaggers (conservatives) view is that is an "entitlement" and a "social program" wrong for you to expect "social security' as something that is sustainable. Teabaggers (conservatives) want to end social security and all entitlement programs now to help the budget. Shame on you for expecting a social entitlement. $5,000 bonus ??? Why would you expect an entitlement like a bonus. $5,000 ??? ...........and the negotiators have not even started yet. Great rumor We shouldn't get any entitlement as you are complaining under Teabagger rule................ Have you seen the clowns in the house??? The Teabaggers cant even agree on a bill with the other republicans to bargain with the Dems. What a joke these whack jobs are??? No Only 10% was directed to you the other 90% was directed to the entire forum to show the evil side of Teabaggers (conservatives} that fool unsuspecting citizens into believing their drivel. How can anyone vote teabagger (conservative) when they want to take social security, medicare, medicaid etc from Grandma and Grandpa and the rest of us that have paid into the raided fund???

Pensions??? How ridiculous. The Teabaggers (conservatives) view that is an "entitlement" and wrong for you to expect "pensions' as something that is sustainable. Teabaggers (conservatives) want to end pensions now to help profits. Shame on you for expecting a pension. Social Security???? The Teabaggers (conservatives) view is that is an "entitlement" and a "social program" wrong for you to expect "social security' as something that is sustainable. Teabaggers (conservatives) want to end social security and all entitlement programs now to help the budget. Shame on you for expecting a social entitlement. $5,000 bonus ??? Why would you expect an entitlement like a bonus. $5,000 ??? ...........and the negotiators have not even started yet. Great rumor We shouldn't get any entitlement as you are complaining under Teabagger rule................ Have you seen the clowns in the house??? The Teabaggers cant even agree on a bill with the other republicans to bargain with the Dems. What a joke these whack jobs are???

HHHHHhhhhmmmmm................... Negotiations haven't even started yet. You are already voting no???? I hope you are not in a leadership position with the Jim Jones Kool aide you're serving up.

If the company gets stupid and we need to walk I'm ready !!!!! I can withstand 3 months of $200 per week strike pay benefits. Been saving that money. Less than 2 months before the 2007 agreement expires, save every penny so we can stand strong!!!!

What are some sort of quack?? The UAW is going to increase our wages SAFELY so as to support new investment and job security. You are a dinosaur and with no plan. All we hear from you is how everything is bad and we need to be back up to $70 per hour. Do you realize what our $70 per hour rate will get us??? Zero job security............ New models and investments will go to Canada and Mexico !!!! You are a fool........... Pointing fingers with no resolution. The UAW has the responsibility of protecting 40,000 hard working UAW members and their families. Your plan is just say no puts us all in jeopardy....... Is there a village out there missing their idiot???

Well Im sorry but I see nothing wrong with the term Here is the Webbster Dictionary definition: teabagger \tea-BAG-ger\ , noun; 1.An uneasy conclave of Ayn Rand secular libertarians and fundamentalist Christian evangelicals, birthers, Birchers, racists, xenophobes, Ron Paulites, cold warriors, Zionists, constitutionalists, vanilla Republicans looking for a high and militia-style survivalists. Now the rest of your statement is quite clear as to why you dont like Obama............ It certainly isn't his policies I still want to know where are the teabaggers??? Obviously you dont live in Michigan. Do you support big government?? snyder does he has the highest paid payroll of any previous Governor inflation included. This is a direct result of high wages paid and a larger staffed government with the all new Financial Managers Do you support increased taxes?? snyder does ...... he increased taxes on the poor and middle class Do you support new taxes?? snyder does........ he invented an all new senior tax. All of these new taxes raised $1.3 Billion in yearly revenue to give to business Do you support these actions??? It happened here in Michigan. We need the Teabaggers to fight this travesty............ It is their creed. I remember it clearly T.axed E.nough A.lready......... Remember. I ask again ???? WHERE ARE THE TEABAGGERS???? WE NEED YOU TO PROTEST BIG GOVERNMENT AND TAXES ???? WHERE ARE YOU?????

What is sad in most Americans dont really look into where items are made before a purchase anymore. Sure we have our diehards that love American muscle but the fact is Americans supporting Americans are dwindling. Ever visit the East or West coast??? American made autos are the minority by a large margin. We need to somehow get the message out about buying American made goods