This man makes some great points.. I believe this is going to be one of the most crucial contracts ever the UAWs existence might even hinge on it. So let me get this straight... • Traditional UAW members have not gotten a raise in 10+ years while UAW international reps received their last raise in Sept 2009… • The UAW negotiated a two tier wage scale while supposedly standing for fair and EQUITABLE treatment. • The UAW has allowed skilled trades to be reduced to not much more than reactive maintenance while contractors walk in and out of this UAW shop on a daily basis to perform traditional trades work. Also, attrition has dwindled trades numbers so low that we do not have the manpower to perform the work if we still had the opportunity. • UAW representatives bargain away legitimate grievances for TVs, water fountains, and gym memberships while management laughs and UAW committee persons tell the membership, “Management reserves the right to do blah blah blah….” • The UAW allows whipsawing between locals while the UAW Constitution says the union will act to protect the better contracts and not take action to encourage their infringement by lesser agreements (see Article 19 Section 6 of the UAW Constitution) • Our local representatives took 2+ years to bargain a local contract that was subsequently voted down by Skilled Trades. When it was taken to the international level, we were told that even though we voted it down that it was being put into effect anyway… regardless of our vote. • At the June union meeting I learned that the membership voted to not send extra delegates to the constitutional convention. Our executive board sent them anyway. Even Union leaders act like management and do whatever they want… regardless of our vote. I used to hope to one day see my children get into a good union job here. Now I just hope to get to 30 years without being sold out to a maintenance contractor. And now they have raised the dues by 25%!!! There is an old adage that says “you get what you pay for.” My question is WHEN will we begin to, once again, get what we pay for? The UAW is living off of a legacy. A very old legacy… one that was strong and proud. In my opinion they have very little to be proud of in the last 15-20 years. If I were paying someone for a service and their performance were on par with the UAW’s recent performance, I would not employ that someone very long… especially if they wanted a raise. I have been told that I should be happy to have a job at GM… that we have it pretty good. Believe me when I say, I am and yes we do. But if the UAW is going to continue to add bullets to those I’ve listed above, then I’m not so sure I want to encourage that by giving them more of my money. I respectfully request that my membership be discontinued until such time that I think it beneficial and necessary to rejoin, at which time I will pay restitution of all back dues to once again become a proud member of UAW Local 1853 in good standing.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 11:29:33 +0000
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