KC GM Plant Goes On Strike

[Made in the USA]

The reason that the US is sending jobs overseas--could be! Poor economy, poor sales, struggling company,high labor costs-----well, who cares, let's go ON STRIKE!!


Workers at Kansas GM plant go on strike
By MARGARET STAFFORD
Associated Press Writer



KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Members of a United Auto Workers union local went on strike Monday at General Motors' Fairfax facility - hitting the plant that makes GM's popular Malibu sedan.

During talks over the weekend, UAW Local 31 set a strike deadline of 9 a.m. CDT Monday after union negotiators decided that a settlement was not near. The Fairfax plant employs more than 2,500 UAW members.

The plant makes the Chevrolet Malibu, a medium-sized sedan that was named "Car of the Year" at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The strike hits a key GM product at a time when the company can ill afford it. Last week GM announced that it lost $3.3 billion in the first quarter, due largely to one-time charges and North American losses that offset gains in the rest of the world.

With truck and sport utility vehicle sales dropping, the redesigned 2008 Malibu made here has been a bright spot in GM's lineup because it can carry a family yet can get 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway depending on how it's equipped.

From January through April, GM had sold 58,126 Malibus, up 32 percent from the same period last year. Sales were up 55 percent in April. A strike will crimp production and hurt GM's profits, although the company makes the Malibu at another factory in Orion Township, Michigan near Pontiac. Workers at that plant have approved a local contract.

A GM plant in Delta Township near Lansing that makes strong-selling crossover vehicles went on strike April 17, and other UAW locals in Wyoming and Warren, Mich., and Mansfield, Ohio, are negotiating but say they will give GM 12-hour notice if they go on strike.

Industry analysts have speculated that the strikes are an effort by the UAW to get GM to put pressure on American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. to settle a bitter nine-week strike.

GM accounts for 80 percent of American Axle's parts business. About 3,600 UAW workers at five American Axle plants have been on strike since Feb. 26. Negotiations are continuing and progress has been reported.

The American Axle strike has curtailed production at about 30 GM factories due to parts shortages, mainly for pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger has said disputes at the GM plants are about local contract issues and have nothing to do with American Axle.

[K C Muffin]

as if Chevy was going to be a powerhouse this year....now they go on strike. Unions. Go figger!

[aft_lizard01]

Originally Posted by K C Muffin

as if Chevy was going to be a powerhouse this year....now they go on strike. Unions. Go figger!

Unions have been literally destroying Americas automakers for years. They still can't help themselves even when things are bad.

[Army_of_One]

The Unions do not have the companies interest at heart...only theirs. That's why Unions are counterproductive. They bargain to do the least and get the most.

[Bandit]

Unions used to have their place, as they were responsible at one time for bettering wages and work environments. But they have just gotten so greedy. I mean, I don't like the fact that the Big 3 US automakers build a lot of their cars in Mexico and Canada, but with our unions as greedy as they are, who can blame them?

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Bandit

Unions used to have their place, as they were responsible at one time for bettering wages and work environments. But they have just gotten so greedy. I mean, I don't like the fact that the Big 3 US automakers build a lot of their cars in Mexico and Canada, but with our unions as greedy as they are, who can blame them?

So...what you are saying is that it is basically the U.S. Automakers had to over out of the country because the unions forced them to. I would agree.

[CRAZY HORSE]

I Always Thought Those Union Employees Spent Their Benefits Here In America
So Far I Have Not Had To Drive Any Of That Foreign Stuff

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

The Unions do not have the companies interest at heart...only theirs. That's why Unions are counterproductive. They bargain to do the least and get the most.

You say that with a straight face...

Remember, minimum wage means if we could pay you less, we would.

Greed runs both ways and if the company had all the power, they would make you do the most with the least amount.

[BroncoFan]

GOOD POINT

[Detector]

Remember, minimum wage means if we could pay you less, we would.

That worked when you got paid what you were worth or you hit the road. Unions makes sure you get paid no matter what you're worth.