Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » What your opinion of the UAW?

1 2 3 4

Dec. 7, 2008 7:01 a.m. SVreX SuperDork

Curtis:

You are way off, and I think you should stand down. I'm not sure where the heck you've been, but you haven't been listening very well, probably because you've been way too busy whining about yourself and not interested in other people.

I'm not going to go into a huge defense of the myself against the bs you just dished out, because most people around here already know me significantly better than you just summarized me, but just to be clear: the fact is I have 5 kids, I come from 4 generations of educators, my wife and I are both educators, I have served on the school board and the PTA, I have served as President of the local home education association for 2 years, I've been to EVERY SINGLE concert, sporting activity, play, or other extra-curricular activity for every one of my kids for 21 years, I pay DOUBLE my school taxes every year, because I home school so first I have to pay your sorry a$$ and then I have to buy all my own curricula, my family has NO paid benefits whatsoever, because we live on a single income with no benefits (and yes, I paid every penny of the medical expenses to have all 5 of my kids), and I've spent over 10 years of my life VOLUNTEERING for charities (some of them education based).

I was also a PA taxpayer while you were on the payroll, so yes, I do have something to say.

Go ahead and blame me for all life's troubles if you want to. I think you have simply made some bad decisions in life, and are now reaping what you sowed.

But my life is good, I love my family. I don't mind my $35K paycheck, and I'm PROUD of my kids (who are all well-rounded high-achieving honors students).

But I'd appreciate it if you would not call me white trash, filthy rich, space wasting, or illiterate. And I will certainly NOT tolerate you calling my kids stupid, or suggest that they are bound for mill working or prostitution.

My family and I have over 100 years of combined teaching experience. The fact is that teaching is a great profession, but it breeds a culture of discontent. Yes, teachers have to put up with a lot of crap, but when compared to other businesses and industries teachers have an honorable profession that is valued and well compensated with one of the best available benefits packages.
Dec. 7, 2008 7:31 a.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

Yeah Curtis, you missed the mark with that personal attack by just a weee bit there.
Dec. 7, 2008 7:47 a.m. minimac Dork

I think everyone can see why you no longer work as a teacher....It's probably a good thing. go ahead flame away-I'm a big boy and can take it.
Dec. 7, 2008 2:19 p.m. clownkiller New Reader

Back on topic

I read an artical on racial discrimination going on at Ford. Ford had a test, that after taking, an employee could move into traing for transmission specalist. The written test disqualified more African American prospects than non AA. The union was pushing to get rid of the test because of this. The union sued, and won. Ford and two related companies will have to pay 1.6 millon and give remedial classes to workers.

http://www.paemploymentlawblog.com/2008/01/articles/discrimination/ford-motor-comp...

I can't find the artical I read, but from what I can recall....transmission specialists made 130k a year. The union wanted to remove the written test in favor of a spacial test that didn't require as much reading. That's exactly who I want building my transmission, some public educated non-reader.

The UAW is a bloated antiqueted organization that killed the auto industry. The UAW is going to ride the corpse of the auto industry past the grave. I'm saddened, and disgusted at the same time
Dec. 7, 2008 2:27 p.m. curtis73 Reader

you're right... I went over the line.

Accept my apology? I had a bad day, lost a dog to an SUV, and took it out on you folks. I was a real wad of weird stuff last night.

Grrr.
Dec. 7, 2008 2:30 p.m. curtis73 Reader

I deleted my post, it was in poor taste.
Dec. 7, 2008 3:07 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

I don't think much of a man who doesn't think he makes mistakes, but I have regard for a man who can be man enough to admit a mistake and try to make it right.

Yes, apology accepted.

Know anything about the UAW?
Dec. 7, 2008 5:07 p.m. curtis73 Reader

SVreX wrote:

Know anything about the UAW?

Only that I did everything in my power to not join it, including resigning my position at Rochester Delphi.
Dec. 8, 2008 4:16 p.m. WilD Reader

I. My oppinion of the UAW is very negative

II. Anecdotes and personal observation of other people. I see how uneducated UAW members make more than professionals with actual college degrees. Much more. It is like winning the job lottery. Money for nothing. I have also heard numerous stories from coworkers who have had direct contact with UAW shops describing the ridiculous rules and inefficincies. For example, I knew a guy who worked for EDS and did data related work at a GM facility. So, he was non-union and basically sat at a computer doing stuff. Cleaning in this facility was a union job, and it simply didn't get done. Apparantly, this non-union guy was formally reprimanded for cleaning the thick layer of dust from his own desk. Another guy I know is a UAW member and is a "carpenter" at a plant that makes axles. He builds a table or a shelf once in a while aparantly. He makes a lot of money and his wife doesn't need to work. But basically, it is the completely unjustifiable level of combensation these people make compared to people with the same or better skills that turns me off. Not to mention the rediculous level of job security. No work for these guys to do? Fine, but they still get paid.
Dec. 8, 2008 4:30 p.m. aircooled Dork

WilD wrote:

....No work for these guys to do? Fine, but they still get paid.

And many of these guys are probably the same "USA all the way" kind of guys that would say "America is built on hard working Americans" and call (at least in the past) the USSR, Cuba and North Korea "pinko commie bastards"...

...a wee bit ironic I say.
Dec. 8, 2008 4:57 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

Down here there's the ILA which is the longshoremen's union. They will go on strike at the drop of a hat and it's very clannish. If you aren't real tight with one of the union members you ain't getting a job on the docks, period. It pays VERY well once you do get on board.

Maersk Lines is one of the largest of the SC Ports Authority's customers, recently they said that they were at the point where either their dock costs were cut by, IIRC, 8% or they were going to move their East Coast business to the Port of Savannah which is only about 200? miles further south. The ILA is resisting any salary or benefit cuts and claims that Maersk can't move their business south.

Sound familiar?
Dec. 8, 2008 5:13 p.m. aircooled Dork

Sounds like the Longshoremen Los Angeles (which I believe handles something like %30 of all shipping in the US). Those A-holes make ungodly amounts of money for what they do (and love to strike), and of course we all pay for it!

I mean really, is the result really any different then having the mob control a port?
Dec. 8, 2008 5:27 p.m. neon4891 Dork

aircooled wrote:

WilD wrote:

....No work for these guys to do? Fine, but they still get paid.

And many of these guys are probably the same "USA all the way" kind of guys that would say "America is built on hard working Americans" and call (at least in the past) the USSR, Cuba and North Korea "pinko commie bastards"...

...a wee bit ironic I say.

Playing vice city lately?

1 2 3 4

You'll need to log in to post.