Auto Workers Decline Vote On Wage-Cutting Contract

theindychannel.com ^ | August 16, 2010 | wrtv6 staff

[Abathar]

IEDC Leader Angered By Decision

INDIANAPOLIS -- The United Auto Workers union is not voting Monday, as originally planned, on a new wage-cutting contract at the General Motors stamping plant in Indianapolis that is facing sale.

JD Norman Industries, of suburban Chicago, asked for pay cuts as a condition of buying the plant. The proposed contract calls for cutting base pay from $29 an hour to $15.50.

Without a sale, GM has said it will close the plant next year.

Mitch Roob, CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., said he's angry that the local union essentially brushed off a deal that its national representation helped broker.

"This is a very disappointing outcome," Roob said. "The national union … JD Norman, General Motors worked very hard to create a good proposal for the employees to take a look at."

[Abathar]

What I find interesting is the UAW will not allow their members to even vote on a salary cut of almost 50% to keep the jobs they have, which means they fear they might do it.

Maybe because they are afraid they will accept the offer which would screw them royally when Ford has to come to the table.

[WKUHilltopper]

Maybe Burger King will hire them at $29 bucks an hour.

[Obadiah]

Watch for Obama to step in and rescue his Union supporters — with taxpayer funding of course.

[DonaldC]

“Maybe Burger King will hire them at $29 bucks an hour.”

I was actually about to ask what fast food pays in the area...

Frankly though that is a steep pay cut and I can see not doing it all at once. Just more proof corporate america has us in a race to the bottom and in the world situation, not much workers can do about it.

[maine yankee]

Members of the local should chuck their charter, tell the national to pound sand, and join the federal employees union.

(afterall, they DO work for gov’t motors)

[henkster]

I live near Indy and have been watching this over the last few days. Idiots! Instead of voting for a pay cut, they just voted to fire themselves!

And, it’s not so much that they won’t find work that pays nearly what the new buyer was offering ($15.50/hour). (I saw the interviews; med school is not a viable option for them). They will NEVER find a health care package nearly as good, either! And NO overtime.

[Mr. Lucky]

According to the article, the proposed agreement was negotiated with the UAW. The local members refused to vote on it apparently because those remaining at the plant had substantial seniority rights which they could exercise at other facilities.

[Oceander]

Frankly though that is a steep pay cut and I can see not doing it all at once. Just more proof corporate america has us in a race to the bottom and in the world situation, not much workers can do about it.

That's a rather gratuitous, unnecessary, and untrue statement.

[henkster]

The national union wanted them to take the pay cut and keep their jobs. It was the stupid locals who voted it down.

You see, the worm has turned. Once it was the national union who told the locals to deny the wage cuts. But who owns GM now? Who now suddenly has an interest in GM’s bottom line? Why, it’s the UAW...anyone see a conflict of interest here?

[screaminsunshine]

The unemployment checks will be higher.

[Onelifetogive]

not much workers can do about it.

Uhhhh??? How about learning skills that an illiterate peasant cannot duplicate in a couple of hours of training???

[Abathar]

"Many workers think they can retain their existing salary by transferring to GM plants in Bedford and in other states once the Indianapolis plant closes.
Roob said that provision existed under the plan that the local union chose not vote on."

It seems they had to vote on this before that would come into play though.

[kenmcg]

It’s a shame, another factory will close and reopen on foreign soil. American labor better wake up, because it’s getting very late.

[Tzimisce]

I sense another big government bail out in the works. :D:D:D:D

[rj45mis]

$29/hr base pay? Our middle supervisors don’t make nearly this much. No wonder American manufacturing is sucking hind teat.

[AAABEST]

The proposed contract calls for cutting base pay from $29 an hour to $15.50.

You mean to tell me that in addition to all their other lucrative bennies, that these MFing leeches START at $29 per hour?

What am I missing?

[Abathar]

"What am I missing?"

Like me you're missing the gravy train that these yahoos jumped on while we were busting our butts working hard to actually be an asset to our employers.

[Redleg Duke]

This past month, my son and I drove past the closed Mercury Marine Plant in Wisconsin. That was the place where the workers refused a pay cut and the company relocated to I believe South Carolina.

It looks like a very nice plant in a great locaton. The Union Pukes sure showed 'em!

[TMA62]

I live in Indy and saw this whole thing play out. The news yesterday was booth frustrating and funny. The union members had that classic F_CK YOU attitude and could care less if the factory closed. Some said they would go to other GM factories in the state. One female worker said that they would not work at wages that were in “the proverty level”......thats right, the poverty level.

The reaction here in Indianapolis is not short of anger.....towards the union. Check out the Indy Star online and see the comments. Very few in support and most saying they would take the pay cut and work there.

[pingman]

A UAW union card? /s