Why the UAW is toast

[pwd72s]

http://info.detnews.com:80/video/index.cfm?id=1189

[legion]

(Can't watch the video at work.)

I've often thought that the UAW has an unfair advantage in that they can monopolize labor across several different companies. They usually pick the weakest company to negotiate with first and then bully the rest into submission. It should be one union per company--to level the playing field.

[fireant911]

Very interesting video. Although this is probably old news to many, Volkswagen is seriously considering building a new plant in my state of Alabama or in Chattanooga, TN. Keeping the union out is probably is huge attraction. It is unfortunate that the union is such a detriment to productivity, efficiency, and negates attempts of a company's ability of becoming lean. The UAW's strength is certainly dwindling although it is safe to assume that someone will soon appear again defending the great advantages of unions... it is also like they are reading the script directly out of the little union manual.

[widgeon13]

Interesting but no completely new, Volvo did similar planning when the designed the original 850 in Sweden.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by legion

It should be one union per company--to level the playing field.

Pretty much my thought for years. Just 2 competing general unions would do the job. The union that wins the contract for any given company would allow the other union's members that are employed at the company to work under the contract and still have their union benefits administered by their original union. Or they can quit and look elsewhere,

Seems that unions are not covered by anti trust laws, yet they are a monopoly in the case of UAW and most others. The only way the West Coast Longshoreman's union gets to bargain is with a consortium of all the companies that they serve. In that example, the UAW would be forced to bargain with all auto mfg'rs at the same time at the same table. Not the best scenario, but better than what they do now.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by fireant911

Very interesting video. Although this is probably old news to many, Volkswagen is seriously considering building a new plant in my state of Alabama or in Chattanooga, TN. Keeping the union out is probably is huge attraction. It is unfortunate that the union is such a detriment to productivity, efficiency, and negates attempts of a company's ability of becoming lean. The UAW's strength is certainly dwindling although it is safe to assume that someone will soon appear again defending the great advantages of unions... it is also like they are reading the script directly out of the little union manual.

Why would Volkswagen want a non-union plant? Thier board is 30% workers.

[fireant911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Why would Volkswagen want a non-union plant? Thier board is 30% workers.

I may have spoken out of turn and misinformed... it is Alabama that does not want the union affilation.

"Gov. Bob Riley, leading Alabama's courtship, declined to comment on Volkswagen, citing his administration's policy of not discussing ongoing economic development projects. But state officials involved in the recruitment said they were unsettled by persistent rumors that Volkswagen may have struck an agreement with the United Auto Workers.
Any such deal would be ill-received in Alabama, a state that has built a booming automotive industry by offering manufacturers big tax breaks and plenty of hard-working, nonunion laborers. Alabama is a right-to-work state, meaning its workers are not compelled to join unions as a condition of their employment. Similar laws have stymied labor organizers in other Southern states."

the above passage is a 'cut and paste' from http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1213953321202790.xml&coll=3

I know for a fact that many of the jobs listed in the state of Alabama clearly state that the organization is a non-union facility. This makes the position much more attractive to potential job seekers.

[red-beard]

I fully understand why a "normal" auto company would want to locate in a non-union state, but VW has 1/3rd of their board members from the union. I can't imagine that board making a decision like this, unless the German Union does not like the UAW.