UAW Local Leaders: Automaker Pact or Strike?

The contract expires 11:59 pm on September 14th - next Thursday all three 3 automakers on notice.

[brianfollendorf]

Great report! Thank you for being non-bias about why the workers are upset unlike most MSM!

[jaminjim]

Never has all 3 went on strike at once, gonna be a big strike!

[tomsampson]

I was a UAW worker for a short time back in the late '70's. I made a little over $7.00/hr. Sadly (due to inflation) that is about $31/hr in todays dollars. It is still very good money relative to other workers. GM offered a 10% raise at a time when most workers are lucky to be getting 1.5 - 3%. Auto workers also receive bonuses that most hourly workers get. When I worked in those plants they were dirty, hot, dangerous places to be in. I see these people in shorts and tennis shoes and say wtf? Look at the cost of any automobile these days and ask if you can afford one. I still drive a 12 year old truck because new ones cost more than my first house! How much will a new car cost when these new labor costs kick in? I am not anti-labor, I am just anti greed. I am also anti-inflation as we all should be. That is the root cause of all of these problems.

[garyzurasky]

A little perspective and passing along facts that can be found on line and in old contract books.

My pay per hour as GM skilled trades in 2006 was at $34 per hour. Adjusted for inflation that would be $52 per hour today. At my current rate of $37 per hour I have taken a 30% pay cut.

GM CEO Rick Wagoner was paid $2.2M in 2006, adjusted for inflation that is $3.4M.

Mary Barra makes $29M. 8.5 times more than the amount adjusted for inflation.

My hourly pay would be $442 per hour if it was adjusted at the same rate as Barra's.

GM's US hourly workforce has also been reduced by 70% over the same period of time.

[willyhwang]

i sympathize with those who have a family to support and mortgage to pay.
hopefully no strike is needed because multiple days on picket line is substantial opportunity cost

[FirstLast.....]

Buy a Honda or a Toyota. You'll be way more satisfied.

[paulhart]

Car lots are full of cars, people can't afford them. The only people that can afford him work for g m, Chrysler and Ford.
I don't think it's a good time to go on strike. I lost my UAW job in 1999.
And nobody cared. And that's when I stop caring.😢