GM pushes new plant work rules

[GM2004]

GM pushes new plant work rules

Additional jobs for workers, outsourcing are among changes sought to increase competitiveness.

Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News

General Motors Corp. is pushing union locals across the country to accept money-saving factory work rule changes or risk losing future vehicle production work.

Working off a set of standards GM calls its "True North" practices, GM leaders have been visiting plants to push for changes that range from getting workers to take on more jobs to outsourcing work not directly related to building vehicles.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...702230397/1148

[jmonte345]

I really don't understand the union workers mentality. I enjoy taking on new and different tasks at work. Not only does it keep my job more interesting it helps me grow as a person and makes me more valuable to my company. I would go crazy if day in and day out my job was the same task over and over. I would think the workers would welcome taking on new roles and responsibilities.

[IROCNROL1]

Originally Posted by jmonte345

I really don't understand the union workers mentality. I enjoy taking on new and different tasks at work. Not only does it keep my job more interesting it helps me grow as a person and makes me more valuable to my company. I would go crazy if day in and day out my job was the same task over and over. I would think the workers would welcome taking on new roles and responsibilities.

I tend to agree, variety is the spice of life. However if GM loses 1300.00 per vehicle built in NA as the article states, they might as well quit while they are ahead (or behind).

[espo19047]

Originally Posted by IROCNROL1

I tend to agree, variety is the spice of life. However if GM loses 1300.00 per vehicle built in NA as the article states, they might as well quit while they are ahead (or behind).

Rather then quit I rather see them work it out. Lets keep as many jobs in the USA.

[IROCNROL1]

Originally Posted by espo19047

Rather then quit I rather see them work it out. Lets keep as many jobs in the USA.

I won't argue with that. It's just not possible to lose that much per vehicle and remain viable. Maybe the article was wrong in that regard. I hope so.

[Zujin]

I thought Lutz said they now make money on the Cobalt? And it seems to me to be a little strange how some articles say they make money on vehicles and some say they lose money. I'm very sure they aren't losing money on the GMT-900's.

[paul38469]

Pretty much every other business in North America contracts out things like janitorial work, so why shouldn't GM be able to as well? Same for things like mowing the lawns, and driving the cars off of the line at the end, etc. Driving a car off of the line or pushing a broom is not a $ 30.00 per hour plus benefits job. It is a $ 10.00 per hour job. That is just reality. I am sure that there are skilled labour positions in the factories that really do deserve the rate of pay that they are getting, for example I am sure that the workers at the performance build center making the Northstar SC and LS7 by hand are worth every penny of their pay. Pay the skilled workers that you need what they deserve and contract out the other stuff. That should have been done years ago.

[bobojay]

Alot of this article is already being done at the Fairfax plant, and has been for several years.
They don't say in that article as they haven't in any other article I've read, that the Astra being built in Belgium is costing more than the same vehicle being built US plants. That's why it's coming over here sooner than later........I'd be VERY surprised if it's not built at Lordstown or more likely Spring Hill. They might, stick it in Ramos if the HHR doesn't pick back up.

[Chaz_23]

They said $1300 on average per car. So on some the may be losing a whole lot more and on others they may be making money.

[hotrod1949]

Sounds like CAMI work rules. Everybody is multifunctional, and there are no jobs that aren't related to production. It has worked very well for 19 years.

[W.A.F.U.]

Anybody else remember awhile back seeing the story about the 80 year old lady that goes around emptying wastepaper baskets at GM making 70k+ US for doing so?

Of course contracting out has it's share of problems too. They did that for Canada Post where my father in law was working part time. Contractor was waxing a part of a hallway and had it closed off because there was another route to take to get around the section. Union members came in for their scheduled break and just walked through the tape and over the freshly waxed floor while the guy was doing it just because they could.

[mbukukanyau]

I think Union members want job security above all else and fair pay. The problem is, union leadership has misled them to believe that they can have it without having to work for it.
Like Job banks. Its about time line workers were told the truth by the fat cats that seat on these companies board in their name

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by jmonte345

I really don't understand the union workers mentality. I enjoy taking on new and different tasks at work. Not only does it keep my job more interesting it helps me grow as a person and makes me more valuable to my company. I would go crazy if day in and day out my job was the same task over and over. I would think the workers would welcome taking on new roles and responsibilities.

I agree as well. I am a believer in "Cross-Training". I would go absolutely nuts doing the same thing over and over. Getting a break from that and doing something completely different would not only break the boring mundane task, it would be healthy.

[sags]

Henry Ford invented the assembly line to eliminate the expense of "cross training". The auto manufacturers have fought against the concept for years. Funny, how the world turns.

[2648562]

Originally Posted by jmonte345

I really don't understand the union workers mentality. I enjoy taking on new and different tasks at work. Not only does it keep my job more interesting it helps me grow as a person and makes me more valuable to my company. I would go crazy if day in and day out my job was the same task over and over. I would think the workers would welcome taking on new roles and responsibilities.

It sounds crazy, but there are guys with 30 years of experience (that have worked there way to the top) only to then go onto doing some of the cushier/low stress non-production type jobs. GM would rather hand this work over to companies with ties to organized crime.