No Bailout = Strike

[pjjjjj]

Having a hard time believing workers would rather strike than take a 25% wage reduction at this point in the economy. (They are currently at $31/hr for wage/benefit pkg)

Now instead, these 600 remaining workers (out of 2400 in 06) can do the picket lines for ZERO pay and NO eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits for an indefinite period of time. Guess it made sense to them

Makes me wonder what would have happened if GM had tried to get its workers to do the same. If not for the bailout, which would have left the company with trying to get its workers to make concessions, and the workers subsequently went on strike.. that would basically put the company out of business, no? Ya, unions are great.

National Steel Car workers on strike TheSpec.com - BreakingNews - National Steel Car workers on strike
More than 600 reject concession demands

Wade Hemsworth
The Hamilton Spectator

Calling the company's final offer an "attack on manufacturing," more than 600 unionized workers at National Steel Car in Hamilton are on strike.

Members of United Steelworkers Local 7135 yesterday voted 95 per cent to reject National Steel Car's final proposal, and immediately set up a trailer and barrels for the strike, which began with the expiration of their contract at midnight.

Local 7135 president Gary Pedron, a welder with 13 years' experience at the freight car manufacturer, said the company had asked the union to waive seniority rights and accept a 25 per cent rollback in hourly rates, among other conditions.

The company confirmed in a statement today it sought a 25 reduction in the total wage and benefit package that is currently in the $31.00 per hour range under the expired contract.

While none of his members has an appetite for a strike, Pedron said they felt there was no choice but to walk out.

"They've been giving and working with this company through tough times already," Pedron said, "and what we're seeing here in the final proposal is a ridiculous attempt at stripping these hard-working people of what they have."

About 760 people are currently laid off from National Steel Car's plant on Kenilworth Avenue North, and the remaining 600 employees are now on four-day weeks. The workforce at National Steel Car has shrunk from about 2,400 employees in 2006.

Company spokesperson Peter Earle declined to discuss details of the proposal Sunday however in its statement today, National Steel Car says it currently has no firm orders and the market outlook remains poor.

Since the collapse of the financial and credit markets in 2008 and the continuing current economic crisis, the company says its manufacturing costs “must be brought in line with market realities.”

The company further says demand for new freight rail cars has declined over the past three years from a market peak of approximately 70,000 cars a year to 20,000 projected new builds in 2009. The outlook for 2010 is even more dire, with only 12,000 new car builds projected, Steel Car says.

With files from John Burman

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Having a hard time believing workers would rather strike than take a 25% wage reduction at this point in the economy. (They are currently at $31/hr for wage/benefit pkg)

Now instead, these 600 remaining workers (out of 2400 in 06) can do the picket lines for ZERO pay and NO eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits for an indefinite period of time. Guess it made sense to them

Makes me wonder what would have happened if GM had tried to get its workers to do the same. If not for the bailout, which would have left the company with trying to get its workers to make concessions, and the workers subsequently went on strike.. that would basically put the company out of business, no? Ya, unions are great.

United Steel Workers...I would expect nothing less...Trust me these workers are being told a load of garbage from the union leaders....I've had dealings both as a worker under them and in management....they are a dirty bunch!

 

[LDB]

Trust me these workers are being told a load of garbage from the union leaders....I've had dealings both as a worker under them and in management....they are a dirty bunch!

What union management isn't to some degree? Unions aren't there for the workers. They could care less about the workers. They are there for the union. They just have enough easily fooled people to be able to put things over on the entire group.