By John Lillpop ——Bio and Archives--September 9, 2011
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
The image of UAW workers with picket signs touting unfair wages is something that no one wants to see, but the possibility now exists thanks to a union vote that authorizes Ford workers to strike if negotiations between the auto maker and the UAW break down. While the issue of wages and negotiations with unions can be terse, this round of labor talks has a new flavor that we have not experienced in a while, and the implications of these issues may give Ford a negotiating edge. When the government stepped in and bailed out GM and Chrysler with an infusion of cash, there were certain concessions made by the UAW. The bailout allowed the companies to survive and even revamp their businesses. It also prevented the union from striking against GM and Chrysler. Through that period, Ford became somewhat of a shining star by not taking any bailout money. Ford's reward for taking the harder route is that the UAW, in negotiations with all three makers, can strike. This reason, while perhaps sentimental, is one key negotiating tool that Ford has in Ford's cap. The perception that the union will punish Ford, the company that did not take a bailout, would leave a stigma on the UAW that could take years to erase. It is the classic mantra that no good deed goes unpunished. This mantra is something that people in America are growing tired of, in particular because of the state of the economy. A more fundamental reason that the author does not see a strike happening is the fact that Ford employees are the highest paid in the industry, and the "Big Three" have a higher average pay than many competitors. This makes it hard for the UAW to complain about pay, and even more difficult to complain that Ford is not paying well enough. According to The Center for Automotive Research, Ford has labor costs of $58 per hour, while Japanese competitor Toyota comes in at $55. The $3 per hour may not seem like much, but when spread over thousands of workers for tens of thousands of hours, the numbers get big quickly. One compliant of the UAW is that merit raises and a 401(k) match were reinstated for salaried employees but not union members. However, the union neglects to state that UAW workers received profit-sharing checks averaging $5,000 in 2010. The argument that the union has is that this is a "one-time" perk and not the same as getting a merit raise.”Thus, the media-created image of greed as a fat-cat, Republican parasite who thrives by not paying his or her fair share, needs to be updated. Today, the greedy are dim-witted auto workers who earn six-figure incomes, vote straight Democrat, and are dumb enough to vote to strike when a bona fide economic depression is bearing down on America. Only in America, only by Democrat puppets!
Support Canada Free Press
View Comments
John W. Lillpop is a recovering liberal. “Clean and sober” since 1992 when last he voted for a Democrat. For years, John lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, the very liberal sanctuary city which protects, rather than prosecutes, certain favored criminals. John escaped the Bay Area in May and now lives in Pine Grove California where conservative values are still in vogue.