targeted

  Heard on the news this morning the auto workers are going on strike. It's being called a stand-up strike. It's supposed to be similar to the sit-down strikes in the 1930's. Like most everything else the Democrats have anything to do with the name has to be changed. The strike works exactly the same way though, not everyone goes on strike at the same time, just some targeted areas. Rashida Tlaib was shown standing on the picket line. The demands are for a 40% pay increase, a four-day work week and increased medical and dental benefits. Currently the average worker in the UAW is paid thirty dollars an hour. UAW presidents, yes there are more than one, average over 107,000 dollars a year in salary. That's a bit over fifty-one dollars an hour. They aren't going on strike. The workers on strike can receive five hundred a week if they are eligible. Well at least until the money runs out, that is estimated to last eleven weeks unless they also continue to pay cobra and health care costs then it won't last that long. Of course, you still have to pay your 2.5% dues out of your paycheck.

  The average cost of a new American made automobile is 46,000 dollars. If labor costs increase by 40% as the union is demanding that cost is certainly going to be much higher. Rashida Tlaib in her brief statement on the news proclaiming the companies are making record profits. It isn't right that the company is making a profit! Well Rashida I've got news for you, you can raise the salary, the hourly wage, the cost of materials or whatever else you want, and those companies will sell the product for a profit. That's what they are in business for! How much profit they make will determine whether they stay in business or not. If you increase labor costs by 40% the price goes up 40%. Now the average cost of a new car will be 64,000 dollars. You're going to need a raise to afford that. 

  The big complaint is that the CEO's of the auto companies have seen a reported 40% increase in their salaries. They aren't members of the union, they are employees of the corporation. The union workers however complain that they have only seen a 6% increase in their pay. The unions feel like they should get the same as the CEO's. It has always been my feeling that counting the coins in your neighbors' purse doesn't do anything for yours. What the governing board of a corporation decides to pay their executives shouldn't be the worker bees' concern. If you want that salary, get that job. It isn't reasonable or logical to believe that the worker should make the same as the CEO. 

  This strike could affect those that aren't union workers as well. Other union workers that aren't striking will almost certainly be affected as well. If there is no product, no work to be done because of an upstream strike, what are they to do? Some states will allow them to collect unemployment because of a strike, some will not. The companies may also hire outside workers. The companies can decide on lockouts as well. This whole strike could blow up in the face of the union bosses that are making these demands. These targeted strikes are being used because the fund to pay the strikers just won't support a mass strike. The roughly 825 million in the fund would quickly be exhausted. In fact, Shawn Fain has been saying how in the past the workers went on strike without getting paid! And if that is what is required, he is certain those union people will fight the good fight! He's not saying he won't get his salary though, no, in fact he'll probably need a bit more for expenses, you know, as he fights for you.

Yes, this targeted strike will certainly benefit some folks. Or cost them their jobs but it's a chance the union bosses are willing to take. Everyone should make the same amount of money that is also part of the argument. There are those in the union that get paid more simply because they have been a member of the union longer. Well, that needs to change as well as part of this proposal. Just remember that only applies to the workforce, not the leadership. Makes me ask one question; who is the target?