A Different View: www.futureoftheunion.com

[Perian]

It's good to see another viewpoint once in a while.

www.futureoftheunion.com

[desmo9]

Times have changed, dude. Domestic automakers are no longer guaranteed 90% of the market. You want to blame someone? Don't blame GM and Delphi ... their financial picture speaks for itself. Shutting down what's left accomplishes nothing, and it makes the union seem supremely idiotic.

If you truly want to rekindle the olden days, and you want to be militant to do it, then start wreaking he11 and fury on every Toyota Camry driving moron in the land. Don't stop there ... there oughta be Tundra and Titan owners in your path, as well.

The domestic industry is a victim, as is the UAW. THe UAW's posture, linked above, points to the domestic employers as the enemy. Why bite the hand that feeds you and could continue to feed you? If you ask me, you need to bite the guy who's beating up your master. Bite him square in the a$$, at that.

But instead, all the UAW can muster up are threats about shuttering what's left of the American automotive industry, and let the imports seize the day.

That very link does nothing to rally public support around the union. For me, it just reinforces my view that they need to crumble.

[mjd1001]

Under the article "General strike now, or forever hold your peace" (which I assume is the one you are refering to here, there is another link to click on titled "JP MORGAN RESPONDS TO THIS HANDBILL HERE"

The JP Morgan responce is more interesting than the article. Very telling and a good read.

[dav305z]

"Strike now, and lose everything you have."

And really, the whole militancy thing. It's not 1900 anymore. They're not working in the coal mines or the Triangle Shirt factory. That newsletter reads like an artifact from America's long past labor history. Time to wake up and smell the 21st century.

[mjd1001]

I like the part that says "The UAW member would not be able to afford a vehicle that our parts are assembled into".

Should I take it then that the UAW beleives that no one else making that wage can afford the vehicles that their parts are used in? Lets see, that would include just about anyone who isn't a manager in retail, some actual managers in retail, many warehouse workers, entry level construction workers, teachers at private schools, etc. ( I could go on and on, and I'm sure many other people can add to this list).

There are millions of people working in jobs that I mentioned above, most of them work as hard as UAW member, some of them devote even more time to their job and work harder (some for even less than the $12 an hour mentioned).

So we should all feel sorry for the UAW worker who might have to make $12 an hour..but not for the millions and millions of other "comparably qualified and educated" people in those other professions that have never been able to make a wage to "afford the vehicles" mentioned above?

[surferdude00711]

I'm not gonna bother reading the entire page to find out that UAW is still evil even if a couple of them realize they are **** over the domestics by not paying for their own Viagra. I'll assume this is a page of them lementing over slowly killing the hand that feeds their families.

[jckjds]

That was a joke, right?

That dufus talks like today's workplace is somehow comparable to the workplace that existed at the turn of the century, when the labor movement first took hold in the US. Back then, the life expaectancy of some workers was measured in single digit years because the conditions were so dangerous. Those same people worked for ptitiful wages that weren't even enough to put food on the table.

Fast forward to today, all jobs are relatively safe, with none approaching the levels of danger that were present in even the best factories of the early 1900's. All workers are protected by a minimum wage, which, though inadequate, is far better than the protections (none) that workers of the original labor movement had. Furthermore, few, if any, employers actually pay minimum wage. There exists a functioning (albeit not perfectly) market for labor that drives wages up, even in the absence of a union.

Yet, this tool is talking about militancy because UAW workers may have to give up their viagra and settle for the same health care that the evil salaried employees receive? Please. The real revolutionaries of the early 1900's would smack this moron's head off of his shoulders for being so pathetically ungrateful.

Get a life.

[monster916]

I'm sorry but the Union's time is over. Its not about the worker its about greed, sure and simple.

[lilredcrvtt]

The work place of today is quickly going backwards! If the workers do not have a problem with management, then there would not be a need for a union. But there are a lot of problems. Continuous speed up, managements continuous harrasment of workers, trying to always cut people. The workers are all ageing, and they are being pushed harder than ever. If you could work on the line with these folks, tehn you might understand what is going on.

[KingElvis]

Everybody here is "knows" that work place harrassment by security guards "doesn't happen in the 21st Century." All this knowledge without being there first hand...like the author of the article.

The irony is that without workers standing up for rights, none of the protections you mention would exist.

"Get a life" indeed.

I couldn't afford most of what I have making a miserable $10/hour. What kind of a "life" could the family man have with that wage?

Plus, part of the whole idea pioneered by Henry Ford is that workers should be able to buy the product they are making. That goes away at subsistence wages.

Should there be a compromise? Sure. But the thought of toiling away for a pittance would make anyone feel cornered...especially with strong arm "security" tactics occuring.

[mjd1001]

Originally Posted by lilredcrvtt

The work place of today is quickly going backwards! If the workers do not have a problem with management, then there would not be a need for a union. But there are a lot of problems. Continuous speed up, managements continuous harrasment of workers, trying to always cut people. The workers are all ageing, and they are being pushed harder than ever. If you could work on the line with these folks, tehn you might understand what is going on.

It is happening in most industrys in this country, not just the UAW. The thing is though...outside of the UAW, people are working harder and longer hours and taking 'harrasment' from managers...and then a couple weeks later still losing their jobs and becoming unemployed.

[mbukukanyau]

This article reminds me of the Democratic Party today…
The John Gephardt model
American is crumbling around them, and they insist on attacking American business, taxing American people, destroying American family life for Moca Latte sipping san Francisco everything goes lifestyle, opposing American international war efforts….
Subverting the constitution using activist judges to interpret it the way they wish it should have been…who use foreign precedents to make rulings affecting American lives…
They stand for everything that is not American…
Unions want to milk all American businesses to the death.. Look at what happened to big American airlines!
The automobile industry is the last frontier

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by jckjds

Yet, this tool is talking about militancy because UAW workers may have to give up their viagra and settle for the same health care that the evil salaried employees receive? Please. The real revolutionaries of the early 1900's would smack this moron's head off of his shoulders for being so pathetically ungrateful.

Get a life.

This last point is outstanding. The good, honest folks who were at the brith of the labor movement were just trying to get good work conditions and decent pay. They stood up to the business owners in order to be treated fairly. But today, I don't know if this is the case. What would the labor members and organizers 50 or 100 years ago think of their 'descendants' today? If anything, I think someone could make the argument that it's labor that has businesses over the barrel and are actually working against their own longterm self interests by demanding everything and the kitchen sink from business owners.

[Joe Ego]

For a slightly more elaborate take on the whole situation, why doesn't everybody take a look at the "About Future of the Union" link on the right sidebar?

Mmmmmmmm.... capitalism baaaadd! Four legs goooood!

[darknight9]

I worked at a GM factory for two summers, I once got yelled at by the union steward for sweeping the floor in my area during a line breakdown. He told me very sternly "one of our brothers could lose his job if management sees you doing that"! I sternly replied to that stuffed shirt "well, I'm tired of standing in metal shavings from the drill so guess what, I'm sweeping it up before I slip and fall in this $hit!" I got escorted to the office in my area for "willful disobedience". Funny thing was the guy that was supposed to come by periodically and sweep the floor was sent home hours earlier for being drunk on the job. To boot, I got written up for basically staying busy and he got nothing for being drunk!

I wish they would have fired that idiot and spent the money they saved on engineering my supposedly economic Saturn to get more than 22 mpg....

I feel better now...