COLA VS INFLATION

[Trimdingman]

I took a job at Ford, not because I was a down-and-out unemployed loser. I already had a good job. I took a job at Ford because it was a better job than the one I already had. Ford is not for hat-in-hand losers. If COLA is not such a big deal, then instead of completely eliminating it, how about having it so that it does not kick in before inflation reaches a certain point, say 3.5%. This won't cost Ford a dime under normal circumstances. If the dollar collapses, at least we will maintain our above average status. Without COLA, we fall to the bottom of the barrel with the minimum wage earner. Nobody is going to go under for paying a decent wage. If people will allow themselves to be squeezed through blackmail, that will merely take money out of their pockets, and put it into the pockets of someone else. It will not affect the company one iota. A good location for a final assembly plant is worth more than twenty dollars an hour in wages. The reason why wages are lower in some places is because of their geographical location. It is not beneficial for a company to re-locate there to tap into hillbilly hunger. The cost of dental insurance alone would be enough to kill that idea. The union should abandon socialism, and push for capitalism. It is socialism which is bringing our standard of living down. Now they are telling us that we have to accept less because there are others who are worse off and will work for less. If we bring back capitalism, with it will come jobs, and labor shortages, and higher wages like the old days. It is Big Government that killed off Capitalism. The union would have you believe that Capitalism is responsible for our current predicament. Capitalism is in decline, and now almost non-existent. As Capitalism declined and Government grew, our standard of living declined. That trend needs to be reversed. The Soviet Union didn't believe in Capitalism, and killed it off. It collapsed, just as surely as we are now collapsing.

Edited October 16, 2011 by Trimdingman

[ReDemption]

Stop putting up false figures with the Consumer Price Index. In 1990 the CPI was 5.4% then it steadily fell down to 1.8% until 1999 – 2000 climbing up to 3.2%. It then dropped down to 1.8% in 2002 and steadily climbed back to 3.2% in 2005. It dropped again down to 2.8% in 2007, spiked up to 3.8% for one year 2008 and then fell to below 0% in 2009 and has now stopped just short of 2% and is sitting at 1.6%.

 

Now lets talk about your need for COLA.

 

What do you think will be the public opinion of us will be for rejecting the addition of new jobs and the increase of 2nd tier worker wages, the in-sourcing of once outsourced work, the 6k in signing bonuses, the improved profit share formula that would have netted us $3752 in Nov, the Pay-in-lieu re-instated, the double time for working the 3 regular day off (RDO) in plants currently working Alternative Work Schedules (AWS), unlimited $20 office visits for Blue Cross PPO, and the 2 family days off paid. I know that I have missed some things, but to be honest, I would have gladly stayed where I’m at had it meant that we could keep all our plants open. It’s a damn shame that Walton Hills is slated to close, it’s a shame that any plant has to close, and yet we have brothers and sisters upset at this contract over COLA. Realy!!!!

 

Here are some facts to think about with COLA. If we fail to ratify our current National CBA and then push for COLA to be returned it would put us at or near $61-62 an hour all inclusive. What do any of you think will happen to our remaining 41k UAW Ford workers while every other Auto industry Labor cost looms at or near $50 an hour all inclusive? Let me help you with that question, we will play witness to GM and Chrysler’s industry re-growth while we workers at UAW Ford continue to decline and wonder what happened. I say wonder because many “nay-sayers” will turn and say they voted in favor of the contract, and you know they will.

 

We are currently the highest paid Auto workers in the industry, and that’s with the concessional contract provisions we are currently under. I have 24 years Seniority, I’m just trying to look out for my Brothers and Sisters with less to be gainfully employed within the ranks of our Union and hopefully for a long time. I post up facts, not stuff told to me from someone else’s friend, brothers – cousins - sisters - step kid’s dad, I do my own research, I read 100% of all contracts, many - many times over. I look at what’s going on in and around us and weigh out all the facts.

 

It’s not time to push for everything returned, it’s just not. You have the right to disagree with me, I’m still your brother and I’ll still look out for you. The 1st concessions we accepted are working, we now have a chance to extract the highest cost any Union can obtain from any company, and that’s a fellow job. Our COLA, pay increases, Holiday’s and break time don’t even come close to the cost of a job. We have 41k brothers and sisters left, it’s time to plug this leaking hole. It’s all about how much you feel you should gain from your concessions, I want the most - I want jobs.

 

I stand in favor of this contract. It’s what the Union is all about, we need growth right now.

 

Be Good

 

Jeff Hodges

Local 600

Dearborn Stamping & DTP Body

Vice President & Bargaining Representative

[jeter3000]

Stop putting up false figures with the Consumer Price Index. In 1990 the CPI was 5.4% then it steadily fell down to 1.8% until 1999 – 2000 climbing up to 3.2%. It then dropped down to 1.8% in 2002 and steadily climbed back to 3.2% in 2005. It dropped again down to 2.8% in 2007, spiked up to 3.8% for one year 2008 and then fell to below 0% in 2009 and has now stopped just short of 2% and is sitting at 1.6%.

 

Now lets talk about your need for COLA.

 

What do you think will be the public opinion of us will be for rejecting the addition of new jobs and the increase of 2nd tier worker wages, the in-sourcing of once outsourced work, the 6k in signing bonuses, the improved profit share formula that would have netted us $3752 in Nov, the Pay-in-lieu re-instated, the double time for working the 3 regular day off (RDO) in plants currently working Alternative Work Schedules (AWS), unlimited $20 office visits for Blue Cross PPO, and the 2 family days off paid. I know that I have missed some things, but to be honest, I would have gladly stayed where I’m at had it meant that we could keep all our plants open. It’s a damn shame that Walton Hills is slated to close, it’s a shame that any plant has to close, and yet we have brothers and sisters upset at this contract over COLA. Realy!!!!

 

Here are some facts to think about with COLA. If we fail to ratify our current National CBA and then push for COLA to be returned it would put us at or near $61-62 an hour all inclusive. What do any of you think will happen to our remaining 41k UAW Ford workers while every other Auto industry Labor cost looms at or near $50 an hour all inclusive? Let me help you with that question, we will play witness to GM and Chrysler’s industry re-growth while we workers at UAW Ford continue to decline and wonder what happened. I say wonder because many “nay-sayers” will turn and say they voted in favor of the contract, and you know they will.

 

We are currently the highest paid Auto workers in the industry, and that’s with the concessional contract provisions we are currently under. I have 24 years Seniority, I’m just trying to look out for my Brothers and Sisters with less to be gainfully employed within the ranks of our Union and hopefully for a long time. I post up facts, not stuff told to me from someone else’s friend, brothers – cousins - sisters - step kid’s dad, I do my own research, I read 100% of all contracts, many - many times over. I look at what’s going on in and around us and weigh out all the facts.

 

It’s not time to push for everything returned, it’s just not. You have the right to disagree with me, I’m still your brother and I’ll still look out for you. The 1st concessions we accepted are working, we now have a chance to extract the highest cost any Union can obtain from any company, and that’s a fellow job. Our COLA, pay increases, Holiday’s and break time don’t even come close to the cost of a job. We have 41k brothers and sisters left, it’s time to plug this leaking hole. It’s all about how much you feel you should gain from your concessions, I want the most - I want jobs.

 

I stand in favor of this contract. It’s what the Union is all about, we need growth right now.

 

Be Good

 

Jeff Hodges

Local 600

Dearborn Stamping & DTP Body

Vice President & Bargaining Representative

 

Thanks Jeff ! Thats why your a barg rep and these "nay-sayers" are ballwashers. It really doesn't matter what the contract consists of because like every election the uninformed , uneducated, and the unappreciative crawl out of their holes and bitch. Not much you or I can do about it other than what you are doing and have been doing. Me.... I tell them to fucking quit if it's so bad. I'll be damn if I protect or coddle them pieces of shit . Yes vote for me to more jobs, holiday pay, family days, profit share, etc....

[whereswaldo]

Thanks Jeff ! Thats why your a barg rep and these "nay-sayers" are ballwashers. It really doesn't matter what the contract consists of because like every election the uninformed , uneducated, and the unappreciative crawl out of their holes and bitch. Not much you or I can do about it other than what you are doing and have been doing. Me.... I tell them to fucking quit if it's so bad. I'll be damn if I protect or coddle them pieces of shit . Yes vote for me to more jobs, holiday pay, family days, profit share, etc....

 

And this proves the yaysayers have ballwashers too. At least Jeff shows a sense of respect .