Concessions for most but "NOT" the UAW/CAW 001%
Clerical workers at United Auto Workers headquarters in Detroit are protesting layoffs that will take effect Friday. They picketed this month carrying signs that read “What about shared sacrifice?” and “Justice for ALL workers.”
In Canada at the Canadian Auto Workers Union it's almost identicle. Workers in the last 5 years have opened up their contracts twice and forced to take "huge" concessions. At the last regular set of contract negotiations, there was more concessionary bargaining. The past UAW/CAW economist Sam Gindin and Ryerson University Professor wrote before the first round of concessionary bargaining
that," Concessionary bargaining leads to more demands for Concessions".
Sams right in my opinion.
Has anyone at the CAW & TCA National Office made any wage, benefits or paid time-off concessions in the last five years?
Not from what I have heard, in fact, National Office reps. belong to a United Steelworkers Local and have continued to negotiate "non-concessionary gains" in their contracts.
CAW member production/skilled trades concessionary bargaining keeps the plant open and their dues rolling in. This inturn provides the CAW & TCA National Office with the funds neccessary to keep providing the CAW & TCA National Reps with "Non-concessionary gains" come contract time. On the shop floor, the work load has increased to "unhealthy and dangerous levels" but their are occasions when we sit for hours without skilled trades - why? Because in 1993, the CAW aggreed to eliminating the "Skilled Trades Apprencticeship Programme". We don't have enough skilled trades and they are "top notch" skilled trades people.
When are the members of the Canadian Auto Workers Union who are employed at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler going to "figure out" that "Concessionary bargaining leads to more concessions"?
In my opinion, the CAW & TCA National Office and it's reps. are not going to risk losing their wages, benefits, paid time off and right-to-grieve by encouraging and supporting non-violent worker led action such as plant sit downs or plant occupations. Wasn't plant sit downs and occupations how we got Union recognition, a Union contract, wages, benefits, paid time off and the right to greive and strike "in the first place?" Thank goodness for past UAW members and the Reuther Family.
In 2007 General Motors Worldwide manufactured over 10 million cars, vans and trucks and it's Gross Revenue was over 300 billion dollars. Those figures are from it's "Annual Stakeholders Booklet". I have less desposeable income now than in 1985 - two years after I was hired.
Shame on the UAW National Office for continueing to demand concessions form it's members and now want its own employees to take concessions while coninueing to negotiate gains "for themselves or the 001%". It's very difficult to see any difference at all between the UAW/CAW 001% and General Motors 001%
Mr. Blair M. Phillips
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada
GM of Canada employee
Engine Plant