My husband's job was outsourced in house!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Today, my husband lost his job as a master mechanic for a Dodge dealership. He lost it because he had diagnosed and sold a brake job, which the dealership gave to an 'assistant mechanic', who gets $11 less an hour. (Mechanics work on a commission, and it is standard practice that if a mechanic diagnoses and sells a job, he gets to do it.) He asked if he would at least be paid for diagnosing. The answer was he was being a 'troublemaker' and that they didn't need him any more. This dealership gets $52 dollars an hour labor from the customer, no matter who does the job. I think they are a rip off joint-my husband was going in to work, not getting work, not getting paid a dime, while the low paid workers did all the work. The only thing he got was warranty work, which doesn't pay (you get paid an hour to do a job that might take 4 hours to do). This lovely job had no benefits except five day's paid vacation, which my husband has lost by being let go. The dealer has a rep for fighting unemployment claims. Wish my husband luck. Thanks for letting me tell you about this.

[NuttyFluffers]

1. my sympathies, deepest sympathies.

ps: my suggestion is get a passport while you can. qualified mechanics are wanted in other parts of the 1st world, just in case you find things getting really hard.

best of luck

[roguevalley]

2. All the very best luck to you both. I HATE OUTSOURCING AND

OTHER ACTS OF TREASON! I also hate bastard employers.

Hugs, honey,

RV

[disenfranchised]

3. Good luck with the unemployment.

That sounds frustrating. Sorry to hear about it. I can't see how the dealer could fight the unemployment.

Is it a similar situation at all Dodge dealerships?

[ewagner]

4. forgive me but

those BASTARDS!

:grr:

I've seen this too many times. Management ripping off honest workeers is becoming the norm, not the exception.

I'm sorry that happened. Hope your husband finds something better soon.

[Deb]

5. Thats terrible

An experienced mechanic is worth their weight in gold. I'm shocked that he worked on a commission, never heard of that before now.

We always take a six pack of soda or beer into the guys for them to enjoy after work, maybe we should tip them money instead.

I bet your husband would be a great asset to a car parts store. My son checked into one because the benefits were great but he lacked the professional experience they were looking for. Good Luck!!

[put out]

6. I'm sorry, truly.

I have no advice, no helpful words but these: FUCK 'EM, get on the telephone or the internet and get everything you possible can! Write to the paper, make a huge huge shitty stink about this! Make them damned uncomfortable, make them sweat, make them look like the steaming pile of puke they are.

That stinks. Shit, I own a Dodge. I will be enquiring as to their practices. Loudly, but I'm rich and cute (kidding, I'm just loud and cranky) and they had best not offer lame reasons for unfair labor practices.

Truly crummy of them; I hope and think this might turn out to be a positive. Make your husband feel good if you can, because you both deserve some comfort.

[TroubleMan]

7. My company is in bad need of a few mechanics

We work on air compressors, but my boss told me, "A good mechanic is a good mechanic. If he's a good mechanic, then he can learn compressors pretty quickly."

We're in West Palm Beach. PM me if you're interested. He'll have to know electricity (i.e. wiring starters, troubleshooting controllors, electric motors, ect.) or refrigeration.

[salin]

8. Arrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhh

am really sorry to hear this. Wishing your husband (and you) tons of luck. Damn dealership - don't you think the customers who are paying that amount of money per hour - would want the qualified, experienced professional doing the work on their car? I have been going to a mechanic who broke off (to open his own shop) from a Ford dealership for many years. He has been working on our family cars for more than 30 years. Always know that quality work is done - if rework is needed - they do it for free... thus it costs them MORE to charge top dollar for their cheapest labor as it would too often have to be redone. I find the lack of sound business planning and practices these days profoundly disturbing. Point to bigger long-term problems across our economy.