--The Big Three domestic automakers largely aren't making "cars." anymore. They're making trucks. Big trucks. And bigger and bigger trucks. You can't find a low mileage domestic car; you hvae to settle for non-domestic brand with high percentage domestic content.
--UAW workers at Deere went on strike two years ago and turned down three contract offers before being finally told that last one was the company's "last best and final offer." And the largest UAW local in Deere, Local 838 in Waterloo, turned that one down but enough other local ratified it so it was adotped chain wide. Union leaders said some members won't know how good that contract is until they get ready to retire. However there were simmering resentments over about 15-20 years and that may be the case with the auto workers if they too had been operating under dual wage structures.
---These talks are occurring at a time when social media is more rampant than ever before. In the Deere talks union leaders had to tell members to pay attention to official sites. Rumors have always been hard to tamp down under normal circumstances.
---Hopefully this strike, at seleted facilities, won't expand, and the companies won't attempt a lockout at the facilities where people are still working -- or attempt to bring in replacement workers.
Personally I think those that are already making more than $25 dollars an hour and get yearly raises should get off the picket line and go back to work. They are already making $8- $10 an hour with better benefits than most workers in the U.S. Keeping the rest of the country hostage (car parts as well as car's themselves) .
Thanks for sharing these numbers. It will be fascinating to see if the strikers get their demands. This strike might signal a sea change for workers in America. We’re watching and hoping!
Some scattered thoughts
--The Big Three domestic automakers largely aren't making "cars." anymore. They're making trucks. Big trucks. And bigger and bigger trucks. You can't find a low mileage domestic car; you hvae to settle for non-domestic brand with high percentage domestic content.
--UAW workers at Deere went on strike two years ago and turned down three contract offers before being finally told that last one was the company's "last best and final offer." And the largest UAW local in Deere, Local 838 in Waterloo, turned that one down but enough other local ratified it so it was adotped chain wide. Union leaders said some members won't know how good that contract is until they get ready to retire. However there were simmering resentments over about 15-20 years and that may be the case with the auto workers if they too had been operating under dual wage structures.
---These talks are occurring at a time when social media is more rampant than ever before. In the Deere talks union leaders had to tell members to pay attention to official sites. Rumors have always been hard to tamp down under normal circumstances.
---Hopefully this strike, at seleted facilities, won't expand, and the companies won't attempt a lockout at the facilities where people are still working -- or attempt to bring in replacement workers.
Personally I think those that are already making more than $25 dollars an hour and get yearly raises should get off the picket line and go back to work. They are already making $8- $10 an hour with better benefits than most workers in the U.S. Keeping the rest of the country hostage (car parts as well as car's themselves) .
Thanks for sharing these numbers. It will be fascinating to see if the strikers get their demands. This strike might signal a sea change for workers in America. We’re watching and hoping!
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