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Ford worker's challenge to UAW union dues stirs up right-to-work issues


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http://www.freep.com/article/20140821/BUSINESS0102/308210049/Ford-UAW-right-to-work

 

 

A Ford worker has filed charges against the UAW and the automaker seeking a partial refund of his union dues.

a tool-and-die maker in Dearborn for 16 years, filed charges last week with the National Labor Relations Board. He is receiving free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation.

If "tool & die maker" and the foundation prevail, the case could encourage other workers to take the same action and hinder the UAW’s fund-raising for political purposes. It would be a symbolic victory for Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican legislators who pushed through Michigan’s right-to-work law in late 2012.

Just thought I'd share..

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I know there are a couple of clowns at Rawsonville and Sterling as well that spend their days at work slamming the unions. The answer to this is simple: if one does not like the fact that their employer is unionized, quit and go somewhere else. Of couse, if you work at a small nonunion job shop, expect to be paid about a third to a half less, and few if any of the benefits the UAW negotiated on your behalf.

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If my dues are used for the membership I have no issue.

If my dues are going to a politicians ( any ) then I want a refund as well.

 

I work for Ford and since I PAY the UAW they are supposed to be working on my behalf, not giving dues money away.

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Any member can request a refund of the portion of their annual dues, used in a political manner.

 

The constitution has it spelled out. Oh... the International has all these hoop`s you have to jump through but, it can and is done all the time.

 

Its goes something like this, your request has to be submitted by registered mail on or during a blue moon phase but, not prior to the two weeks after your last fart and not one day before your anniversary date as a Ford employee but not your anniversary of being a sheep...

 

Ballfan, it seems that your old tried and true response may well be coming to an end. To many states and city`s are raising the minimum wage and it may be harder for Ford to hold people making $14.50 an hour when they could work somewhere else for a buck less. The IUAW has agreed to no real benefits for entry level members so that's no longer a sticking point. ANNNNND for those that are still signing bonus drunk.... read the small print (micro print) even if (I`m stretching that "if") if the magical 20% is ever reached those few that would come over to the land of retirement benefits would not and I`ll repeat that "will not" be involved in the Ford retirement plan or in the IUAW retiree`s medical benefits plan, "ever", so whats keeping entry level people? Here at CAP you have to interview 1000 people to maybe get 200 hired and out of that number, maybe 100 will be here after a month....

 

 

If you`re wondering, my last request was on time the moon was right and my fart was two weeks old on my anniversary date. The check was for $38 bucks..... give or take a few pennies. That was about ten years ago, I got tired of watching the moon and holding in gas :do what:

 

Decker

Edited by Decker
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I know there are a couple of clowns at Rawsonville and Sterling as well that spend their days at work slamming the unions. The answer to this is simple: if one does not like the fact that their employer is unionized, quit and go somewhere else. Of couse, if you work at a small nonunion job shop, expect to be paid about a third to a half less, and few if any of the benefits the UAW negotiated on your behalf.

 

The IUAW can giveth and taketh away anything and everything. Don't forget the IUAW is a business and whats good for the business is whats good for YOU!

 

 

So no soup for you!!

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I know there are a couple of clowns at Rawsonville and Sterling as well that spend their days at work slamming the unions. The answer to this is simple: if one does not like the fact that their employer is unionized, quit and go somewhere else. Of couse, if you work at a small nonunion job shop, expect to be paid about a third to a half less, and few if any of the benefits the UAW negotiated on your behalf.

Thats the diehard democrat response. don't like it, quit. plain and simple though, not all of us feel the same politically, and want our dues going 100% to democrats only. if the union doesn't get us a raise this time around i'll be a proud former union dues payer.

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Not opting out of the union just opting out of part of my union dues being used for political reasons. I have no problem paying dues to have union protection but I don't want them going to a political party. What did Granholm do to save the Wixom Plant from closing down when she was the governor of Michigan, Nothing. If she would have given Ford the tax breaks at that plant like they asked that plant would still be open today. They FMC told her that if she didn't they were going to shut down that plant. I'm not saying that the republican party is any better because when it comes down to it NEITHER party could care less about the middle class but I shouldn't have to have some of my union dues going to them to get very little in return, my vote should be enough. At the very minimum the UAW should give us the option if we want to pay that just like they should have had us all vote if we wanted our union dues increased instead of taking it upon themselves and increasing it for us.

 

I bet if we all opt out of the union we will get a huge raise. Maybe we can make what non union shops are making ......wait .......what...... People, do your research on what u expect to gain, and what you expect to lose. Be smart. Do not be a toad.

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Decker:

 

Your point is well taken. However, I feel the UAW provides at least some layer of protection especially when it comes to job security. I do my job well, however, there were a lot of white collars that did their job well too during the downsizing, and the only notice they got was a tap on the shoulder and a white box. Most were given a form to sign- a few month's severance pay in exchange for a waiver or nothing. Of course, a lot of the decisions as to who to get rid of were politically motivated. In a perfect world, I would not need a union. However, this is not a perfect world.

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Niteeyes:

 

I am neither Democrat or Republican- I think that both parties leave a lot to be desired. However, on the opposite side of the coin, most CEOs are Republican. If I disagree with their stances on things (e.g. Hobby Lobby), I can choose not to work there as well. Keep in mind as well, that corporations spend hundreds of millions of dollars in PAC money to contribute to political causes- money that could have been reinvested in the company or given to employees in raises. However, if a person wants the job- whether it be union or nonunion- they have to put those feelings aside.

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I agree that we live in a political world where the middle and lower class do not matter. I was not a big fan of Granholm either. It especially pissed me off that they built a $200 million interchange at Wixom Road for what is now a relocated RV dealer and a potential Superfund site. Our current idiot governor promised tons of new jobs for Michigan with the RTW legislation that was ramrodded through the Michigan legislature. Where are the jobs? Last I looked Michigan still had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Some say Woodhaven Stamping is on the rocks as well. What is Snyder doing to try and save that plant? Especially since he and Junior are supposed to be neighbors and friends. So many people underestimate the importance of voting especially in non-presidential elections. However, if you don't vote you have no right to complain!

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The low voter turn out that we experience year after year, is simply voters seeing no viable alternative to the status quo. We can only hope that at some point before its too late, people will wake up and exercise their rights and VOTE. Its unfortunate that we have the same issue in plant and local elections, where the good old boys hold on due to lack of turn-out. You can't bitch about the results, if you don't do something to try and change those results. VOTE People..

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The low voter turn out that we experience year after year, is simply voters seeing no viable alternative to the status quo. We can only hope that at some point before its too late, people will wake up and exercise their rights and

VOTE. Its unfortunate that we have the same issue in

plant and local elections, where the good old boys hold

on due to lack of turn-out. You can't bitch about the

results, if you don't do something to try and change those

results. VOTE People..

I agree with you but in regards to having the same issues in the plant where the good old boys get reelected due to lack of voter turnout. When THEIR (good old boys) the ones that count the votes how do you ever expect someone to beat them. Why aren't the votes counted by someone who has no vested interest on who wins? To add to this why aren't those in the International who have the final say on our contract proposal ELECTED officials? If they were don't you think we'd end up with much better contracts then what we've been getting the last few contracts? There's absolutely no reprecussions for them when they come to the table with these shitty contracts, if they knew that there was a chance they wouldn't get reelected don't you think we'd be in a much better contract situation then we currently are now?

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