cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/830212

The absolutely beautiful reason that I can tell that they still aren’t agreeing to Fords concessions is because they in solidarity with new workers that don’t even exist yet, are demanding that Fords new battery plants they are building be placed under the same labor agreement they are fighting for.

“The UAW, according to Ford officials, has taken a hard line on requiring the company’s four new battery plants be placed under the terms of the labor agreement.”

  • zepheriths@lemmy.world
    89·
    2 years ago

    That’s a great idea in an economy with low unemployment let’s fire everyone, surely the workers will be easily replaced.

  • AliasAKA@lemmy.worldEnglish
    85·
    2 years ago

    If Ford fires workers, that’s a no from me on purchasing any vehicles from them in the future.

    I’d rather pay a 2 thousand dollar premium on a new vehicle that’s union made than pay 2 thousand dollars less for a shoddy piece of crap made by inexperienced and overworked / underpaid workers.

    • JokeDeity@lemm.ee
      264·
      2 years ago

      I’d rather walk than ever buy another American vehicle anyhow, they’re fucking trash. Japanese for the rest of my life, no looking back at years wasted on American garbage.

      • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
        14·
        2 years ago

        Ever since GM killed SAAB, I get Subaru. Admittedly, I currently own a Bolt, but the second Subaru makes an electric Impreza, I’m getting one.

      • dirtbiker509@lemm.ee
        5·
        2 years ago

        Hate to break it to you but Japanese work culture and abuse is significantly worse than the US.

        • JokeDeity@lemm.ee
          62·
          2 years ago

          I can’t imagine how that has anything to do with what I’m saying. I need dependable reliable transportation, that doesn’t seem to be something American vehicle makers can make happen, but the Japanese seem more than happy to take up the slack. I hope everyone gets better workplace environments, but that’s unrelated.

    • Sunroc@lemmy.world
      11·
      2 years ago

      Seems logical, I wonder what percentage of people share that opinion. For instance I would in general trust a package with UPS more than Fed Ex.

      • AliasAKA@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        2 years ago

        Exactly, I strongly prefer UPS as a delivery service (I can’t tell you the last time I intentionally used fedex). I actually trust USPS more than fedex, frankly.

        • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.mlEnglish
          4·
          2 years ago

          FedEx has messed up deliveries the last several times I’ve used them. Either things are broken, or they sneak up to the door and leave a notice that they missed you without ever ringing the bell and then run off. That last one is really weird. They’re already there, what’s the point of this? I’ve seen them on camera walk up, put the sticker on the door, and leave. No package in hand, no knock, and no doorbell ring. Why!

          • KrapKake@lemmy.world
            2·
            2 years ago

            Maybe its faster for them. Like they don’t want to wait for someone to get their pants and finally get to the door, or they assume no one is home and just want to get on with the next delivery. At the same time the fedex system shows that they made the visit to your home and that is good enough for their boss. I really don’t know but that’s my theory, perhaps a fedexer will enlighten us.

    • vivadanang@lemm.eeEnglish
      10·
      2 years ago

      EV’s require fewer assembly steps. The unions want to transition losses on the assembly lines to new jobs at battery manufacturing ops the ev builders will make. EV builders don’t want to have union shops at every level.

      They’d rather dump the unnecessary people and hire non-union workers instead.

      Follow the money.

    • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
      32·
      2 years ago

      While I support your sentiment, non-union does not necessarily equal poorly made. It just means those products are more cheaply made by undercutting wages and benefits everywhere. Supporting union work is a monetary rising tide that lifts all boats, from the local economy, better health, to generational income that supports a better future for the families who get it.

  • MajorHavoc@lemmy.world
    29·
    2 years ago

    Watch me predict the future… “Consumer Reports cites high recall and defect incidence in 2025-2030 model Ford vehicles.”

    • Cheers@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      2 years ago

      Also sounds like a good way to piss off local government. Fire ~5k people per city? That’s probably pretty impactful for those cities.

  • Chetzemoka@startrek.website
    23·
    2 years ago

    It is illegal under federal law to fire workers for striking. Mass layoffs like this were likely already something they were planning and they’re just using the strike as an excuse to make it seem less like it’s just the naked corporate greed that it really is.

  • Revonult@lemmy.world
    101·
    2 years ago

    I support the protests and UAW but I don’t see in the article that suggests Ford is moving to fire these workers. Perhaps I missed it?

      • Revonult@lemmy.world
        9·
        2 years ago

        Is this not the same article? I see them mentioning laying off 4.6k workers across all plants but not specifically this one. Its my understanding too these layoffs are non strikers because the plant cannot operate. I also thought there were somekind of penalties or contract stuff to prevent firing striking workers, I am assuming this is a protected strike. Just kinda seems like the post is misleading, esp since there is no mention about firing striking workers.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
      21·
      2 years ago

      They’re not. They’re firing non-union workers in other plants up and downstream of this one, due to the lack of demand for those other plants’ outputs

  • Kyden@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    Please forgive my ignorance here. I absolutely support folks fighting for better pay and benefits, but why on earth did they refuse this?

    The company’s Oct. 3 offer featured:

    • Product commitments for every UAW plant in America
    • No job losses due to electric vehicle battery plants
    • Profit sharing among all employees
    • A full ratification bonus
    • 26% pay increase for all temporary employees
    • Conversion of all temporary employees with at least three months of service to permanent status
    • More than 20% pay increase for permanent employees
    • Inflation protection in cost-of-living allowances
    • End to tiered pay so all employees can reach the top wage rate
    • A reduction (in half) of the time it takes to earn the top wage
    • Income protection for permanent employees
    • Increased 401(k) contributions for permanent employees
    • Up to five weeks paid vacation, an average of 17 paid holidays per year and two family days.

    Every single one of those bullet points sounds like a pretty massive win, even individually, then you combine them all together and it’s the best benefit plan I’ve ever even heard of in the US. Granted, I am not a benefits manager and never have been, so I suppose I don’t know what is generally available in the US. But many of those individual benefits are leagues above anything I’ve ever seen.

    EDIT: I read the article rather than the post. So I assume the above points are not being given to plants planning to be built?

    • Omega_Jimes@lemmy.ca
      5·
      2 years ago

      Yeah, near the end of the article they mention that the union won’t agree until the new battery plants will also be included in this CA.

  • ByteWizard@lemm.eeBannedEnglish
    135·
    2 years ago

    Ford throwing off the burden of the UAW would be a huge win for consumers. Fords might actually be built well for once, and they’d be cheaper.