Chrysler fires 13 employees

**kryptonite** · September-27-10, 03:03 PM

This was discussed in depth last week on Dyes. Chrysler has terminated some of the employees caught drinking and smoking pot recently.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news...eo_20100927_dk

**Detroitnerd** · September-27-10, 03:12 PM

But, but, that's impossible! Because the union always ensured that workers stay stoned and make big bucks! Wait, this totally goes against everything I believe!

**DetroitPlanner** · September-27-10, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

But, but, that's impossible! Because the union always ensured that workers stay stoned and make big bucks! Wait, this totally goes against everything I believe!

I am outraged! Why do these folks pay dues if it don't allow them to get loaded during work and operate heavy [[fixed!) machinery next to their union brothers and sisters?

**ggores** · September-27-10, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

heave machinery

I drank so much one time that my body turned into a heave machine.

**Whitehouse** · September-27-10, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by ggores

I drank so much one time that my body turned into a heave machine.

Hahaha!!!!

That was a great Freudian sip!

Er.... slip!

**swingline** · September-27-10, 04:45 PM

The story isn't over yet. The affected employees are almost certainly going to contest their terminations through the grievance procedure afforded by their collective bargaining agreement. It will be interesting to see if the UAW advocates for them or simply goes through the motions.

If the UAW doesn't get on board, these guys will probably go shopping for lawyers. It would seem that the issue will be whether the CBA drug and alcohol use prohibitions cover off-premises activities, and/or whether Chrysler has to prove that they were impaired. [[Any lawyers got any opinions?) These guys aren't done yet but it will be tough for them if the UAW refuses to take their grievance past the initial level.

**unclefrank** · September-27-10, 04:33 PM

These are the people that the Union goes balls to the wall to protect.

**Ltdave** · September-27-10, 04:43 PM

These are the people that the Union goes balls to the wall to protect.

because unfortunately the Wagner Act REQUIRES them to do so at their own peril....

**Detroitnerd** · September-27-10, 05:01 PM

In another case, which has not received as much publicity, Gary Crittenden, CFO of Citigroup, and Arthur Tildesley, head of Investor Relations, willfully "scripted" investor announcements to hide $39 billion of exposure to subprime debt; they were singled out and given SEC fines of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively [[Crittenden's total 2008 compensation was $12.2 million, a slap on the wrist, who knows Tildesly's fortunes). The rest of the bad apples who participated in this huge scam [[they were known to the SEC via e-mails obtained from the firm) were not named in the SEC order or fined. Crittenden and Tildesly were not barred from Wall Street for life. They are rich and free, able to work. Citigroup was fined $75 million, 1/520th of the subprime debt it sought to hide, but we mustn't forget how it received hundreds of billions of taxpayer money to keep it -- and its corrupt practices -- afloat.

But, hey, that's just little crimes involving $39 billion by some of the richest, most powerful people in this country. Much more important to get pissed off about some boozing and doping union members. Hahaha.

**ejames01** · September-27-10, 06:27 PM

You didn't know that being rich and powerful comes with special privileges?

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

In another case, which has not received as much publicity, Gary Crittenden, CFO of Citigroup, and Arthur Tildesley, head of Investor Relations, willfully "scripted" investor announcements to hide $39 billion of exposure to subprime debt; they were singled out and given SEC fines of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively [[Crittenden's total 2008 compensation was $12.2 million, a slap on the wrist, who knows Tildesly's fortunes). The rest of the bad apples who participated in this huge scam [[they were known to the SEC via e-mails obtained from the firm) were not named in the SEC order or fined. Crittenden and Tildesly were not barred from Wall Street for life. They are rich and free, able to work. Citigroup was fined $75 million, 1/520th of the subprime debt it sought to hide, but we mustn't forget how it received hundreds of billions of taxpayer money to keep it -- and its corrupt practices -- afloat.

But, hey, that's just little crimes involving $39 billion by some of the richest, most powerful people in this country. Much more important to get pissed off about some boozing and doping union members. Hahaha.

**R8RBOB** · September-27-10, 06:45 PM

So everyone gets their pound of flesh. The workers were fired, end of story. Now what about the plant managers, the foremen? Should they be fired as well? Since this has been ongoing for years surely they knew of the activities of their workers. They knew these guys were drinking on their lunch and they never disciplined the workers but now they are ready to throw them to the wolves as raw meat. Well, we got the public beheading that Fox 2 wanted us to see.

**313WX** · September-27-10, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

So everyone gets their pound of flesh. The workers were fired, end of story. Now what about the plant managers, the foremen? Should they be fired as well? Since this has been ongoing for years surely they knew of the activities of their workers. They knew these guys were drinking on their lunch and they never disciplined the workers but now they are ready to throw them to the wolves as raw meat. Well, we got the public beheading that Fox 2 wanted us to see.

I still believe this was a marching order from NYC to satisfy those on the right.

**R8RBOB** · September-27-10, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

I still believe this was a marching order from NYC to satisfy those on the right.

I would ask the head honchos at Chrysler and at Fox 2 "News" where is the dignity? Some if not most of us know what it feel like to be "let go." It is a humbling experience knowing you are no longer wanted and it cuts deep and the least Chrysler could have done is preserve their dignity. Instead they went to the media to announce that the bad men were fired. That's cold.....

**1KielsonDrive** · September-27-10, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

So everyone gets their pound of flesh. The workers were fired, end of story. Now what about the plant managers, the foremen? Should they be fired as well? Since this has been ongoing for years surely they knew of the activities of their workers. They knew these guys were drinking on their lunch and they never disciplined the workers but now they are ready to throw them to the wolves as raw meat. Well, we got the public beheading that Fox 2 wanted us to see.

And what about CEO's and all of their malfeasance? We just witnessed our entire economy go into the dumpster because of the criminal behavior of CEO's. How many of those were featured on the nightly news? What became of them? This is typical class warfare. These guys got a more severe punishent than Bush and his staff got for starting wars. Justice - there is none.

**ejames01** · September-27-10, 07:22 PM

CEOs get special treatment. If you want to be treated special then you must become rich and powerful.

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

And what about CEO's and all of their malfeasance? We just witnessed our entire economy go into the dumpster because of the criminal behavior of CEO's. How many of those were featured on the nightly news? What became of them? This is typical class warfare. These guys got a more severe punishent than Bush and his staff got for starting wars. Justice - there is none.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · September-28-10, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

And what about CEO's and all of their malfeasance? We just witnessed our entire economy go into the dumpster because of the criminal behavior of CEO's. How many of those were featured on the nightly news? What became of them? This is typical class warfare. These guys got a more severe punishent than Bush and his staff got for starting wars. Justice - there is none.

I feel ya. The executives who ran these auto companies and Wall Street in the ground and led them into bankruptcy get a flier? Why isn't FOX2 News chasing them down? There is no justice. Where's the accountability for them? They get to retire with their "Golden Parachute" pensions after they screwed people, never to be heard from again. This country is gone to the _hitter.

**JohnnyFreddy** · January-23-11, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

And what about CEO's and all of their malfeasance? We just witnessed our entire economy go into the dumpster because of the criminal behavior of CEO's. How many of those were featured on the nightly news? What became of them? This is typical class warfare. These guys got a more severe punishent than Bush and his staff got for starting wars. Justice - there is none.

I agree wholeheartedly with your statement.
But that doesn't exclude the auto workers from their just-do, just because the world is an unfair place.
Didn't any of these individuals SEE the Fox 2 news van approaching?
Yes, the powers that be SHOULD be lopping-off heads, in many instances from
our recent dark past, but they're not. Who do we bitch to?
Not even our new President [[U.S.) seems interested in getting justice served upon
those responsible for the murderous war campaigns, or the lying, cheating, stealing bastards that run the corrupt insurance agencies, wallstreet, and......
....THE CAR COMPANIES!!!!!
Just sell all our fucking jobs overseas, sell our economy to foreigners, send
all our military personnel to die, or get permanently disfigured to defend countries
that hate our guts, and our ways of living.
And we shouldn't be upset when OUR OWN are looking to undermine us,
by nonchalantly carousing in public, in broad daylight...and even carelessly
pitching their bottles, cans, and cigarettes out into the park area, without even
considering any consequences.
I'm not saying it's the end of the world, what these people did.
But they should be able to seek employment elsewhere.
We still need their Tax Dollars.

**JohnnyFreddy** · January-23-11, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

In another case, which has not received as much publicity, Gary Crittenden, CFO of Citigroup, and Arthur Tildesley, head of Investor Relations, willfully "scripted" investor announcements to hide $39 billion of exposure to subprime debt; they were singled out and given SEC fines of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively [[Crittenden's total 2008 compensation was $12.2 million, a slap on the wrist, who knows Tildesly's fortunes). The rest of the bad apples who participated in this huge scam [[they were known to the SEC via e-mails obtained from the firm) were not named in the SEC order or fined. Crittenden and Tildesly were not barred from Wall Street for life. They are rich and free, able to work. Citigroup was fined $75 million, 1/520th of the subprime debt it sought to hide, but we mustn't forget how it received hundreds of billions of taxpayer money to keep it -- and its corrupt practices -- afloat.

But, hey, that's just little crimes involving $39 billion by some of the richest, most powerful people in this country. Much more important to get pissed off about some boozing and doping union members. Hahaha.

Now, I don't know about you and yours, but me and mine, find it quite easy
to get pissed-off at more than one thing at a time.
Is this really some kind of an antidote [[your post) in regards to the announcement of the dismissal of some UAW members caught indulging, when they, and everyone else who saw the T.V. report, knew....they would be returning to their, potentially involved, dangerous jobs back at the factory. Weren't they in fact, followed back to the job site [[because they weren't brilliant enough to circle the block, or even just, not go back to work.....leading the investigating team right back there.)
So, doesn't this [[pretty clear evidence) kinda/definitely make them ....guilty?????
So why defend them? They did it. Is their being in a Union automatically dismiss
any wrong doing on their part? Doesn't this kinda fall into the whole accused
assumption, oft times made at the Unions, that they protect their members to
the point of idiocy, not allowing for the inevitable 'bad seed'.
Should every member be protected, no matter what?
And by the way, isn't the car companies, and the unions, ALSO....some of
the richest entities in this country, or the WORLD for that matter?
Maybe the 'little guy' shouldn't go 'tie one on' at lunchtime, and try to produce
a decent product, so our country doesn't go down the tubes, from shoddy
workmanship, and even shoddier moral practices.
........"Hahahahaha." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**n7hn** · September-27-10, 05:04 PM

I was a union employee. they fought tooth and nail to get a employee rehired that accepted tuition reimbursement on classes she wasnt taking, and for sick time she wasnt sick [[too much partying). They fought over a year to get her rehired. Then When our jobs were in peril as a whole work group, they just OK'd it...... all of us unemployed. I dont understand. In my experience Unions are important to get benefits and perks, but usually protect those that least deserve it when push comes to shove.

**Nee** · September-27-10, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by n7hn

I was a union employee. they fought tooth and nail to get a employee rehired that accepted tuition reimbursement on classes she wasnt taking, and for sick time she wasnt sick [[too much partying). They fought over a year to get her rehired. Then When our jobs were in peril as a whole work group, they just OK'd it...... all of us unemployed. I dont understand. In my experience Unions are important to get benefits and perks, but usually protect those that least deserve it when push comes to shove.

ITA! AFSCME fights like a junk yard dogs to ensure that incompetent/lazy/mean spirited employees keep their jobs, but can't do nothing about outsourcing.

**313WX** · September-27-10, 07:11 PM

Several warehouse employees were fired from Art Van's headquarters as well [[same issue). Several more are currently being investigated.

So it seems the Chrysler incident has caused a domino effect.

**Brittz** · September-27-10, 07:16 PM

They will get their jobs back. It may take a while even after contract time but they will be back. They were not on company property when enjoying themselves. No infractions!!!

**gazhekwe** · September-27-10, 07:36 PM

Like you said, FOX called for a public punishment, and they got it, public career capital punishment. Sometimes I am dismayed by the voyeuristic, vengeful natures that call for such treatment of humans.

**R8RBOB** · September-27-10, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

Like you said, FOX called for a public punishment, and they got it, public career capital punishment. Sometimes I am dismayed by the voyeuristic, vengeful natures that call for such treatment of humans.

Out in Hollywood we have a young girl who has thumbed her nose at authority. This girl has had break after break after break. This child has used cocaine, heroin, pills, alcohol, everything and yet they want to keep giving her a chance. We have the third-rated news station craft a hatchet job of a story and within 5 days, 13 men have been terminated and 2 have been suspended yet the girl was ordered to jail only to get out hours later because she had a good lawyer, she has some money and she has a name. Someone tell me why we should be happy that these men were fired?

**rjk** · September-27-10, 08:35 PM

Not a draconian move by Chrysler, but they only move they could make. I'm not concerned about 15 workers who knowingly broke a company rule and gave Chryler a terrible PR problem. I am however concerned about the survival of Chrysler. This episode wasn't going to sink Chrysler, but it certainly gave them a pretty dark circle under their eye.

R8RBOB, that girl in Hollywood represents herslf.
Those 15 workers represent a company that is fighting for it's very survival.