I think the Union is going to strike at my plant.......

[Wcross]

I am a staff worker but was in the break area when the shop steward was giving an update on negotiations. I didn't know they were going to have the meeting and I kind of felt uncomfortable setting there but what can you do?

These were the issues;
The company wants to have 10% of the workforce to be temps. They won't lay off anybody but as they retire/die off the jobs will go to temps.

They want to go to piece work in the assembly department. The rate of pay would be determined by an outside company.

They want to make retirees pay for health insurance which would cost up to 500/mo (according to the union rep)

They want to make the jobs in the assembly dept to be "key jobs" which would make it difficult for the workers to transfer out.

I will end up having to drive through the picket line which really upsets me. I really can't afford to quit this job due to many factors so I guess I will just have to do it.

[annabanana]

1. Can you afford to get the "flu"?

(even for a little while)

[Wcross]

3. I could do that for a while...

Management at this place is real squirrelly, they might require a doctors note. If I knew the timetable I could arrange for my vacation to cover some of it. I think it might last a lot longer than my available days.

[Bunny]

2. Will your company really make you cross a picket line?

I'm management, and our company has an internal policy where we would not require temps, support staff, and other non-union people to cross a picket line. They can stay away without fear of job loss. Only management like me will be required to work.

I hate when they want to make retirees pay for their health insurance. It's so unfair to put that burden on the old folks - my parents worried for years about that. Mom worries about it even more now that Dad has passed on. I hope that today's union members can take that into consideration, even though it doesn't directly affect them now.

[Wcross]

5. Last time only the temps were told to stay home.

If I refused to work, I would be fired for sure.

[Bunny]

7. Wow that sucks. And you are non-management and non-union?

That really puts you in an awful spot.

[Wcross]

8. Awful spot is right!

It is a large facility, over 1800 Union employees. I know quite alot of them but not all. There is no way for the picket line guys to know if I am a scab or the lowly staff person that I am. We all have the same decals on our vehicles. Last time I was harrased on a regular basis but nothing serious. They did do a good job identifying the scabs last time.

[Goldom]

4. (this is off topic and random, but)

..when i read the thread title, for some reason, I thought you meant that the Union (as in "not the Confederacy") was going to attack you. Then I went, "wait, that makes no sense." And that's all, really.

[Wcross]

6. Well I am south of the mason-dixon line.....

Them Damn yankees could launch a pre-emptive strike!