UAW to members: We'll fight givebacks

UAW to members: We'll fight givebacks
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070327/AUTO01/703270420/1148


DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers union plans to take a realistic and
creative approach to future bargaining that takes into account the turbulent
economic environment, but the UAW will resist givebacks on bedrock issues
such as health care, pensions and job protections.

The union, preparing for critical contract talks this summer with Detroit
automakers, outlined its bargaining goals in a 103-page proposed resolution
that will be debated by UAW leaders during a two-day convention that begins
today at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit.

In the draft resolution, a copy of which was obtained by The Detroit News,
the union acknowledged that it has had to make tough decisions in recent
years, agreeing to modify wages, health care, pensions and other forms of
compensation to preserve jobs.

"The coming years will be just as tough -- if not tougher," the proposed
resolution states.

The UAW left open the door to continued flexibility. "Rather than stand idly
by as industries and companies decline, UAW members will be challenged as
never before to pursue alternative strategies to improve quality and
productivity in order to enhance new business and service opportunities."

But the resolution also makes clear that the union intends to take an active
role in determining how employers and the union can adapt to changing
economic conditions while preserving benefits and job security.

"As restructurings continue in UAW workplaces, we will advocate for workers
to receive the maximum possible protection for the wages, health care and
pensions we were promised -- and which we deserve in exchange for our years
of dedicated service," the resolution states.

UAW spokesman Roger Kerson could not be reached for comment late Monday.

As in years past, the proposed resolution was crafted with input from UAW
locals and regional subcouncils from around the country and could be
modified during this week's convention.

Ultimately, however, about 1,500 delegates representing UAW workers in a
variety of industries across the country are expected to approve the
resolution.

While the bargaining guidelines apply to all UAW-represented industries,
they are being finalized as the UAW prepares for what are expected to be
difficult negotiations with General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group.

Since the last auto contracts were negotiated in 2003, the union has agreed
to unprecedented concessions to help Detroit's struggling Big Three more
effectively compete with lower-cost foreign rivals.

In 2005, the UAW agreed to landmark health care concessions at Ford and GM
and is considering granting the same givebacks to Chrysler. The union also
has worked with all of the Detroit manufacturers to offer blue-collar
workers early retirement and cash buyout packages to help the companies
streamline their work forces as part of major restructurings to restore
profits.

David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor,
describes the bargaining relationship between the UAW and the automakers as
"very mature."

"Labor and management work extremely well together," he said. "That bodes
well because this is a very, very dangerous period right now. I'm not sure
there is an issue in which the UAW will draw a line in the sand because they
realize they need a profitable Big Three to survive."

The bargaining goals detailed in the proposed resolution include pushing for
phased-in or trial retirement. The concept would allow workers to move
gradually into retirement by collecting pensions for two months a year while
working the other 10 months, for example. The next year, the worker would
collect a pension for four months and work eight. Within a few years the
worker would be fully retired.

The union also signaled some willingness to be more flexible on wages. The
UAW has already allowed lower wages for new hires at several auto suppliers
such as Delphi Corp. and American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. Some experts
predict the Big Three will push for a lower wage tier for new hires during
the contract talks.

"In some settings, unfortunately the prevailing industry standard is so low
that we have been forced to agree to new lower wage structures, particularly
for new hires," the resolution says. "The key in such situations is to
establish a realistic standard for that particular market and then work to
raise it."

Delegates began picking up their copies of the resolution on Monday.

"I'm very optimistic, actually," said delegate Darwin Cooper, vice president
of Local UAW 1112, which represents workers at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, plant.

"What I sense in this resolution compared to previous ones is more of a
sense of urgency," said Cooper, 60, who has attended two other bargaining
conventions.

"Pension, medical benefits are a big issue and most people understand now
the status quo is dead Mainly, I'm optimistic because I think intelligent
people head the union and the auto companies."

The bargaining goals detailed in the resolution also include:


a.. Seeking a reduction in the standard work week with no loss in pay. That
could include five days of fewer than eight hours, or a compressed work week
of four nine-hour days, according to the resolution.


a.. Resisting further shifting of health care costs to workers. GM, Ford and
Chrysler are expected to press hard for UAW members to pay more for health
care. Health care benefits are estimated to add $1,000 to the cost of every
domestic vehicle. GM. is the largest private purchaser of health care in the
United States, and reducing its annual $4.8 billion health care bill is a
key goal.


a.. Improving the funding status of pension plans and making it more
difficult for companies to replace traditional pension plans with
employee-contribution plans, such as 401(k)s.


a.. Protecting the rights of workers who are employed by a bankrupt company.
That includes "seeking membership on creditors' committees and otherwise
engaging in the bankruptcy process," according to the resolution. The union
also says it will be "vigorously contesting motions to cancel collective
bargaining agreements and discontinue retiree benefits." Several auto
suppliers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in recent years, most notably
Delphi, GM's former parts unit.


a.. Closing the gap between workers' pay and executive bonuses. The union's
four-year contracts with GM, Ford and Chrysler expire Sept. 14. The
convention unofficially starts today with a protest by rank-and-file
members, some of whom will pass out petitions demanding no more concessions.
The petition has already been signed by 2,500 auto workers in Metro Detroit,
according to protest organizers.

Later in the morning, President Ron Gettelfinger will address the delegates
to officially open the convention.

 

living in the detroit metro area what the uaw stated years ago about job loss to
foreign contries is now occuring at record levels and the exec's are the only one
left who can buy the cars and the exec's wonder why sales is down THERE IS ONLY SO
MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD A NEW CAR NOW!!!!!!!!
can we export the mangment teams to kelly people and manpower?

 

I all I got to say to that is

AMEN

 

What a crock! I use to be a UAW member in a small factory as an
electrician. I NEVER got any of the benefits all you big three members
got! Your manual laborers got more money for snapping windshield wiper
blades on cars than I got, the union never even attempted to protect us
peons! All we did was pay dues! You WHINE ASS babies finally got what
was coming! All your bichin about better pay and medical! Some of you
couldnt read from a Dick and Jane reader for christs sake yet you made
money hand over fist! I will say that corporate greed had a hand in
your plight but as I look back, the greedy union members are the
biggest reason that the companies are crumbling! You greedy slobs got
everything that was coming to you! You go to work, sip coffee, sit on
your asses and then complain about how you dont make enough! No wonder
your companies had to farm everything out. Quit your frikkin cry
babying and find a job and then go buy a Honda you stupid SOBS! It
seems that you ignorant bass turds arent even smart enough to figure
out that the small UAW shops made more money for the union than you big
three workers and nobody in the small shops ever gained ANYTHING! Take
your stupid assed union and shove it up the wazoo!

 

united we stand! divided we fall! and the corporate assholes divided the unions resulting
in the unions failing to keep the jobs on our shores
in the sixties the when one union went on strike all unions followed suit
when teamsters went on strike uaw followed and visa versa and i'm thinking it started
will hoffas end

 

I think there is more to the story! I went to much schooling to learn my
trade. Worked in a local union shop consisting of 300 employees. Top
dollar I ever made was 17.50 an hour, 14 years as an electrician. Had a
buddy who lived up the street who made 22 bucks an hour and ran a
pnuematic screw gun all day. Never even made it through the 7th grade.
He couldnt even write a check and only knew how to spell his name. My
shop didnt have a dental or eyglass plan let alone much of a medical
plan. My buddy would come home and tell me stories about how the boss
would catch them all hiding in the back puffin the reefer. Never got in
trouble. He came home one day and complained that they may be going out
on strike because they werent going to get their payraise. I about
flipped of course. After all! That loaf of bread and gallon of milk
cost the same for me as it did him! Here I was, a skilled tradesman who
knew my job, making over 5 dollars an hour less than this moron who was
nothing but an illiterate boob, couldnt read or write, etc, now retired
with a fat pension. My union didnt stand up for me when I got in
trouble! All I ever saw was the deduction in my pay for union dues. No
one from above stepped up to the plate for me when I needed them nor my
fellow workers when it came to contract time! I still believe in honest
pay for an honest day! Lets get real here! The biggest percentage of
union workers in the major factories aint worth half of what they make!
Its time to wake up folks! YOU are the ones who created YOUR problem!
You are just as guilty as your corporate moguls! Its too bad that you
all didnt wake up and watch the foreigners take over! If you would have
spent more time worrying about your job quality, and less time worrying
about that fat raise you didnt deserve, you might have survived. It
appears all downhill for you now and I dont think there is any way out.
I am sad but I have to laugh at the same time! Its about time you all
got your just deserts. The word "union"? Where does it fit in the
scheme?