UAW Contract Talks. Meh?

[Burnsie]

Ford introduced the $5/day wage in 1914 to reduce employee turnover, which was at upwards of 400% due to the awful working conditions. The unions didn't "continue to force themselves into Ford" because they weren't remotely IN Ford until the first UAW contract was signed in June 1941. Up to then, union organizers were harassed and beaten bloody. Until 1941 workers were at the mercy of their often sadistic foremen and Bennett's thugs. They had to reapply for work after every model changeover, with the older workers getting tossed aside. Lunch break at Highland Park? You had to wolf down a sandwich in 10 minutes from a company lunch cart without stepping away from the line.

[Wesley Mouch]

Ford introduced the $5/day wage in 1914 to reduce employee turnover, which was at upwards of 400% due to the awful working conditions. The unions didn't "continue to force themselves into Ford" because they weren't remotely IN Ford until the first UAW contract was signed in June 1941. Up to then, union organizers were harassed and beaten bloody. Until 1941 workers were at the mercy of their often sadistic foremen and Bennett's thugs. They had to reapply for work after every model changeover, with the older workers getting tossed aside. Lunch break at Highland Park? You had to wolf down a sandwich in 10 minutes from a company lunch cart without stepping away from the line.

So what you're saying is that Ford knew they had a problem, and they were fixing it? Makes me think that the market was fixing things -- and then in steps the union. Maybe the real progress was Ford fixing things and not the union forcing improvements in working conditions. Maybe they actually slowed down progress. Yeah, I like that theory. It fits my world view. Maybe I could be a 1619 reporter for the NYT.

[1953]

Crain's August 26th Edition lists the area's largest employers. 1,3,4, and 21 are automotive-related. I'd say contract talks and automotive employment still matter locally. As for the national picture, we have a big, diversified economy, so auto looks small.

[313WX]

Crain's August 26th Edition lists the area's largest employers. 1,3,4, and 21 are automotive-related. I'd say contract talks and automotive employment still matter locally. As for the national picture, we have a big, diversified economy, so auto looks small.

What's interesting is that with exception to Dan Gilbert's companies, amongst the top 15 employers, the rest are either health care, local/state government or education [[all of which rely either entirely or significantly on taxpayer dollars).