Harley Shaiken
Harley Shaiken
auto companies critical directly gm issues labor speaking york
Historically, GM has been the most tone-deaf of the auto companies when it comes to labor issues. But York is speaking plainly and directly about critical issues between GM and the UAW.
auto benchmark detroit final good guarantees jobs language lifetime pensions rhetoric since whatever won workers
Whatever the final language, it will be the benchmark of how other negotiations are judged. Since the auto workers won pensions in '48, a lot of things Detroit has done, for good or for bad, has set a pattern. This will be the case, even if the rhetoric of lifetime jobs guarantees outstrip the language.
atmosphere auto gm parts plants poisoned pursue united workers
If GM actually did pursue this route?there would be a really poisoned atmosphere in the United Auto Workers plants where the parts are shipped.
caught gave global key minimal preserved structural union
The union was caught in a global hurricane, and they managed to come out of it with minimal structural damage. They preserved key principles; they gave up some money.
critical debate economy gains immigrants moment study total view workers
These are very important findings that come at a critical moment in the immigration debate. What the study indicates is that if we view the contribution of immigrants to the total economy there may be important gains to all workers that have previously been ignored.
rhetoric time
The rhetoric is much different this time - this time they're really out to get each other.
cushion pain prevent stability successful
There's a cushion but it doesn't prevent the fall. It eases the pain but it's not the same as having the stability of a successful company.
chair empty frame
There's no other way to diplomatically frame it - there's an empty chair there.
both chavez domestic fox political serving
Fox and Chavez are both serving important domestic political purposes for each other.
bring chooses company contract dominates largest powerful social symbol
Caterpillar is a powerful symbol of this process. It dominates its field. It is one of America's largest exporters, and it is very profitable. If there ever was a company that could bring back the social contract of the mid-20th century, it is Caterpillar. But it chooses not to.
closing consequences enormous future losing major
Losing 30,000 jobs, closing 14 plants, has enormous consequences not just for the union, but for the future of their members. It is a major blow.
benefits companies decision easy looking roll says top
Many companies are looking to roll back benefits, and benefits for retirees are at the top of the list. This decision says that while they may be first on the list, they may not be easy to cut.
bankruptcy bargaining begin chinese chosen clearly collective direction judge miller moving using wages
Miller has clearly chosen bankruptcy over collective bargaining to restructure the company. Delphi is using a bankruptcy judge to begin moving in the direction of Chinese wages and benefits.
cost hard taking union visible
Miller, by taking such a visible and hard line, may have underestimated the UAW. The union would like to see a settlement, but not at the cost of 60 years of gains.