Chrysler Auto Workers Busted

**Pam** · September-24-10, 09:23 AM

Woe to the worker who goldbricks around,
The shareholders' money he takes by the ounce,
But god bless the bankers who steal by the pound,
E'en as they sabotage all our accounts.

When the rich their trillions hog,
The news reacts with lilting sigh,
But when our workers fuck the dog,
The news flips out with hue and cry.

Nice. I think you should do all your posts in verse from now on.

**DMK** · September-24-10, 09:33 AM

Really? This much time spent chasing around people [[then blogggging about it) who are of legal age to drink and have jobs. Adults sometimes drink during the day. What do you think happens at the DAC or the Whitney at lunch? Those are executives from any number of the downtown companies [[Chase, Quicken, Compuware, etc.) sipping wine and martinis. What is the difference? Out of sight, out of mind? One standard for the upper class and another for the rest of us?

**MizMotown** · September-24-10, 11:23 AM

Uaw local 6000 :d

**MizMotown** · September-24-10, 11:24 AM

Those are executives from any number of the downtown companies [[Chase, Quicken, Compuware, etc.) sipping wine and martinis. What is the difference? Out of sight, out of mind? One standard for the upper class and another for the rest of us?

Sheeeet, just drive by the Penthouse and other strip clubs. And it's all on the companies AMEX.

**gazhekwe** · September-24-10, 11:33 AM

We need to start with finding the proof their work performance was deficient, and not make judgments based on that which we do not know.

**jt1** · September-24-10, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

We need to start with finding the proof their work performance was deficient, and not make judgments based on that which we do not know.

No, we don't. They may have not had issues in the past but work on the line or in any plant is an opportunity for disaster. The UAW and OSHA have spent anumber of years working to ensure that there are safe work practices in the plants/workplace.

If someone if intoxicated, high or even mildly buzzed it increases the chance for someone to get or actions hurt another. What they do on their own time does not apply since their impairment [[no matter how limited) could cause injury to someone else.

Chrysler and the UAW can sit around and wait for this to happen or proactively ensure it does not. They should not get a free pass based upon past work because their actions are putting themselves and their peers at risk.

Funny how union supporters insist one of the key things that unions have done is implementing safe work practices [[I agree, kudos to the UAW for this) but they will then defend these guys because they were 'on their own time'.

If I had a loved one at this plant I would be fuming because they are increaing the potential for injury.

**ejames01** · September-24-10, 11:39 AM

Not true at all.

Originally Posted by MizMotown

Those are executives from any number of the downtown companies [[Chase, Quicken, Compuware, etc.) sipping wine and martinis. What is the difference? Out of sight, out of mind? One standard for the upper class and another for the rest of us?

Sheeeet, just drive by the Penthouse and other strip clubs. And it's all on the companies AMEX.

**rjk** · September-24-10, 11:45 AM

A few years ago the owner of Kovacs bar told me that he stopped serving lunch because the steel company wouldn't let their employees out during their lunch break. Supposedly their insurance company put the kabosh on that. I wouldn't be surprised if the auto companies go this route. They could even set up some inhouse liquor stores. Anything to avoid any future bad press. They needed this like they need exploding gas tanks.

It's not a question of them being of legal age to drink since Chrysler rules don't allow for it's employees to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while they're on company property.

**ejames01** · September-24-10, 11:47 AM

Boo Hoo. There is a double standard. The rich and powerful are treated differently than working people. Everyone already knows this, so why do things that will cause trouble????

I was reading the Forbes 400 list and came across a billionare named John Arnold who made a ton of money working for Enron. His fortune is likely the result of fraud, but does that make it acceptable for other people to cheat and steal smaller amounts of money?

http://www.forbes.com/profile/john-arnold

**jackie5275** · September-24-10, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Downriviera

The real victim here; The party store owner. He just lost some good customers.

How true is that LOL LOL LOL

**Bigb23** · September-24-10, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Magnatomicflux

There's nothing wrong with a beer or two for lunch. The guys I was referring to anyways are COMPLETELY HAMMERED or completely screwed up on coke. And it's not at lunch, it's on the job, everyday, all day. I can't tell you how many vodka and OK's I've encountered on the plant floor. And it's so common place, that they just walk around with it in a clear plastic party cup. On top of that, they then get on their fork lift, pick up a 10,000 pound ladle of molten aluminum and drive around with it spilling it everywhere along the way. These privileged drive res also reserve the RIGHT to run your ass down if you're in the way. I mean....if he has to jam on those brakes for sober little me, he's going to have a title wave of 780 degree aluminum flying at everyone within 15 feet.
So no...this is not acceptable.

Proof.
Source - my eyballs taking in my daily environment.

Has anybody here noticed that a local Hi-lo is capable of picking up 5 tons of molten aluminum and sloshing it around ? Almost 40 years in the business, and I've never seen that Hi-lo.
I question the so called witness.

**Hoagie** · September-24-10, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

Has anybody here noticed that a local Hi-lo is capable of picking up 5 tons of molten aluminum and sloshing it around ? Almost 40 years in the business, and I've never seen that Hi-lo.
I question the so called witness.

I am skilled trades for the big 3, but I still drive a hi-lo quite a bit. It weighs 22,500 lbs and can lift over 13,000 lbs if positioned properly on the forks. Although I think the poster is prone to hyperbole, the correct hi-lo can easily lift that much.

By the way, I don't make anywhere near $40/hr and didn't when I was supervision either.

To the original point of this thread, this type of activity is prevalent, in the small percentage of employees that don't buy into the severity of the situation at the big 3. Most employees, and I speak from the point of supervising them, AND working alongside them, have stepped up their effort accordingly in the workplace. I work with a group of 100% skilled trades for the big three that get moved around from plant to plant, commuting all the while. While alot of the folks aren't happy with that, it doesn't stop them from putting in a very productive work day.

**Hermod** · September-24-10, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by ejames01

Boo Hoo. There is a double standard. The rich and powerful are treated differently than working people. Everyone already knows this, so why do things that will cause trouble????

I was reading the Forbes 400 list and came across a billionare named John Arnold who made a ton of money working for Enron. His fortune is likely the result of fraud, but does that make it acceptable for other people to cheat and steal smaller amounts of money?

http://www.forbes.com/profile/john-arnold

John Arnold was working in the legal side of Enron [[trading in natural gas futures). The profits that he made there probably kept the illegal side of the house of cards from collapsing sooner. Rater than invest in Enron stock like the rest of the execs there, he took his bonus [[which he had well earned) and bailed out to start his own hedge fund with the money. The money he has today is a result of shrewd operation of his own hedge fund.

**Hermod** · September-24-10, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Hoagie

I am skill trades for the big 3, but I still drive a hi-lo quite a bit. It weighs 22,500 lbs and can lift over 13,000 lbs if positioned properly on the forks. Although I think the poster is prone to hyperbole, the correct hi-lo can easily lift that much.

By the way, I don't make anywhere near $40/hr and didn't when I was supervision either.

Depending on the size of the forklift, it may be capable of lifting 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 16 thousand pounds.

**ejames01** · September-24-10, 04:30 PM

This fork truck can lift 36000#

http://www.northamerica.yale.com/yna...ire_trucks.asp

**GOAT** · September-24-10, 04:36 PM

Wow! A lot of strawmen on this thread. People arguing about rich people having a beer or two for lunch, the capability of a fork-lift lifting 10,000lbs [[I have seen the very thing Magnatomicflux has seen at the old Ford casting plant). And yet people make excuses for doing drugs or getting drunk while working for a company that almost went belly up but was saved by taxpayer money.

As for the union having to be there for the reprimand. Yes they do but they don't have to defend them when the proof is 100% positive.

**oldredfordette** · September-24-10, 04:43 PM

Yes, they do. It's federal labor law.

**Ltdave** · September-24-10, 04:48 PM

SKILLED TRADE SPECIALIST

wow! i want a job THERE. im a state licensed electrician and make $33 and hour...

Maybe this is the reason my friend is about to sue G.M. under Pennsylvania's lemon law.Her brand new $30,000 SUV has given her problems from day one. The electrical system is possesed. The radio turns itself on and then changes channels by itself. The electrical in the drivers door CAUGHT FIRE. The car will be running, then just shut itself down and drain the battery to boot.

sounds like its an ELECTRICAL problem, no? i would be willing to bet $100 that the wiring harness was made in Mexico. could a faulty COMPONENT be further affected by the sobriety of the installer? or do the parts GO BAD because the guy [[or gal) had a beer at lunch?

**jerrytimes** · September-24-10, 05:27 PM

I haven't read all this so I'm sorry if I re-iterate what some have said but here is my take. I at times disagree with what the UAW sometimes does, at times I agree. I have numerous friends that work at the auto plants that tell me how certain workers jobs are saved just because they are UAW. One of those friends are one of those types [[OFTEN very late to work). BUT, this is not news. This is something that should be privately handled, by the boss, by the UAW. Sure, the auto industry got a loan from the government. That doesn't make their internal business local news. Secondly, even though this was happening and wrong, FOX2 should be punished by us for purposely putting something on the news that is destructive to the auto industries resurrection. I hope that the employees are properly punished, but this should have never been put on the news. Thanks you dicks and FOX 2 and thanks you HUGE RICHARD DOUBLE DICKS that felt it necessary to drink and smoke some pot, and get caught TEN EFFING TIMES during the work day.

**jerrytimes** · September-24-10, 05:34 PM

Sorry, I was pissed.

**Ltdave** · September-24-10, 05:35 PM

due to perceived and factual deficiencies in their vehicles [[along with bland designs)

i really only want to address the last part of this "[[along with bland designs)", which we all know is directly influenced by these line workers who were drinking and smoking...

**Hoagie** · September-24-10, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

Sorry, I was pissed.

And I thought it was well said.

**Hoagie** · September-24-10, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Ltdave

i really only want to address the last part of this "[[along with bland designs)", which we all know is directly influenced by these line workers who were drinking and smoking...

We all know bland design was a result of the big three's overconfidence and bean counter mentality. Now they say, speed putting out new products is of the utmost importance. But to build the Cavelier, for instance, for almost 2 decades without much change was exactly what put GM in this position [[ for one example).

So no, these fellas did not directly impact bland design, but they are very much impacting the publics view of UAW worker and the sense of entitlement that is always subject for banter. That is what pisses me off.

**Ltdave** · September-24-10, 08:19 PM

the sense of entitlement

but where does this 'sense of entitlement' come from? the union engaged in collective bargaining with the manufacturers and those negotiations resulted in X pay and Y benefits...

im not saying it doesnt happen but i dont know too many autoworkers who run around trying to rub others' noses in their pay and benefits...

is it those people who couldnt get one of these jobs, who are feeling resentful or jealous?

**Hoagie** · September-24-10, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Ltdave

but where does this 'sense of entitlement' come from? the union engaged in collective bargaining with the manufacturers and those negotiations resulted in X pay and Y benefits...

im not saying it doesnt happen but i dont know too many autoworkers who run around trying to rub others' noses in their pay and benefits...

is it those people who couldnt get one of these jobs, who are feeling resentful or jealous?

As I worded it, yes there is some resentment and jealousy. That said, I should have worded it different. I was thinking along the lines of those employees that think the companies owe them, the people that won't change and evolve without being forced and those who take their job for granted. There is no room for that anymore, and those people harm the reputations of all autoworkers.