<VV> GM Announces 30,000 Job Cuts - No Corvair

[Rt66Vairs at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/21/2005 10:29:25 AM Pacific Standard Time,  
kaczmarek at charter.net writes:

All
I  sent Garth a longer message, but I think this gets the drift. From Crains  
Automotive news, about 3 weeks ago. 

Cost of Medical Benefits as a  dollar amount included in the price of a new  
vehicle

GM--1500.00
Ford--1100.00
Toyota in US (Non Union)  135.00
Toyota in Japan            97.00

Union members feel free to flame me, but IMO your union shouldn't  have waged 
and benefitted your butt out of a job. They should have stuck to  maintaining 
a safe workplace,and mediation of employee/managment greviances.  

Hank



Hank,
 
I would NEVER flame you. I will provide some info from the other side of  the 
coin.
 
GMs situation is not universal for all union companies.
 
I work for Kaiser-Permanente. Almost everyone here is in some union. They  
are also very
successful. They are the largest and most successful HMO in the WORLD. They  
are also
one of the only HMOs that operate their own hospitals and other health care  
facilities.
 
Last year every employee received a sizable cash bonus because they are  
doing so well and
they feel it's the labor / management relationship that has made them so  
successful.
 
We are paid a decent wage and receive excellent benifits. We're also  
expected to perform in
every department.
 
We can also plan our lives because we know what is ahead for the next five  
years. We just
ratified a new contract in October. 
 
I only need to plan for the next 3 years 10 months because I will be  
retired. I know whats 
ahead for sure as far as my job is concerned.
 
One thing to remember:
 
Without unions the benefits and working conditions most of us enjoy would  
not exist as they
do today. That's who fought for them. 
 
Also, Many unions provide training for tradesmen that is superior to most  
other programs. They also provide a job and a wage while the tradesman is  
learning. 

I spent 3 years in an apprenticeship program of the Operating  Engineers 
Union. The only other training program that was equal to it was the US  Navy. 
That's saying something.
 
Tim Abney