GM now demanding $14/hr in TOTAL compensation (wages +benefits) in Kokomo

[Hannah Bell]

When General Motors agreed to take back the Kokomo manufacturing operations from Delphi Electronics and safety last year, the hourly employees represented by United Auto Workers Local 292 thought the move would be good for them. According to union president Cory Stanley, there was nothing good about it.

Now, the workers are facing a slow death. Existing production is set to phase out, and GM won't commit new business to Kokomo unless the union agrees to yet another round of wage and benefit concessions.

"I think in some respects it has been worse because everybody had anticipated that it would -be a good thing," said Stanley. "But GM made it very clear from Day One that they didn't want to be in the parts business. We're the red-headed stepchild. They put us under GMCH, and we don't necessarily have an agreement contractually. We're getting the worst end of the deal because they want to pressure us into complying with wage and benefit reductions. That is aggravating to me because three years ago we did all that with the promise that it would save the business.

"It's always based on us having to give. They look at it as 'all-in' –– wages and benefits together –- they want $14 an hour total compensation. That's darn-near minimum wage. That's where they want us. That's where they keep saying we have to be to remain competitive."

http://www.factoryrat.com/factoryrat/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=13544

[maryf]

1. k&r nt

[Jokerman]

2. My dad worked in that factory.

He spent most of his career across the street at Chrysler but he also did a few stints at Delco during slow times at Chrysler. That was back when Kokomo was a proud, prosperous union town.

[SoCalDem]

3. poison or firing squad? n.t.

[madrchsod]

4. it`s been a slow death of the union middle class....

and now we are on life support and the family has been notified.


change that never happened.

[Hannah Bell]

5. remember when meat-packing workers used to be well-paid?

a brief interlude, then back to the jungle. hardly noticed when it happened.

every stinking thing is going to be taken away.

[xchrom]

6. recommend

[elehhhhna]

7. you can't buy a new car on that income. Gm's comitting suicide.

[Hannah Bell]

8. k

[PVnRT]

9. "Fuck the UAW!" - Rahm Emanuel