UAW VP Says Stellantis Has Threaten To Move Ram 1500 Production To Mexico

[Eighty]

So they should get treated like **** because they can only “tighten bolts”

I mean, yeah, if that's how you want to characterize it. In our society, pay is commensurate with capability. If all you can do is sweep floors and clean windows, then you get paid lower than someone who can perform open heart surgery.
Janitors are plentiful - CEOs are not. Supply and demand.

 

[irishwake63]

Back in the 90s he was making close to 30 bucks an hour and yes houses were less back then but that aint FL or CA houses are still reasonable up there

 

[irishwake63]

The CEO of GM received a 34% increase in her salary last year. What about the other employees that contribute to the billions of dollars in revenue? Not even close to that.

you know thats not how businesses work right?

 

[irishwake63]

And what would you call the $20 million plus a year that the CEOs of these companies make?

they are the CEOs thats how it works I dont complain that my CEO makes more than me

 

[irishwake63]

sounds like Bernie Sanders economics syndrome

 

[Grape_Ape]

I guess all the news outlets are lying when they say the median employee at these plants make $18-30/hr. Inflation has risen 20-30% depending on the metrics you follow. Asking for 40% in hopes you get 25-30% isn't out landish. Wages haven't kept up with inflation period. The unions made concessions to help keep those businesses profitable with the understanding those concessions would be repaid later. They're asking for them.

I don't think anyone is complaining about what the CEO makes. It's simply the fact that if they're eligible for that big of a raise due to current circumstances then why aren't the laborers that make it all work? It's not hard and it's not ultra liberal to say that Americans want the same lifestyle those in their 50-70s have had their entire life. Instead we're all eating a pile of crap and half of you seem fine with it.

 

[Redz72]

you know thats not how businesses work right?

It was a rhetorical question.

 

[Eighty]

I don't think anyone is complaining about what the CEO makes. It's simply the fact that if they're eligible for that big of a raise due to current circumstances then why aren't the laborers that make it all work?

Because laborers are easily replaced. CEO’s are not. You don’t seem to be getting that point. You’re stuck on “he gets that, why don’t I get it too?” Life ain’t fair.

It's not hard and it's not ultra liberal to say that Americans want the same lifestyle those in their 50-70s have had their entire life. Instead we're all eating a pile of crap and half of you seem fine with it.

“Eating a pile of crap”? No one is making these union workers eat it. If they don’t like it, they can go find another job. If this is the only job they’re qualified for, then whose fault is that? Corporate America? The government?

 

[Grape_Ape]

Because laborers are easily replaced. CEO’s are not. You don’t seem to be getting that point. You’re stuck on “he gets that, why don’t I get it too?” Life ain’t fair.

“Eating a pile of crap”? No one is making these union workers eat it. If they don’t like it, they can go find another job. If this is the only job they’re qualified for, then whose fault is that? Corporate America? The government?

You're right that laborers are easily replaced. I'm an electrician who specializes in automation. I'm specifically part of the problem.

It's a simple stance on morals and values. I fundamentally believe that the American labor market is broken. Healthcare is broken. Wages have not kept up with inflation. As I mentioned houses are up 1600% since 1970. If wages kept up with that the average American would make 120k a yr. The median American household makes 74,000 a yr.

Eating a pile of crap comes from the fact that the American dream is dying. If you're a laborer you don't have many options the way older people did. Not to mention the greed involved in getting a bachelor's degree but that's another topic.

I'm fortunate. With OT I'm able to clear 120k. My healthcare premiums are fully paid for by my employer. I get 6 weeks of vacation at 10 yrs. I get matched in my 401k 100% up to 3%- which isn't great but I also get an additional $4.63/hr worked up to 40hrs/wk that goes into a defined contribution plan.

I don't think it's a hard ask to want some of that for everyone. Corporations have sold regular Joe on it being impossible. Yet some how these companies turn record profits while operating in countries with much stronger labor unions than the US.

These people said all the same things in the 60s and 70s but they didn't back down and everyone benefitted from it.

You're stuck on me thinking everyone needs to be millionaires - I don't. I don't care that there are millionaires. There are things called "Cost of Living" wage increases. Guess what - inflation has been rampant. The cost of living has risen 20-30%. They want that cost of living adjustment.

 

[irishwake63]

I guess all the news outlets are lying when they say the median employee at these plants make $18-30/hr. Inflation has risen 20-30% depending on the metrics you follow. Asking for 40% in hopes you get 25-30% isn't out landish. Wages haven't kept up with inflation period. The unions made concessions to help keep those businesses profitable with the understanding those concessions would be repaid later. They're asking for them.

I don't think anyone is complaining about what the CEO makes. It's simply the fact that if they're eligible for that big of a raise due to current circumstances then why aren't the laborers that make it all work? It's not hard and it's not ultra liberal to say that Americans want the same lifestyle those in their 50-70s have had their entire life. Instead we're all eating a pile of crap and half of you seem fine with it.

they were making 18-30 and hour in the 90s

 

[Grape_Ape]

they were making 18-30 and hour in the 90s

Not to say you're wrong - this is just where I'm getting my info or rather from other media outlets like it. That article just lists $28/hr as their avg.

How much does an average UAW worker make?

As the historic strike against the Detroit automakers is in its 14th day, Fain continues to bargain with the Big Three to ensure the union's demands are met. A key factor in those demands is a pay increase.

www.cbsnews.com

Maybe it's because the temp workers are bringing the average lower? I know for a fact they have two tier pay and the old timers like your buddy make a lot more than people hired in the last decade or so. I think it takes a decade to reach top pay and they may not ever hit it or something.

 

[Redz72]

they were making 18-30 and hour in the 90s

If they were making 18-30 an hour in the 90’s, then it’s even worse now that those wages haven’t increased in 30 years.

 

[irishwake63]

face it its an assembly line I know one person making good money to lift a hood so the next person adds a piece of plastic over the radiator seems the engine installer needs to make the most because he has more bolts to tighten before sending to the person that puts the RAM badge on not very skilled the guy that makes the burgers at McDonalds has to put more thought into his job why should they have to make more than a nurse or firefighter?

 

[Grape_Ape]

face it its an assembly line I know one person making good money to lift a hood so the next person adds a piece of plastic over the radiator seems the engine installer needs to make the most because he has more bolts to tighten before sending to the person that puts the RAM badge on not very skilled the guy that makes the burgers at McDonalds has to put more thought into his job why should they have to make more than a nurse or firefighter?

You're saying a lot but not providing any information to back up your statements. I work in manufacturing. Our operators do a lot more than the kid flipping burgers. Firefighters are under paid for sure though.

 

[irishwake63]

the way my friend explained to me alot of people doing repetitious things on the line one puts on seats one puts door panels etc its not like joe smit has a chassis in his stall and builds the truck/car etc and getting paid damn good for it. I am in IT my job gets boring enough sometimes but they must fight it alot unless they can switch up to other body parts accessories IDK

 

[Grape_Ape]

That's fine. You're just proving that you don't know what you're discussing. It sounds like your job can be pretty repetitive too. There are quality standards they must face. Yes, a lot of it has been automated but you're still responsible for getting quality work done as fast as possible. If you screw up the door panel on 15 different trucks I imagine you're going to be reprimanded. If you do it repeatedly you're going to lose your job.

The purpose of these wage discussions is to protect the middle class. The more disproportionate wealth gets in this country the more the common man suffers.

You didn't specify what you do in IT. For all I know you're a cable monkey. I did that as a high schooler but I'm not going to dismiss your skill set and say you shouldn't be paid a livable wage.

 

[irishwake63]

That's fine. You're just proving that you don't know what you're discussing. It sounds like your job can be pretty repetitive too. There are quality standards they must face. Yes, a lot of it has been automated but you're still responsible for getting quality work done as fast as possible. If you screw up the door panel on 15 different trucks I imagine you're going to be reprimanded. If you do it repeatedly you're going to lose your job.

The purpose of these wage discussions is to protect the middle class. The more disproportionate wealth gets in this country the more the common man suffers.

You didn't specify what you do in IT. For all I know you're a cable monkey. I did that as a high schooler but I'm not going to dismiss your skill set and say you shouldn't be paid a livable wage.

no I actually run a telecom dept for a very large nationwide dept store chain 700 + stores as far as the information I was talking about it was just second hand to me from someone that DOES working in the auto mfg field so it is second hand knowledge. I do agree with the middle class is disappearing thanks to a political agenda - Skill sets aside burger flippers want 15 bucks an hour do you think they deserve that? there will always be better positions/jobs that pay more there is a guy at my company that came from the same dept and gets 20k more than I do just for running test scripts for POS systems basically playing cashier 20k more than heading an entire dept

 

[Grape_Ape]

It's a tricky situation. Minimum wage hasn't risen in 15 - 17 yrs if I remember correctly. I do think they deserve more money. They're honestly getting closer to deserving $15/hr now than when that discussion actually came about. We're talking about a simple 50 cent raise a yr at this point to the federal mandated minimum wage.

The tricky situation comes from the fact that then all wages would need to rise in reflection. My wife is a medical assistant/mohs technician who makes $18.50/hr. So naturally she would need to see her wages raise in conjunction as well.

So I fully acknowledge it's a mess. I just think there's a lot of individuals protecting the corporations when I'd rather protect my fellow common man. I understand corps need to make profits. I take issue with it when for example the ranchers weren't seeing an increase in their profits but Tyson or whomever was making record profits on their meat sales the past 2-3 yrs.

 

[Redz72]

no I actually run a telecom dept for a very large nationwide dept store chain 700 + stores as far as the information I was talking about it was just second hand to me from someone that DOES working in the auto mfg field so it is second hand knowledge. I do agree with the middle class is disappearing thanks to a political agenda - Skill sets aside burger flippers want 15 bucks an hour do you think they deserve that? there will always be better positions/jobs that pay more there is a guy at my company that came from the same dept and gets 20k more than I do just for running test scripts for POS systems basically playing cashier 20k more than heading an entire dept

With all due respect, punctuation will go a long way to help convey your point.

 

[Eighty]

It's a tricky situation. Minimum wage hasn't risen in 15 - 17 yrs if I remember correctly. I do think they deserve more money. They're honestly getting closer to deserving $15/hr now than when that discussion actually came about. We're talking about a simple 50 cent raise a yr at this point to the federal mandated minimum wage.

The tricky situation comes from the fact that then all wages would need to rise in reflection. My wife is a medical assistant/mohs technician who makes $18.50/hr. So naturally she would need to see her wages raise in conjunction as well.

So I fully acknowledge it's a mess. I just think there's a lot of individuals protecting the corporations when I'd rather protect my fellow common man. I understand corps need to make profits. I take issue with it when for example the ranchers weren't seeing an increase in their profits but Tyson or whomever was making record profits on their meat sales the past 2-3 yrs.

It's easy to bash "corporations" and support your "fellow common man". Everyone loves to make it sound like all those corporate profits are going to fat cats sitting on yachts. Truth is, for publicly-traded corporations, those profits are going to stock holders. Who are the stock holders? People like me - my 401(k) account is comprised of stocks among other things. So my retirement depends on corporate profits. If a company stops performing well in that regard, and hands over the profits to whiny union workers, then my investments will go elsewhere (along with everyone else's investments). Suddenly the company will be in trouble.
Capitalism is a complex thing, and the socialist-style calls for "better money for everyone" just doesn't work.