Decker

One other statement by the just barely president, “It’s not the UAW and Ford against foreign automakers. It’s autoworkers everywhere against corporate greed. If Ford wants to be the all-American auto company, they can pay all-American wages and benefits. Workers at Tesla, Toyota, Honda, and others are not the enemy — they’re the UAW members of the future.” The "future" UAW members? An egotistical individual who got elected and has "the" plan to get the memberships numbers to increase? How many times have you heard of any organization attempt to get people to joint and be turned down but keep spending money to try and try again? Marysville is a great example. (100% American Labor) How bout a plan to just show the benefits of your club Fain and if those future members see the benefits are better, then they will come knocking on the UAW door. It's pretty human nature to want to join, be apart of and most will do so when seeing the benefit of being a member. Maybe in one of your cremains you could quote from the book of comparisons? Compare, show data of our wages and benefits to Tesla, Toyota, Honda and other facilities here in the United States. In one of those fire and brimstone things hell maybe give a cermain, with touching on a comparison of your plan and benefits compared to Europe's members? Unfortunately it's still all about IUAW income building. What's the next CON CON going to see? Amendment # UpUpUP for 3, 3 1/2 or more hours a mouth? "The chant will be build back better the strike found". The organizations that never have membership drives are the ones so many try to be apart of. Let the organizations actions sell itself.

I`m not to clear on this drive (membership demand) for a guarantee for all electric facilities to be unionized. First the IUAW hasn't been to successful in getting the votes in the resent past when it comes to any auto manufacturing facilities voting to join the UAW. Is this membership demand a disguised membership drive? Then there's the little discussed part of this so called membership demand, "right to work" laws. Ford in Tennessee could go all in with this membership demand but, the new facility (in 4 or 5 years) would have to adhere to the state laws governing labor. Does Fain understand that? This so called membership demand would still be a choice of the EV facility employees. Again why is this a membership demand? Why dose`t Fain just throw big money at the organizing appointed staff and try to do what's been tried many times before? Instead holding the membership hostage for? Then the young members have been sold this all or nothing grand standing radical sales pitch, for sure a lot have been over come by the book of faces influencer. Talking with members on the line some have no idea of the fact there has always been two sides to every story coming from these negotiation periods. It was brought up that the "company' owes the retires, health care. The faces of many on the picket line was total disbelieve, when the facts are stated about VEBA. Members like so many either don't want to know or have no clue of what our union agreed too. A few contracts ago all three companies sold the health coverage of all retired members. A huge amount of cash & stock was paid too? The IUAW and yes the membership voted on something that most believed the PR from the likes of Jimmy Settles and the rest or didn't`t have a clue of what was going on, jumped on this transaction. Then there's the members that really didn't`t care anything about VEBA. The companies had a big bucket of money that they dangled in front of past IUAW board members and the temptation was overwhelming. Just a little background on the selling of retirees health care coverage, in just 2022 the VEBA paid administration fees of over five million. Any guesses of who some of the people are that receive administration checks from VEBA? Any guesses to the IUAW members who would not be for this membership demand? In steps, our just barely president, with membership demands. What kind of business deal would make the companies want to take back, be given back this complete retirees health care coverage? IUAW going to refund all the cash & stocks? This is just one big legal logistical & costly nightmare. Membership Demand??? There's a close to a majority in our membership that have seen these less than favorable agreements like this retirees healthcare coverage, that was presented as the next great thing just to become a new twist and rebrand as a membership demand by Fain. Fain, a IUAW "Chrysler" Department Administrative Assistant ($160K plus a year) for the last ten years. Any guesses on why Chrysler is lagging in the fire & brimstone cremains?

Hmmm it seems our IUAW just barely president may be just like his predecessors. "Fain's annual salary of $347,389 places him in the top 5% of earners in his home state of Indiana where, according to a Forbes analysis, individuals whose salary exceeds $192,928 per year are in the top 5%". "If Fain's new salary as president matches his predecessor, former UAW President Ray Curry, his union income increased to $267,126 and his overall salary — including what he earns from the non-profit UAW Chrysler Skill Development & Training Program — increased to $454,385, a salary that would make him a top 1% earner." Hmm not all rank and file are happy with the just barely president... "In an open letter to Fain sent Tuesday, the Mack Trucks Workers Rank-and-File Committee demanded the UAW bump striking workers' pay to $750 a week and that leaders including Fain should accept a pay cut taking their salary to the same level as strikers." "President Fain, if you are unwilling to meet these demands, which correspond to the demands of the membership, then you should step aside and turn over control of the union to the rank and file," the workers wrote to Fain. "It is, after all, we who have the 'final say.'" "To our fellow autoworkers in the Big Three, we call on you to take up this fight yourselves and not allow your strike to be sabotaged by the UAW leadership," the open letter continued. "We have launched our strike in defiance of the apparatus, and we call on you to do the same." Then there his fiancé that is getting a check from Chrysler/Stillance. In stead of a general holifield do we have a colonel fain??? LM-2 reports can be real interesting if you know where to look.

I agree with you completely.

Dam... this could be an extended vacation. Thanks Giving or Christmas on the picket line, who knows, could be.

Finally ..... the cash register has stopped ringing at Willy Clays place. KTP Finally

Yep they're moving both 611`s & 625`s back and forth to DT lots and to repair area`s. I just wonder if our "Eat The Rick" T shirt wearing just barely president understands this aint Willy Clay's first rodeo. We go from strike them all to selecting certain facilities. All the while Willy Clay has the highest selling, highest profit units rolling off the KCAP. flat top at one every 76 seconds. My son is a regional logistic`s manager for Swift, he's been asking every CDL since the first of Oct. with tractors & anything that will haul F series trucks from you guessed it the Ford truck facilities to grab the bonus money. We got talking about this subject because he said Ford dealers are contracting storage lots all over the southeastern states and parking the F series units. I counted 127 high end F series Fords in a vacant lot at 600 west & RT 30 central Porter Co. Every last one has Carrie Ford dealership plates on them. I passed three other lots with the F series products filling every square foot. Chesterton, Lake Station and Lowell dealerships are leasing space too. My son said and it's not like I didn't`t believe him but when getting the works done today at Ford of Valpo I asked and it was the same as my son had stated, Ford is filling every lot and storage area to reach a 100 day supply of, you guessed it the highest profit best selling product in the dealership procession. 100 day supply hmm while our t shirt waring just barely president is doing the rally thingy at CAP and listening to all the praise of how good he's doing..... every 76 seconds the cash register rings in Willy Clays office. Hmmm

We go from second rate embezzlers and federal day care residents to an extremism that wears an “Eat The Rick” T shirt on his book of faces preforming stage. Really… he wants a promise to make all the future battery plants, uaw plants. Dam Ford just tell him he’s the best and promise him all the make believe shit we wants to hear.

I can't agree more but my preference. would be to never hear "stand up".... ever again. Especially if I`m standing up to watch Teamsters just keep delivering 611`s & 625`s.... but they`er in solitary with our standing up? Solidary, is getting kinda of wore out too.

Oh for the record no the old long hair wasn't`t arrested by CPD Tuesday. The old long hair was stopping the traffic on Torrence right in front of the plant, when the 611`s and 625`s were being moved from DT lots to get the needed repairs. Oh yea the Teamsters are shipping units from the DT lots by the same car carriers as always. Oh yea again, be safe out on Torrence and if the extremist /strike committee chair does show up try to make sure someone knows CPR....

Here CAP it is a mess, the strike committee chair (resident activist) seems not to have his act together. Which is becoming more apparent to more and more members. For years he runs to every picket line he hears of but never brought back any experience on how to schedule, set up or lead a strike. Imagine that, carry a picket sign and get in the news papers photo ops`s and give UAWD interviews ain't all that it takes to lead a strike....? Sometimes talking the talk just ain't walking the walk. Then this is just rumors, when our activist heard his hero (just barely president) did what our activist was begging for, put CAP on strike, the strike committee chair/picket line expert needed smelling salts. (just a rumor) I will say what Ford released to the press Monday evening is being received well here at CAP but.... will it be enough for the just barely president and our resident strike committee chair/extremist?

12 minutes land to take off 2 1/2 minutes of pep talk support explaining how he walked the picket line many times since 1973 but this is a first as president I'm sure everyone felt an even stronger feeling of support.....

Once again, experience has played a big part, Thank You Chuck Browning and the UAW/Ford negotiation team. Now bring it home Chuck.

Anyone hear about members being told at their pharmacy`s they are having issues processing the prescriptions through the insurance claim process? Members here at CAP are talking about that situation. It`s being said by our resident UAWD activist that members who are told they are on lay off will not receive SUB but president Fain is going to get the laid off members unemployment and strike benefit pay? Again, if this does happen then history will be made.

Shit is coming unglued.... "UAW President Shawn Fain released the following statement, following reports of planned layoffs of non-striking workers at GM and Ford:" "Let's be clear: if the Big Three decide to lay people off who aren't on strike, that's them trying to put the squeeze on our members to settle for less. With their record profits, they don't have to lay off a single employee. In fact, they could double every autoworker's pay, not raise car prices, and still rake in billions of dollars." "Their plan won't work. The UAW will make sure any worker laid off in the Big Three's latest attack will not go without an income. We'll organize one day longer than they can, and go the distance to win economic and social justice at the Big Three." Ummm the just barely president thought the company's were just going to make direct deposits to all but the Paint members that he sent out on some kind of walk out? He really thought Body, Trim, Chassis and MP&L would just report to their operations and sweep or sit next to their operations? for a regular check? What did "expired" mean to the just barley president? "Extended or Extension" of a contract would have left benefits in place, health/Medical, short work week and SUB. Then will the states of Ohio/Missouri list unemployment applications as lack of work or work stoppage? Work Stoppage will be another issue for the pres. He will make sure every laid off member will not go without an income? His income? Equal to unemployment & SUB? This is as he has said many times, will make history.

I`ve been paying for representation for longer than most members have been members. Longer than some members have been on earth. I`ve thought about the business applications of producing different commodities and yes producing automobiles over the years. I`ve always wondered why the representation we all pay for have yet to give the appearance or applied a simple business concept, that all other suppliers use. I have come to the conclusion I will never know why the IUAW is not ran in a business orientated manner to generate the best possible benefits to the dues paying members. But before I retire I`ll pass along my old view of a business concept that I`ve talked about many times. I think it would be interesting to show all manufacturers costs/benefits for labor, currently. Include Honda, Toyota, Hundai, BMW, Tesla and our UAW hourly/benefit rates. Side by side, charts are used for everything else in business. This would be a comparison of all labor work forces, not only unionized work forces. This pay and benefits comparison of all assembly/parts supplier industry would give not only the IUAW negotiation team data to back up their requests/demands but put into perspective the big three`s offerings. A possible side benefit from this comparison could be used in organizing other work forces. This comparison (for best results) could be done by an outside source to give transparency and provide the membership a clearer nonbias view of their compensation/benefits packages that is being offered by the company and/or presented by the IUAW to the membership. Then make the comparison public. We the UAW, are competing in the marketplace not as manufacturers but as suppliers. There are no suppliers of any commodity that’s willing to sell their product to Ford, that doesn’t know what the other suppliers are charging for their products or services to Ford. This, a business concept that has been in place forever in every industry, except selling labor. Doses the IUAW base their negotiations on even a close comparison to other suppliers of labor? Here`s to hoping for the best, no more sold out tiers, no more in-transition language and lord knows no more “it`s the best we could get”…. The best way to move forward is to never forget, past mistakes. Williams, Settles, Holifield, Jones, Etc.

Last nights Facebook chat was informative in as much as I found out more about our presidents background and family history. Then at one point things went in a direction of quoting the old testament. That`s all good as a background episode and reinforcing our president is one of us but, toward the end of the video our president spent time reading, I guess the Facebook responses. The president had to reiterate multiple times that we can`t consider striking all facilities at the same time. He and many Eboard and support Rep`s agreed that a "standup" strike would work the best for our commitments to the membership. It seemed that more than a few posts kept referring to the initial demands that the president was so forceful at proclaiming a few weeks back. Hope the 46% isn`t engraved in some of the memberships minds to a point of anything else is a no vote.

IUAW President Fain, has stated that the UAW and the Big 3 have made major progress but are still far apart. He reiterated that September 14 is a deadline. He will be rolling everything out tomorrow on his Facebook live broadcast. He's calling this a stand up strike in reference to the sit down strike. (the sit down strike was completely different) Between the Big 3, he intends on picking targeted plants that he will announce Thursday night at 10 pm on Facebook live. If your plant is not called that plant will be working under an expired contract. He will get more details out explaining what that means soon. Fain stated, he understands that not everyone has Facebook so they will get everything out to everyone as quickly as possible the best they can. How things change. From strike everybody to targeted strike. Change the name and stay the same. “Stand Up Strike”.

Back last week Tuesday or Wednesday He did a few interviews with AP, CNN and CNBC this was quoted from the AP & CNBC interviews. During an AP interview, "Fain admitted the possibility of avoiding a strike and recognized that the union might need to give up some of his requests to reach and agreement." Fain also stated "he would rather reach a new contract with the automakers than begin a strike of up to 146000 members" CNBC; "Wages aren`t the problem, our conditions aren`t the problem, it`s cooperate greed, Fain stated" The delivery and tone was much different in these interviews. No mention of the "membership demands" well, not straight forward. The spin was put in place with "the Union" (membership) might need to give up some. It`s almost like someone gave him a wake up call. No more VEBA, pensions for all, increase in pension benefits, no tiers, etc etc and 46% demands? now requests? But then again the president is wingin it....

It is definitely those that don`t understand, more to the point there is only one VP that`s ever sat across the table from the company to negotiate a contract. "This comes as no surprise that the wage demands have been lowered." just a point of clarity the just barely president has back peddled on the labeling of "membership demands" to "requests"

You are so right. The tuber talk may just come back to haunt the just barely president. Ford pays big money for some well thought out commercials, after airing this all over the millions of TV`s yesterday well millions were glued to every NFL play, I'm sure it was in response to the tuber`s radical/activist drama. Hell it was on every huge screen projection system in VEGA yesterday too. Ford: "All In On America" was a Ford Corporate Media Production

During these negotiations, there is a not widely used tool from the past, but possibly a tool being applied for Ford and other UAW negotiations. Lear is now putting together their third “tentative agreement” for the communication to their membership. Tentative agreements can be used to put the choice of yea or nea on the negotiations results in the hands of the membership.This can be a good or not so good. It puts the membership in line for making the decision on the subject matter of a contract but like in past contact negotiations will the membership vote on the tentative agreement “highlights” or be given time to dig into actual language? Only time will tell. In the mean time production continues through the tentative agreement clause in the master agreement. Ford sure has their nationwide PR blitz in place. Employing more hourly Americans then any other in the industry. I have to say great timing and subject content Ford. Then we have IUAW Facebook.

Negotiations, time will tell the story. It seems the activists are not happy with the latest discussions on the social media outlet, by the just barely president. The president is moving slightly away from all or nothing stance. Going from the strike strike strike to well... lets hear what is being offered. Reality, many times is the doorway to serious negotiations. Most cases the hyper activity is back peddled for a more business approach. During an AP interview, "Fain admitted the possibility of avoiding a strike and recognized that the union might need to give up some of his requests to reach and agreement." Fain also stated "he would rather reach a new contract with the automakers than begin a strike of up to 146000 members" CNBC; "Wages aren`t the problem, our conditions aren`t the problem, it`s cooperate greed" Another awakening, "wages aren`t the problem", 24 hours ago it was the main problem. Business makes for clearer views of the problems and there level of importance. I`m seeing a reduction, less hyper and more business like manner coming into view. "Members Demands" now "Requests" "Give up some to reach an agreement". What a difference a day makes.

Do we have a just barely IUAW president that is a seasoned Youtuber? Is he pushing hard? Some members see his performances then the name Reuther is being referred too. How many UAW members will be crossing the picket line? As a skeleton crew? As clean up crew members? Aren`t clean up employee`s UAW members? During the last strike the Teamsters, FedEx, UPS and Iron Workers didn`t cross the UAW line. Hmmm pushing hard on social media but compassion for the company. "you know decker we need a place to come back too"

I agree completely, fuzzy. In any negotiations there's the first paperwork then after each side reads through the others proposals there will be more paperwork. I also think Chuck will hold out and definitely use Fains prone towards the drama. I to think things are close, at least at Ford. Now with Stellantis it could be some level of personal level for the just barely president. Got my popcorn