Why do people dislike UAW workers?

Question

I have seen a lot of negative comments about UAW workers.I would like to know why we are so disliked.I have worked at Toledo Jeep Wrangler assembly for 29 years.

Ok,how do you people know what we do .First off we have gone through about 160 hours of quality training so we are educated in our jobs.As far as lazy,we stand on our feet for 10 hours a day and do the same thing over and over again.NO TIME TO READ A PAPER AS PEOPLE THINK,no time to even talk to the person next to me.As far as pay,what do you think people at Toyoya US make?It maybe more than you think,they recieved a 10000avg. profit sharing last year.Why are they not lazy and overpaid?They do the same thing as we do,put a couple of bolts on cars as one person put it.It is a little more than just putting bolts on cars,we make sure it is correct,we also may have to make a repair before our job can be done.Most of you wouldn't even last a day on the line,I have seen a lot of new hires quit after the first week.

As far as dangerous,a man was killed about 2 weeks ago at the plant.I have seen tires fall about 30 feet from overhead converyors and also saw a car fall about 8 feet off a conveyor.Seen a car with no brakes hit someone and seen someone drive a car with a disconnected clutch into a 10 foot hole.So yes I would consider it dangerous.

Answer 1

I believe that the general impression of UAW workers ( and other major union members) is that they are overpaid and lack understanding about what day's work for a day's pay should really be like. It is hard for the average worker to understand the assembly line worker who installs a few bolts to earn $70,000 per year plus great benefits. Perhaps that is a misunderstanding, but you asked the question about the negative comments. I am telling you what I see.

Answer 2

The person asked a question because he/she was interested in learning about public opinion of a key issue. He or she could have just gone down to the union hall and swallowed their rhetoric.

To give you my answer: The problem is that US automakers do have a reported $2,000.00 per vehicle manufacturing cost penalty due to UAW "legacy" costs and wages. This market disadvantage in a very competitive (especially in manufacturing) global market is not good for the industry or the country. Now, one could partially blame the non-socialistic healthcare system in the US for transferring this expense from government, which is the Western norm, to employers. Obviously, this legacy situation was created by many factors on the part of stockholders and management as well as labor. And in good economic times, workers should reap the benefits, just like the CEO.

That said, most people do react negatively to the entitlement mentality voiced by UAW leadership. After decades of membership decline and market loss to foreign auto companies, they do need to develop more cooperative strategies before it is too late.

Answer 3

Generally speaking of course,

UAW workers have the reputation for being uneducated and lazy.

The workers are paid very well and the product is of poor quality.

I am not sure who's fault it is, but the worker gets the balme. My bet is management and the unions allowed this system to exist.

Unions and Management will be fine. The common worker is up the creek with out a paddle. No one will hire a pro union worker that is used to union benefits and $25.00 an hour.

The average UAW worker will be making $10.00 an hour when the US auto companies fold to foreign competition.

Sad, but true.

Answer 4

Here is something I have said to my kids. And it can be applied to labor unions too as an analogy. Kids today do not know that everything they have is because their parents said okay to it. This my analogy of something my dad said to me. My dad once told me that when he was a kid ice was hauled out to the farm just to put it in the ice-box. This was before electricity was strung up down their road. And before the new fangled refridgerator. Dad said, I grew up watching this stuff develope, that you have today. A lot of people do not realize how neccessary labor unions have been throughout their histories. They have helped bring child labor laws. They have helped bring even the non union worker a 40 hour work week. Don't worry, with the attitudes today, along side the jobs going out of the country. The days are a-comin' again, when these anti union folks will be singing the lyrics to that old country song...I owe my soul to the company store. Then they will wonder what Granddad or great granddad would have done?

Answer 5

What do you do? Is it the same job that requires no updated training to perform ? Is it a dangerous job ? Do you need a degree to do your job? Do you & your family have full benifits and a retirement pension?. Can your job be done overseas for a third of the cost by people who want to work and dont have the sense of entitlement Americans fell they deserve because they are still chasing the arcaic 50's American Dream?

Answer 6

Because there is no such thing as a UAW worker...............UAW employee maybe, but not worker.
UAW members are so lazy that their low production rate has moved American companies overseas. This hurts parts suppliers, steel employees, rubber employees, etc. etc.
Get a life and work for a change!!!!!!!

Answer 7

Because I have to compete with them for scarce Michigan jobs every time greedy, mismanaged car companies reshuffle and move more operations to another country.

Answer 8

i would like to thank u, my 92 came from your plant, its the best jeep i've had so far, it as 325,xxx miles and still runs as good as the day i drove it home