From the Detroit News:


Indianapolis -- A months-long battle to save a General Motors Co. stamping plant here that pitted rank-and-file UAW members against top union officials over whether autoworkers should accept pay cuts to keep jobs ended bitterly today.

Addison, Ill.-based JD Norman Industries said it is dropping its effort to buy the factory after an announcement late Monday that United Auto Workers members had voted 457-96 against accepting the concessions. That means the 80-year-old plant will close next year, and the city and county will lose one of their biggest tax revenue generators. At least one state politician has charged that the vote also means more layoffs at other area auto suppliers.

The supplier wanted to buy and continue operating the Indianapolis Metal Center, which is to close in October 2011 as a result of GM's 2009 bankruptcy. But plant workers refused to accept an almost 50 percent pay cut to $15.50 an hour, from $29, in a deal negotiated by UAW regional and national leaders.

But many of the employees represented by UAW Local 23 -- who for months panned the deal and last Thursday sported "No" buttons as they entered the union hall to cast ballots in a special mail-in vote -- preferred to close the plant. That would allow them to keep their option to transfer to another GM factory when jobs are available and maintain their current pay level.

WE should incourage our comrades to keep the faith like the Donbsss Coal Miners!

This reads like a chapter from SHAKEDOWN SOCIALISM! The reality of the situation is that these bozos are willing to try and bump their bretheren in the UAW in other plants, causing yet more pain for all, as only some workers MIGHT be moved to other plants. The junior members are just screwed, but the vote was still 457-96 for communal suicide!

AND, if they are deemed to be eligable for another plant, they HAVE TO RELOCATE THEMSELVES, not picked up by the UAW or GM. And they lay off other brothers at the plants they move to. Talk about eating your own........

This will show those greedy KKKapitalists who's the boss!! How do these stupid bosses get as far as they do in life? Everyone in collective knows it is far better to be laid off (free unemployment money from Dear Leaders stash!) than agree to a filthy concession. Some might call it "cutting off the nose to spite the face" but then they would be labeled thought-criminals.

I am thinking those flag totters should go join our boozing comrades in the UAW for a drink and stop their whining. Who does not like a good beet vodka?

"Protesters that drink together, Stay Together"

"What's good for UAW, is good for Obama America"

"More bailouts make for happier workers!
(and you are less likely to wake up with a
horse head on your stoop)" yes, it is a long sign but we have plenty of paid undocumented Democrat's to carry it.

$15.50 an hour! What an outrage! Glorious union workers would be forced to drink cheap beer and smoke mexican "dirt" weed at breaks!

I ask the question because this man in the photo makes a class statement... Was metal stamping ever a worthy "middle class" job? I mean don't get me wrong, its probably a good living but I consider myself middle class and I had to do more than graduate from high school and join the union to get here. I also had to take risk that these guys would never consider to establish what I've got going. I also don't own a pair of really bitching sunglasses. If I did I'd probably be upset that my metal stamping job was being slashed to $15.00/hour too. I wonder if someone could put together a group and purchase these mothballed plants and reopen them as merit shops...

These brave union workers can hold their heads high knowing they fought valiantly to destroy low paying jobs.

Beavis wrote:

INGSOC wrote:

UAW.jpg

I ask the question because this man in the photo makes a class statement... Was metal stamping ever a worthy "middle class" job? I mean don't get me wrong, its probably a good living but I consider myself middle class and I had to do more than graduate from high school and join the union to get here. I also had to take risk that these guys would never consider to establish what I've got going. I also don't own a pair of really bitching sunglasses. If I did I'd probably be upset that my metal stamping job was being slashed to $15.00/hour too. I wonder if someone could put together a group and purchase these mothballed plants and reopen them as merit shops...

I went back and forth on another board regarding a GM employee that received over $20 / hr for sitting on a stool and placing floor carpet grommets on the passenger side of the car they were building. It's ridiculous what unions have done to this country's work force. No wonder a 'loaded' Chevy ShitboxEquinox costs $34k. They'll end up doing the same for the UAW as they did for the garment workers! Remember, always look for the union label!

/off/ I have the same conversation fairly often with left leaning associates. Their arguments are consistently intellectually dishonest. When the debate gets revved up and we get into the meat of the matter their material jealousy and sense of entitlement for merely being is palpable if not admittedly on full display. It's gross and disgusting but even in their rhetoric it always lays just below the surface.

Most every justifiable reason for unions to exist has been legislated and is a mandate on business by law. Just go into your employers break room or kitchen and read the wall or on the bulletin board near an employee entrance. As Oleg points out they exist now out of group greed and are engines of corruption and economic distortion.