UAW strikes have decimated General Motors’ production schedule through the first few months of 2008, but the General is taking a stand against the Union at one of its plants. UAW Local 602 has been on strike at the automaker’s Delta Township crossover plant since April 17, but GM announced today that it will cancel medical and life insurance benefits for those on strike, effective midnight tonight.
As per the national contract inked between the UAW and GM last year, GM has the right to cancel benefits on the first of the month following a walkout. In this case, GM had the right to cancel benefits on May 1.
The UAW will foot the tab for health and life insurance for striking workers and their families, but those on strike will have no vision or dental insurance, according to The Detroit News.
This marks the first time GM has canceled benefits since a strike at the automaker’s Flint plant in 1998.
The UAW is also on strike at GM’s Fairfax Chevrolet Malibu production facility and another Local UAW is threatening a strike at GM’s metal stamping facility just outside of Mansfield, Ohio.
GM is also dealing with a 10-week long UAW strike that has slowed or idled production of many of its models.



05/14, 6:02 PM
posted by:
SR
Good. The lazy, over paid, under skilled d-bags deserve it. I wish I could strike like they can… When will the UAW realize that they are dragging the Big Three down?
05/14, 6:07 PM
posted by:
foster1
Pretty Soon they will close those plants and they won’t have a job. There job’s pay is still better than Toyota workers,Honda. Plants here in the U.S. They need to suck it up.
05/14, 6:16 PM
posted by:
affliction
WTF how the hell is GM supposed to survive with these labor union people striking every other month? You don’t like your salary then I think you should move to another job or look into another industry altogether. Besides with the time you’ve spent striking, your total pay for the year goes down even if you get a raise. Dumbasses!
05/14, 6:23 PM
posted by:
cookie4me
How much longer can those striking at American Axle hold out? I have to believe some of them are going to start receiving forclosure notices on their mortgages.
05/14, 6:42 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
I’m pretty sure the one at American Axle is over. GM paid the company I don’t know how many millions so they would stop being on strike.
I sure hope the UAW will learn its lesson with this one.
05/14, 6:55 PM
posted by:
elviososa
So please don’t blame the other countries for taking Americans’ jobs. You serve your rights.
05/14, 7:17 PM
posted by:
autonut
I haven’t read any statistic indicating that Toyota, Honda and others don’t pay well. If that’s the case why states compete for those factories and offer them long term tax exemptions? As a matter of fact when I took management courses, there were a lot of books written about exemplary Toyota’s employee relationships. I never saw such book or chapter about big 3.
05/14, 7:17 PM
posted by:
olds307
I wish I had a GM assembly line job.
05/14, 7:50 PM
posted by:
corvette
UAW is a bunch of **** bags. they should pull their heads out of their asses and do some F-ing work.
05/14, 7:51 PM
posted by:
corvette
Toyota’s probably behind them paying them under the table to strike every chance they get.
05/14, 7:57 PM
posted by:
Kaizen
Japanese brands pay nearly half of what domestic brands pay. But it is not as if Japanese brands under pay. Our wages match the average wages in surrounding area of the plant. The Detroit 3 simply have contracts that over pay. But I’m not too sure that this is bad for GM. They get to idle their plants that are producing vehicles that are overstocked, don’t have to pay wages or benefits and don’t have to put incentives on vehicle that would be sitting on dealer lots. It is bad for the long-term overall distrust of GMs employees. Talk about poor labor relations.
05/14, 8:23 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Kaizen: that’s the key phrase- ‘contracts that over pay’. Trouble is it all started a half a century ago (or more). Old habits die hard.
05/14, 8:30 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Awww thanks guys.
05/14, 8:57 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Even better news, my plant lost a 10000 unit Penske order so im laid off again, boo hoo.
05/14, 8:58 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
GM needed to handle their business back in september, and I also heard the Teamsters will walk out too if and when they find out that these parts are coming from Mexico.
05/14, 9:00 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
And SR whats your skill that so highly desired in todays environment, I can guarantee I pay more in taxes than any of you pussies.
05/14, 9:06 PM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
If I’m correct Japanese execs don’t get paid as much as there American conterparts, plus I imagine it take way more skill to put a car together than what others might do in the surrounding areas so common sense says they SHOULD get paid more. Another example…. it doesn’t take much effort to put a computer together but people that do get paid more than those that don’t! It doesn’t take much effort to be an inside sales man but they get more than the guy deliverying the products they sell. I don’t completely agree with the unions but I will support them over greedy corporate America A N Y DAY!!!!
05/14, 9:29 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Actually 400SS, no one pays higher taxes here than me. The government takes 48.5% of my income, then another 14% sales tax. It’s ****ing ridiculous.
Did you really get laid off? Dude, honestly, no bull**** this time, I’m sorry to hear that. If that’s true, good luck and chin up!
05/14, 9:44 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Actually deanster you’re down to a merely blood-curdling 12.5% now in Quebec: 5% GST, 7.5 PST.
400SS: ditto on Deanster’s comment.
05/14, 9:45 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Deanster I wish I was lying, this has surpassed ignorant im losing $400 a week from not working and i’ve been off since march 6th, do the math.
05/14, 9:50 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
And im running low on Cabo Wabo
05/14, 10:08 PM
posted by:
Get Real
We may witnessing the begining of the Mother of All Strikes.
GM needs to make the UAW see the world as it is, not through 1964 glasses.
05/14, 10:16 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
^ You’ve obviously haven’t read a paper, look at all the plants that have closed, how much more real world do you need, every week people bitch about a strike and every week there’s a new plant or parts closure.
05/15, 1:02 AM
posted by:
jdasch1
Everything would work out if the UAW would go bye-bye. They are holding onto a 1960’s business model and in todays modern assembly plant it isn’t warrented. I talked to a Ford motor company manager the other day, and he said he had waited 2 weeks to get a desk moved across the hall to a new office (had to get the UAW to move it…policy) and got tired of waiting so he moved it himself. The UAW reported him and almost got him fired over the incident. In any other business model this would be crazy stuff…not with the mighty UAW. This is why companies seek to find another way. It would be one thing if they were only helping the factory worker, but someone to move a desk and almost get fired…thats bull****!!
05/15, 1:17 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Whats bull**** is that post, you dont expect everyone to believe that the UAW moves anything in corporate offices in plant maybe.
05/15, 2:26 AM
posted by:
Got Handling?
GM needs to get a bit more Margaret Thatcher with this union horse****, and break these ****ers once and for all, not only for their own good, but for the good of their workforce too.
The crazy thing is that GM has an ever-improving product line and seems to be taking a meaningful lead in new technologies (still not going to see me in one any time soon, even though I do love my ‘86 K5), which must be due in part at least to their workforce. But if the labour don’t shake off their outdated inflexible leadership, more and more skilled workers like 400SS (guy-goo-guzzling haunch-humper that he may be) are going to suffer the fate of the UK’s mining industry and watch their jobs go overseas.
05/15, 8:07 AM
posted by:
SR
Hey 400horseSS, you assbag, I’m attorney for the state. I went through undergrad, then three f-ing years at law school, then studied for months to pass the bar exam and I get paid FAR less than I should for the amount of education I have and the amount of work I do. At least I know I won’t get laid off, though! So blow me, you line working d-bag. You should have got an education and a better job. You may make more than me – when you’re working – but I guarantee I’ve made more than you since March.
05/15, 8:34 AM
posted by:
Renton
400SS — “I can guarantee I pay more in taxes than any of you pussies.”
Wow that is a bold statement. I probably pay more in taxes than your gross income. There are some people on this forum that make a shiatload of dough.
It is hard to watch the once great American auto companies die like this. The union aspect is only part of the problem, albeit a huge one. The unions priced their workers right out of a job.
Poor product design and crappy construction are also to blame, and that is the fault of management decisions. The whole industry making the switch to FWD in almost every model 25 years ago lost them to me forever.
You can’t sell cars if no one wants them.
05/15, 8:52 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Oh, so SR is another peice of $H!T lawyer. YOU are the overpaid @$$hole. GM also has the option to NOT contract to the UAW. They contract to whoever is the CHEAPEST. Just because these guys get paid better than most of you on here doesn’t mean GM is losing their @$$. It costs alot more to relocate, retool, set-up etc. I’ll agree some of these guys are lazy, but who’s ordering the strike, the workers or the UAW management? And I pay over 21K in taxes so until the rest of Amercia’s lazy @$$ goe’s to work I’m pissed at them too.
05/15, 10:29 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Lawyers are money grubbing scum, I cant figure out whats worse politicians or lawyers, and congrats to the minimum % of people who work for themselves or are spoiled rick kids like SR, but I live in the real world when some asshole makes 400xs more than me.
05/15, 10:30 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
well i just sit on the corner and hold up a sign that say’s “Homeless Need Help, God Bless” – i make money and it’s tax free- so i don’t pay taxes, work when i want, no need to call in sick i can just stay home- so there
05/15, 10:31 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
^Gm corporate **** buddies.
05/15, 10:35 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
Good, lay the smack down on these striking idiots. Next step – You’re fired!
05/15, 10:41 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
what does me holding up a sign have to do with being a GM corporate **** buddie? i could careless- i drive an import anyway :-/
05/15, 10:53 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
^Good for you and look why your dollar sucks, and the economy is in the ****ter.
05/15, 11:10 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
don’t see how my dollar sucks- its just as good as your dollar, and i could careless about the economy, cry me a river boo hoo – now gtfo
05/15, 12:12 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
^well cum-gargler some have investments (me)and dont want to see the economy in the ****ter, you obviously have no job and live with moms, now go ask her for gas money so you can go to the mall.
05/15, 12:15 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1395&SiteId=cbmsnbc41395&sc_extcmp=JS_1395_msnbc>1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=2b85c980436a41bcbb8215e10674194e-264168834-J2-5 …..like i’ve said before the unemployment office is full of all kinds.
05/15, 12:21 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
^^ I thought you were going back to work??? Go out and score some new chicks while your laid off. That’s what I’d be doing. Are there none in MO? If everyone started caring about what country they were buying from , we wouldn’t have to worry about this.
05/15, 12:40 PM
posted by:
SR
lol – HemiRoadRunner and 400horseSS you guys can kiss my ass. I make jack **** for money nor am I a spoiled kid. (?) I’ll cut you some slack because you’re uneducated (and hence sitting at home getting unemployment), but you missed the part where I said I was an attorney for the STATE. Yea, I’m not working in some private firm making a six digit income. Not hardly. And I defend the state against BS lawsuits filed by the lovely people that sit behind bars so, no, I’m not out chasing ambulances, either. Anywho, unlike you, 400horseSS, I’ve got work to do!
05/15, 12:42 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
haha cum-gargler, here come the insults- ohhh and a mommy joke, that’s original- have anything i HAVEN’T read on here yet, probably not of course- ooooooo, you have investments whooop dee do, your 401k won’t do you any good until you retire or gasp, quit your job and find another- have i upset the almighty 400caballo , once again you fail- thanks for playing
05/15, 12:44 PM
posted by:
SR
@ jumpoffit: I agree with you. But guys like 400horseSS blame anything and everything, like the “bad ecomony,” when they aren’t working or can’t find a job. Anything to take the blame off of themselves and avoid taking some responsibility for their own lives… Boo hoo is right. Bet he votes Democrat, too.
05/15, 12:48 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Sitting at home? I’m sitting in my office at work while I’m eating lunch thank you. Well, maybe I had you wrong, if your kicking the @$$’s of the idiots behind bars then I apologize. But, thanks to the other lawyers (defenders) for corrupting our legal system, and making laws that protect other LAWYERS and not holding judges accountable for their decisions when they let another rapist or murderer loose.
05/15, 12:49 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
^Damn right im a Dem, and when you two get done shaking each others dicks in the bathroom come back with something useful, and how can i be unemployedwhen GM sends me a check every week, sucks sitting at home getting paid huh, kinda like homo ass republicans.
05/15, 12:50 PM
posted by:
SR
^^The sitting at home comment was meant for 400horseSS, not you. My apologies.
05/15, 12:51 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Spoken like a true LLN gangsta HEMI. SR and Getoffmydick RIP.
05/15, 12:53 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
SR is acting like public defendants are struggling with bills, eat a dick.
05/15, 12:54 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
I love the “get a better education” bit, that **** is funny.
05/15, 12:55 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
^^ I still want to know why you aren’t out trying to get some women. Come on man, you got all kinds of time. I also want to know who initiates a strike. Is it the complaining workers, the complaing workers going to their boss, or the bosses telling the workers they need to complain and strike? Which is it? Where I use to work, the japs work EVERYONE long, low paid hours. I was an engineer there programming, designing, troubleshooting etc on average 11-13 hour days making 45K a year w/o overtime because japs take advantage of salary people. Thank God I work for an American (non-union though) company making alot more, getting MUCH better hours and ENJOYING the work. However, the people were I use to work didn’t have a hard job and I couldn’t see it worth 50K or more a year (line workers) BUT a union would have helped with the BS hours. Hell, some of the line workers made more than engineers after their o/time. So a union would have been good there, as long as it was contolled reasonably, which is the problem. I’m spent.
05/15, 12:57 PM
posted by:
SR
400horseSS, you and your ilk (i.e. lazy, over paid, under skilled UAW members) are one of the main reasons the Big Three is doing so ****ty compared to the Japs and European car manufacturers. The very fact that you’re getting paid to sit on your ass while you’re laid off speaks volumes about how your GD union is killing GM… Think about that – you’re getting paid by GM to do NOTHING while you’re laid off. What other company in the world does that??? Your ass should be making nothing. It also speaks volumes about you. Thanks for driving up the cost of American cars. Actually, I don’t care – I drive a BMW.
05/15, 12:59 PM
posted by:
SR
Obviously I hit a nerve or else the “get a better education” line wouldn’t have evoked a response. I bet you barely graduated from high school, if you even did that. Hence you post the about line about how “that **** is funny.”
05/15, 1:02 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Also, were I worked the workers are putting not assembling parts like on an assembly line, they are totally different. The guys were I was put a few parts on a jig, hit a button, then it takes off using all of MY WORK. But, I would not want to stand on an assembly line and constantly put cars together one at a time ALL day long. Yeah, some machines do the work but not all. Evenif the UAW is overpaid, there are alot more overpaid people out there. Why can someone catch a football and get paid MILLIONS but everyone says they “deserve” it? The only thing that bothers me with unions is I hope they don’t force the jobs elsewhere. I want these guys to work and get paid good, damn good if they can get away with it. We should be kicking every country in the world’s @$$.
05/15, 1:03 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Thanks SR, people like me who go to work everyday and put in 9.5 hrs on the line are the reason the big 3 suck, your totally right its me not the old ****ty cars and trucks, hell with your smarts you should be head of GM.
05/15, 1:03 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Hemi I got a live in blonde with 36dd saline friends, and she cooks and cleans.
05/15, 1:04 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
And HEMI the locals do a strike vote.
05/15, 1:06 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
And SR that was a GM negotioted deal for sub-pay, dont like it take it up with GM.
05/15, 1:08 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
SR you drive a bimmer that pretty much sums up why you think your better, faggot.
05/15, 1:08 PM
posted by:
SR
Learn to read while you’re laid off – I said your UNION is the reason the Big Three are doing so poorly, not the actual workers. Think about it for minute, they’re paying for you to sit on your ass right now. Maybe, just maybe, that money could be better used by GM… Oh well, let the GD UAW keep bleeding the Big Three to death, then you won’t have a job and you can rely on the gov’t to give you money. Go Barack!
05/15, 1:08 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I still want to know WHO causes unions to strike? Who’s decision is it, management or workers? I wouldn’t want someone to cut MY benefits. I could take a pay cut, if it was legit, BUT, they could cut the same amount out of MANAGEMENT and they would still be able to afford they’re multi million $ homes and such without having to cut pay from the workers. If the workers are lazy, get rid of them. If they honestly have it good and still want to gripe, get rid of them. GM contracts to the CHEAPEST supplier, it costs more to set up elsewhere, retool ALL your machines, etc etc. I really don’t even know if getting rid of unions would solve the problem or not, because they might just throw the workers under the bus anyway.
05/15, 1:10 PM
posted by:
SR
I drive a Bimmer because I like it (330Ci) and it’s superior in so many ways to anything GM makes that I’m interested in. Although I will look at buying a new Z28 as a second car when it comes out.
05/15, 1:10 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
You specifically said me, you learn how to read.
05/15, 1:12 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Hemi its the workers, but you cant just say oh were bored lets strike, most strikes are over expired contracts, pay, benefits,etc…
05/15, 1:13 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
When you say locals, do you mean the workers? Because here in Northern FL, locals means rednecks like me. And if you have a chick like that, then your stuck between a rock and a hard place. She might never know…….
05/15, 1:16 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Ok, so when they strike, what exactly is the point? Is it to get repeat business, if so, how does it get them the business. I just don’t understand what keeps GM wanting to deal with unions, no offense. I don’t like to deal with people that are always pissy. How does a strike work. I’m a country retard from FL remember?
05/15, 1:17 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
^Exactly, its the workers, like my plant the union and local have a big 3 meeting and negotiate a new local contract, GM has no effect on local contracts, thats why you guys see all these strikes, ours expired in October and god knows what going on since where not there.
05/15, 1:21 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
My plant wants to outsource some skilled trades and all janitorial jobs(i agree with that), cut tooling allowance, no more uniforms (they give us t-shirts and jeans and button up shirts), break times and the new thing called GMS.
05/15, 1:21 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Ok, so your contract is up, you guys want the buisiness again, so you come into a “room” or something and say lets make a deal. They act like it’s not important to talk right now and you guys keep working on an EXPIRED contract? I always thought it was one of these, I want more money, they don’t want to give it, let’s strike kind of deals. So once you guys make a deal, it’s set and your happy unless they violate it, right?
05/15, 1:22 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
This only happens every 4 years, and i think that it was 187out that called you a redneck.
05/15, 1:24 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Nothing about money, thats the international contract, and we have no control over the buisiness either that comes from thr RenCen, dont hold me to this but i think the local can negotiate for a new vehicle too.
05/15, 1:27 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I see, what makes the union appealing to GM though, besides it might be cheaper? Why would they want the union instead of paco down in mexico? What advantage does the union have?
05/15, 1:35 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Pay, benefits(even though they suck now), vacation, SENIORITY, and job protection good or bad inside the plant and representation when you gotta fight labor relations.
05/15, 1:44 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
The only time I’ve ever been at a union plant was a bad experience for me. I use to deliver construction equipment on my summers off from college. It is hotter in North FL than south FL, I don’t care what anyone says. So here I have a small dozer strapped to the back of a trailer, pulling it in a 1975 Chevy truck (454 so I’m sure you like that) with no A/C all the way down to West Palm Beach, which is a totally diff culture than where I live. So I show up at this place, sweating my @$$ off, a guy comes out all grouchy like some new yorker or something, I give him the papers and tell him I’ll unload it, do you mind helping me? (it would have helped me alot) He tells me it’s not his job, he’ll go find someone to help. I tell him, hey man, I just need a hand unloading it, like a favor, he tells me he doesn’t care, it’s not his job. So I spent an extra 30 min getting everything unloaded BY MYSELF (which i planned anyway, but courtesy would have been nice) and when they finally came out I told them off something I can’t say while I’m at work typing on here and left with a bad impression on unions ever since.
05/15, 1:44 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Oh yeah, this wasn’t even 10 years ago.
05/15, 1:47 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
What got me is I spent 6 hours on the road, sweating like a pig and this guy, who basically has it made in the shade, can’t even help a dude out. When is it against union policy to be cool with other people?
05/15, 2:17 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
^ nope, that guy was a lazy fat **** i bet.