GM Workers Overwhelmingly Authorize Strikes As Bargaining Tool

If they want to get the best deal possible out of the negotiations regarding the two-tier pay structure then they'll need every bit of bargaining power they can muster. With the big 3 automakers on the upswing, it's likely the UAW feels they can push a little harder than when things were quite bad (2007).

Strikes are a long-held tradition of the Big Three. It's what's made them what they are today. We need to uphold that tradition.

Strikes in a global economy... right. This is one tradition that needs to die like the cancer it is... TheSteve is right its what made the Big 3 what they are: Ford, formerly mortgaged to the hilt in an effort to survive. Superb leadership by Alan Mulally single-handedly saved Ford and every single UAW job, GM - Gubment Motors run through a freakshow bankruptcy to pay off the UAW who is responsible for the bankruptcy in
the first place. Chrysler - is no longer a US company, ... thanks UAW! The UAW is certainly not to thank for any of the technology or design it takes to create vehicles, they "help" screw them together. Robots will replace them soon or their jobs will go to lower cost mfg regions. Facts are facts...these "workers" nee: Employees of the companies need to better themselves and find new jobs. Lower tiers need to get degrees and move on, or start their own companies... the UAW will kill these companies as evidenced by the fact all the other car producers in America are thriving with their non-union work forces...

If it were so simple to "better themselves and find new jobs" or "get degrees and move on, or start their own companies" then more of them would presumably do it.

It's such a strange, shitty, dickish attitude to think that if people don't meet a certain standard of ambition/initiative/aptitude, that they should be kicked to the curb. Societies that work like that are NOT on the upswing. Nobody benefits from this shitty attitude. Look at the wages GM pays -- they are not very good wages. Do YOU want a "ten year plan" to get towards making $20 an hour? That is barely a living wage under most circumstances.

True, a lot of non-expert jobs will eventually be automated. But it takes an asshat with lack of empathy to then declare that people should take less money and live poorly. We have the technology to build a society where FEWER HUMANS HAVE TO WORK, but that shouldn't mean that fewer humans get to live out of poverty unless you are a prick with an over-inflated sense of self-worth. Maybe that means more daycare volunteers, or more animal shelter volunteers, or who knows what. Certainly demanding that people be happy with their lot until they're unnecessary, and at that point they should go fuck themselves if they can't "better themselves" or "get a degree" or "start their own company", is a great way to hold society from making any measurable progress in quality of life OR technological advances.

People that live poorly don't cease to exist. They are an anchor on society. The only sustainable and meaningful solution is to lift them up rather than abandon them and then leave more to the same fate.

The "I got mine, screw you" mentality is toxic and selfish. I personally don't need a union, I have an expert level job and I can live comfortably, but I don't lack the foresight and empathy to demand that my path to success is the standard that people must meet or perish.

I never said anything you just mentioned. Lots of "shitties" in there too, it sounds like you have an axe to grind. Thing is AMERICA is a land of opportunity. What do we spend on education? So PEOPLE, get a friggin education and better yourself. The writing is on the wall so if you don't work hard, you're going to get left behind. We're not a shitty nation but we're $18T in debt because of all the generosity. I don't need a union and honestly neither do any of the employees of any of the other companies that build cars in the USA that are not union. Foresight is to get the education and build a life for yourself and not whine about it or shove your hand out when other people are contributing. UAW members should see themselves first and foremost as employees of GM/Ford and FCA not the "us vs them" greedy corporations and horrible rich CEO's who line their pockets. It takes serious intelligence to run a global corporation and these employees should know they'd be out of work if a smart CEO wasn't running their employer.

Bit of an axe to grind, yeah. But it's not without reason. As I move up the "corporate ladder" I am surrounded by more and more disdain towards blue-collar workers and it leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth.

And you didn't say a lot of what I addressed -- that's part of why I didn't post directly as a reply to your post. But I thought it was related so I went on a bit of a rant.

Regarding America being a land of opportunity, in many ways it absolutely still is. Unfortunately, education in this country is extremely expensive even compared to earning potential. In just about every measurable way, it is far more expensive than anywhere else in the developed world. I am not saying that there's no way to "move up" -- when I was in elementary school we were dirt poor and had nothing, and now I have a "toy" car in the garage -- but it is far more difficult than it has ever been, and subsequent generations here seem to have an even tougher road ahead unfortunately.

Some corporations are run by empathetic folks who care about the happiness and well-being of their employees. Others see them as worker drones and little more. And others are simply incompetent (per the Peter Principle -- it applies all too often because it is such an easy trap). While unions can be run poorly (just as corporations can), I would sooner work to address dysfunction within a union rather than disband it, just as would sooner address dysfunction within a corporation rather than see it crash and burn. Especially because when I see what unions typically demand, it turns out to be surprisingly reasonable. The UAW isn't asking for ridiculous wage increases. They hardly make living wages now, if even that, so how could they afford to pay for a college education? Even with the increases they are seeking, it would be a serious burden.

I'm not a fan of strikes, and find them to be highly disruptive, and some of the harassment tactics that unions have been known to employ in order to enforce the strike are highly problematic, but I do wish that workers didn't feel compelled to put that option on the table. Part of what I do now is work on building culture within an organization in order to ensure that employees are empowered, happy, and find meaning in their work, so I see this as a poor reflection on the big 3 automakers.