So, I was messing around folding some clothes early this afternoon and came across this T-shirt. It immediately made me smile and then in made me angry. Solidarity, gotta love all that solidarity going around in the UAW.My wife works for the UAW and there is a Ford truck plant in Louisville (20 minutes away and UAW labor of course). Both plants either produce trucks or parts for the trucks. Same union, just different Locals. A couple of years ago the Lou. plant came up for contract renewal. The year after my wife's plant also came up for renewal. The Ford plant workers came home with about eight grand in signing bonus, plus hefty deposits in Ford stock and 401K's. My wife? About $1200. Where's the solidarity in that, the one for all and all for one?
The UAW recently increased union dues by 25%. They did this in order to boost their strike fund. My wife's contract has a no strike clause but she still got the increase. Lou. plant does not have that same clause so most of those guys were hoping for a strike (according to my sources). My wife makes about half of what they do and about 500 of their employees just got a $10 per hour raise! Some bullshit in the contract. They also have some weird short day pay if the plant goes down they get eight hours, I don't so don't quote me on that one, I'm not sure how it works exactly).
If there is a big game going on (ie, the Super Bowl, Final Four, Lou. Vs KY etc...) they'll go around asking people if they are going to show up or not. If enough people say they're staying home, they'll shut the plant down. That way they don't have to point people. The other plant doesn't work if Ford doesn't work. How's that for Solidarity??? Think about how many people that effects because someone wanted to watch a ball game.
By the way, I've been band from the UAW to the women of the USW and everything in between. Go Figure!!! This is not my first post on unions. Read though the blog and you'll see some real head turning shit. I'll have more tomorrow.
Out!
