Thank you for getting us the quotes and information on Shawn Fain. I’m so glad that he’s seeing through Donald Trump’s claim to be pro-union after Trump worked so hard to gut the power of unions.
Another person who has tried to hide his true feelings is Clarence Thomas. I can hardly wait until there is a law stating that the Supreme Court justices have to obey the same recusal rules that every other judge follows. Obviously, leaving it up to their policing themselves to practice judicial neutrality hasn’t worked. The damage that Alito and Thomas have done to the reputation of the court will take years, if not decades, to heal.
How many more reports and investigative blogs does ProPublica have to publish before someone either holds the Supreme justices to the same ethics and morals as simple mortals, or starts to 'impeach' Alito and Thomas? Aren't there enough reasons and justifications already?
This chief justice is in a bind. The court has his name on it, and I think he knows it is already notorious and will go down in history as corrupt which is why every now and then, he votes the right way, but not often enough and now with all the other extremes on it, he has lost control and yes, then there is his wife and his own political views.
I believe he’s trying to figure out a way out of this mess the Court’s in. These 5 justices appointed by Frumpy have flipped the Supreme Court making it the laughing stock of the world. And with the antics that Clarence Thomas and Alito have brought to light, it has put every one of them under a heavy microscope where every move of all of them are now being scrutinized to the hilt.
‘Laughing stock’ is an inappropriate expression. Most of us Europeans are shocked and revolted at the turn the Court has taken. We know that this is no laughing matter.
And the sad part is that he had the fence around the court erected because he’s afraid that the Court will be stormed by a mad mob wanting to string them all up. How sad of an individual that he is. What he doesn’t seem to realize is that he, and his fellow Justices have done an excellent job of stringing themselves up either all of their law violating they have done, and do about every weekend. Not to mention the rulings that are being handed down in return for their actions.
He needs to be impeached too. Wouldn’t you love to make millions as the wife of the sitting head of the supremely slimy court?
And let’s hear it for striking workers!!! Even at 77 years of age I am ready to stand behind both impeachment for unlawful behavior and in the UNION lines supporting American citizens.
The power of being heard is great than any drug taken!
Sadly, New Jersey drags down the cause with an equally sliMey powerful corrupt Senator. Yet again. As A native New Jerseyan, I'm ashamed and saddened to see this happening, but not surprised. Remember the headlines in the NY Daily News from the late 1970s? Abscam. "WILLIAMS IS GUILTY!" Here we go again Thanks a lot, Menendez.
Heard you loudly there, Jean. And you are absolutely correct. Impeach them all! But, with a House that can’t even elect a Speaker either a spine, or set of gonads big enough to see, we are all in limbo!
I just sent an email to Senator Durbin who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee. I thanked him for asking Justice Thomas to recuse, but added that isn't enough. We must push to impose regulations on the Supreme Court.
Cheryl Cardran, thank you for contacting Durbin and I will do so too. He is my Senator but lately I'm having second (and third and fourth) thoughts about his decisions on important issues.
It is impossible to love everything an elected offical chooses to do. There hasn't been one in my lifetime (72) to say they were perfect in my book. But then they covered the basics that I cared about and I continued to keep a list of my top 5 priorities to see if they kept up those, and had to ignore the rest, unless it was flagarently against the law.
Joyce Kell-Sanders I didn't mention, ask for or expect perfection from anyone. I'm concerned about the big issues. IMHO Supreme Court Justice ethics are big. It's also not the only issue I've written to Durbin about. As a constituent it's only fair to communicate where I disagree with his decisions. How else will he understand what the people he represents are thinking?
Good idea. I’ll follow suit. If we all put pressure on these clowns, maybe they will move on it, despite the antics being played in the House of Representatives!
Its difficult to imagine Trump working hard, but he is part and parcel of the plutocratically occupied Republican Party, and their ruthless obsession to crushing every barrier to rendering the entire planet into maximized profits for their uber-wealthy patrons. Here is just the latest example of that cruelty, which I hope that can be pointedly turned against them in the ongoing wars for election: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/22/republicans-animal-welfare-law-food-safety
JL, appreciated the article. Persons who raise animals or poultry are a vast variety of humans....some caring .....some not. Decent care and cleanliness is important for the safety of the animals as well as of the humans who will consume the products that eventually appear in our markets.
I have seen very clean situations .... raising animals to sell... and I have seen very awful ones.
Good character is so valuable....in every walk of life and in every workplace.
I realize this is just a revolting topic for those who have chosen not to eat meat of any type.....so please excuse my comments.
My concern is especially for the young immigrants who are being used to clean slaughter houses.
We do eat meat. However, we buy it locally from small farms which are not factory farms and raise their animals in a pasture, not a feed lot. They also raise heritage animals in some cases. We do the same with eggs. And we support small farms that grow produce, preferably organically although the government has made that expensive among other things. One good thing happened this week in Marion County, a property that wasslated to become Foster Farms monstrosity is now for sale. The locals have fought Foster Farms on this, so hopefully the property will go to other than a factory farm. I thought there was a second property as well, but the article yesterday mentioned only the one. The other good thing is that we are finally getting rain in the form of an atmospheric river.
That is good to hear. We do the same thing with our meat. I eat far less pork than I used to, since I will not buy pork that is not locally raised, and it is roughly double the cost (my pork use is confined mostly to ribs and shoulders that get the Traeger treatment) although I do by a holiday ham from a local farm every other year.
We get our pork at Heritage Farms. They do have a booth at the Corvallis Market. Dick loves pork, so we eat a lot less beef. We used to get a ham at Gene's Meat Market up the canyon. It burnt completely down in the 2020 fires. We cooked it all night in the paper bag it came in and the house smelled wonderful all night long. The original owner, Gene, was on our school board and was anti-union which at that point was a lost cause. My bro-in-law does great ribs. We have some for lunch today that we bought at a BBQ place at the Saturday Market. I would think there would be some locally raised pork around Eugene. I know meat done right is more expensive, but we also eat a lot of veg meals, so it works out for us.
The farm where we get our beef does hogs every other year. I like Carlton Farms (out of Yamhill county) or truffles and trotters from up towards Albany. A couple of or produce stands also do local pork.
Thank you for the good news. As the furor over the price of eggs escalated, I thought about the cost of decent chicken feed as the wheat crops fail because of climate change. The article in The NY Times this morning will answer a lot of questions about our future on the planet. The UN warned US in 1977 that 2.2 children was the limit. Now the number is reduced. Will those who read the article take it seriously and think about adopting if they want to raise a child?
Well, if the Supreme Court succeeds in totally banning abortion, there are going to be plenty of children available. The clamor for zero tolerance is just nuts both for women and the planet.
I'm not seeing the article in the NY Times (after spending 10 minutes looking on their site). Could you please provide a link?
In any case, the world population is projected to rise from the current 8 billion to 10.5 billion, adding the equivalent of the total population in 1953 (my birth year). Not good.
And the Census Bureau projects the US population will grow by 75 million over the next 40 years--equivalent to three and three quarter New York States. 68 million of that growth--nearly three and a half New York States--will be from mass immigration; the remainder, equivalent to one Massachusetts--from native increase.
Moving people from third world countries to the US is not like switching deck chairs on the Titanic. The US, the major industrialized nation with the greatest per capita greenhouse emissions (and resource use generally), is the worst place on the planet to put more people. The average immigrant's greenhouse emissions rise threefold after arrival in the US.
Unfortunately, our leaders are oblivious. I've brought these issues up with all three of my national legislators (Markey, Elizabeth Warren, and Katherine Clark--all of whom I voted for). They were all dismissive.
We have done our part and have no children. Most of my ex-students have one or two if they have children. My sister's family makes up for this and I think I have about a dozen great greats. A new one is on the way to my great niece who shouldn't have any and this will make five.
I had one, my daughter had one, and it seems unlikely that he will have any. The cost is prohibitive and housing, until small houses become popular (my father built his first one with the help of neighbors), will make large families impossible to house. Then there’s food
Thank you Emily Pfaff, you have said the most important thing in all of the issues addressing this letter by HCR “Good character is so valuable....in every walk of life and in every workplace.” It needs to be on bumper stickers, lawn signs an billboards everywhere and stated so often by everyone that it finally sinks in as all the R’s lies have been imbedded into so many American’ brains.
So long a maximizing profit trumps every other human value, industries while leave a sociopathic wake. Reagan wrapped up the main dictum of the "The Chicago School" of "The only corporate social responsibility a company has is to maximize its profits." in smarmy razzle dazzle; and somehow the public thought it was great. But in retrospect, who gained and who now suffers?
Thank you JL Graham for sharing this link! I will email my state and federal representatives about this and watch how they vote. I value my fellow HCR readers. This is an example of how you and other HCR readers help me be an informed voter! I have already passed on the link to my family. Thank you again.
It seems the Repub party has no more feeling for young children (of course migrant children) than they do for other species. I dont eat beef anymore after seeing pictures of a slaughterhouse using a forklift to take downed cows into the plant. The cruelty & abuse present in these places - whether its cows, horses, pigs or chickens, should make anyone aware of what it takes to "make our meat"! I'm not a vegetarian, but eat very little of any meat these days.
I read this article earlier - certainly makes clear exactly what tfg's administration AND the Bush Administration did.
The fact remains - as ever - if the environment is healthy, there are enough jobs for people, and THERE IS LESS CRIME - people will have no reason to migrate. How the hell is that so dam hard to understand?
That works in whatever country is losing their people.
Could it be that "developed" nations might possibly have an interest in helping to stop the crime & the economic mess in these countries?
I realize this kind of problem/issue is not something to be corrected with a snap of the fingers - but maybe making a try at it?
Maybe put a billion or so from our defense budget towards it.
Some have suggested creating a "Department of Peace" that is actually devoted to uncovering and promoting conditions that reinforce peace in the world. Not that there are no precedents or current examples for such efforts, but perhaps there are ways to bring them into better focus. One thing for sure is that war is mass murder. Violence may be a legitimate last resort defense, but violence (which can manifest in subtler ways) is the bane of humanity.
It seems as though most of our most serious problems are either rooted in politics or made worse by political power plays. So many seemingly soluble problems don't progress for political reasons. Follow the money.
J L , G . NOW ! Your Thought, SHOULD BE, a WAKING Moment, for ALL, of MANKIND ! The MAMMONITES, Will Not UNDERSTAND That They CAN NOT " TAKE IT !", With THEM ! LOVE !, ,,,,,,, HAS Already WON !, in The END !
Isn’t it odd that the very people who trumpet their support for states’ rights are so eager to eliminate those rights when the states threaten to use regulation to improve food safety and animal comfort.
The "state's rights" they object to are any that empower or protect the general public. Like for "all" of the people, such as the right to vote. Trump was hot to deprive California of the right to set stricter auto emission standards than other states. Inconvenient for auto manufactures don'cha know. Profit uber alles.
Not just those two. Roberts, Gorsuch, Kavenaugh, Coney-Barrett rammed through and supported by Federalist Society influence must go, too. No one can ever see the Court as an unbiased purveyor of justice as long as they are a part of SCOTUS.
True, but it's much more feasible to replace 2 Justices, even seriatim, than 6. The Court will need to continue operating while the surgery takes place.
Interestingly, there is a judge in Florida (where else?) who is refusing to recuse himself from hearing about an abortion bill that his WIFE has sponsored!! It was said that he had been in the legislature before becoming a judge and it would be impossible to recuse himself from every thing since he knows the Senators and Congressman. The article went on to say that at least he could recuse himself from really important crucial issues-especially those sponsored by his wife!
We must realize that most of the strategies of the Republican Party are virtual seditious attempts to reshape the American experiment.
White Supremacy Christian Nationalism are manifest in the arrogant corruption of Clarence Thomas, the blithe dismissal of precedence by Anthony Alioto and just the seating of religious fanatic Amy Coney Barrett who exemplifies the crude applications of religious ideology over the precepts of Jesus Christ.
The continuation of these threats to the nation’s freedoms must be interrupted and ended and the only path to relief is the election of decent valid representatives that obviously must be Democrats for at least 3 national elections.
We must forever purge our nation of the taint of adoring wealthy might and passive witnessing of these destructive forces.
Does anybody have the balls and power to confront Thomas now before he fouls the Supreme Court nest any further? Or is the American system so coated so hidebound and impotent that it cannot produce a legal solution to get a total freeloader out of the Court?
The Supreme Court has the potential to be the most majestic branch of government. Most citizens have revered it symbolically without understanding its workings in detail for decades. This is true faith - a commodity that is magical when the group receiving is aware of the enormous challenge that faith confers - to do what will maintain and increase the belief of the country (and other countries) that here is an institution searching impartially for the truth.
ProPublica has effectively told us that there is no Santa Claus. And it’s not like we are too young to hear this. The Court has become tawdry, a mere shadow of what it should be. And it appears that Clarence Thomas has been in the vanguard.
How much worse can it get? Is it going to be a marketplace where the worst ideas prevail because American shysters are willing to pay to get them?
Somebody please blast this court into permanent oblivion and start over again. They are a sickeningly bad joke on the concept of fairness in America. We cannot tolerate this egregious defiance of the common good any longer. The longer this goes on the more the Court appears to be “above reproach” - in the most meaningful sense of the phrase.
Fool me once - shame on me. Fool me as nauseam - ah well nobody’s perfect seems to be the bored response.
And when you know that the Koch family fortune was made in Russia and Germany in the 1930’s and that Koch Enterprises continues to operate, regardless of sanctions, in Russia.... The Fifth Column is still alive and very healthy.
‘Doc Killian, who has worked in a Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, for 26 years, says he can no longer afford the cars he helps build, crystallizing how the nation’s middle class has been squeezed.’ (AP)
‘Jaron Garza, 49, a third-generation General Motors autoworker, said for him, the strike is about much more than getting a raise, but preserving the middle class job security that uplifted his family after emigrating from Mexico. Garza has been on strike three times before.’ (WAPO)
‘In the 88 years since it was founded, the union has called strikes aimed at a single automaker, and a handful have halted production for several weeks. G.M. plants were idle for 40 days in 2019 before the company and the union agreed on a new contract.’
‘The plants designated for walkouts on Friday represent only a small portion of all the unionized factories of G.M., Ford and Stellantis and of those companies’ 150,000 U.A.W. members.... And Mr. Fain has made it clear that the walkout could grow wider as contract accords remain elusive.’
‘The union’s demands for significantly higher pay and new benefits are a sharp departure from the past 20 years, when the automakers were ailing and the U.A.W. was forced to accept major concessions to help the companies survive.’
‘In speeches to union members, he has frequently highlighted the pay of the automakers’ chief executives. Last year, Ms. Barra took home $29 million. Jim Farley of Ford made $21 million, while Stellantis’s chief, Carlos Tavares, was given a package worth about $25 million.’
‘An extended strike would crimp the availability of new cars and drive up prices. A long stoppage would also ripple through the automakers’ supply chain and could hurt other businesses as workers live off $500 per week in strike pay from the union.’
‘Fain has sought to broaden his argument beyond just autoworkers, telling a recent livestream that his union’s demands are about “raising the standard for workers everywhere.”
“The auto industry accounts for about 3% of the nation’s gross domestic product and though union leaders say they are mulling strikes at a small number of factories run by those automakers, as many as 146,000 workers could eventually walk off their jobs. The effects would be most immediate in Michigan and other auto job-heavy states such as Ohio and Indiana. But a prolonged strike could trigger car shortages and layoffs in auto-supply industries and other sectors.”
“Anything that goes beyond a week, you’re going to start feeling the pain,” said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. “And anything beyond two weeks, that’s when the effects start to compound.” (AP)
‘What role is the switch to electric cars playing in the negotiations?’
‘The auto industry is in the middle of a sweeping transition to battery-powered vehicles, and G.M., Ford and Stellantis are spending billions of dollars to develop new models and build factories. The companies have said those investments make it harder for them to pay workers substantially higher wages. Automakers say they are already at a big competitive disadvantage compared with nonunion automakers like Tesla, which dominates the sale of electric vehicles.’
‘The U.A.W. is worried that the companies will use the switch to electric cars to cut jobs or hire more nonunion workers. The union wants the automakers to cover workers at the battery factories in their national contracts with the U.A.W. Right now those workers are either not represented by unions or are negotiating separate contracts. But the automakers say they cannot legally agree to that request because those plants are set up as joint ventures.’
‘Will a strike have political ramifications?’
‘The union fears that Mr. Biden’s decision to promote electric vehicles could further erode union membership in the auto industry. Mr. Fain has criticized the administration for awarding large federal incentives and loans for new factories without requiring those plants to employ union workers.’ (NYTimes) Sorry that a gifted link was not possible.
‘Workers at the big three carmakers earn less now in real dollars than they did 15 years ago – as their CEOs make more and more. Their fight is everyone’s fight’
__Bernie Sanders
Excerpts from Bernie’s OPINION in The Guardian
'In the United States today, at a time of unprecedented income and wealth inequality, weekly wages for the average American worker are actually lower than they were 50 years ago after adjusting for inflation. In other words, despite a massive increase in worker productivity, despite CEOs now making nearly 400 times more than what their employees earn, despite record-breaking corporate profits, dividends and stock buybacks, average American workers are worse off than they were 50 years ago.'
'The UAW members will be fighting not only for themselves but against a corporate culture of arrogance, cruelty and selfishness causing massive and unnecessary pain for the majority of working families throughout the country. Their fight against corporate greed is our fight. Their victory will resonate all across the economy, impact millions of workers from coast to coast and help create a more just and equitable economy.'
'What are some of the issues that are pushing UAW members to strike? At the top of the list is the extraordinary level of corporate greed shown by industry leaders.'
'In the first half of 2023 the big three automakers made a combined $21bn in profits – up 80% from the same time period last year. Over the past decade, these same companies made some $250bn in profits in North America alone.'
'Yet last year, the big three spent $9bn – not to improve the lives of their workers, not to make their factories safer, but on stock buybacks and dividends to make their wealthy executives and stockholders even richer.'
'Further, while many of their workers are struggling to survive financially, last year the CEO of General Motors raked in about $29m in total compensation, the CEO of Ford approximately $21m and the CEO of Stellantis over $25m.'
'Incredibly, over the last four years, CEO pay at the big three has increased by more than 40%.
While auto industry CEOs and stockholders make out like bandits, the workers who build the vehicles earn totally inadequate wages.'
‘Tiers’‘Ending tiers, or in-progression pay, where members are paid differently based on seniority, has been a top priority of the union for years.’
‘Fain said each of the automakers has proposed cutting an eight-year grow-in period to top wages that are currently at more than $32 an hour to four years.’
‘COLA’ ‘Fain has demanded a return to cost of living adjustments, or COLA, which increase wages to keep pace with inflation.’
‘Fain said all companies have made “deficient COLA” proposals that either include lump sum payments, limit the amounts, or only kick in at certain levels that the union finds inadequate.’
‘Ford has proposed a return to a COLA formula used in the past, which Fain said would provide estimated wage protection of less than $1 over the term of the contract; proposals from GM and Stellantis would provide no protection, he said.’
“Profit-sharing”‘The UAW wanted to enhance profit-sharing payments to provide workers $2 for every $1 million a company spends on share buybacks, special dividends and increases to normal dividends.’
‘Fain said the Detroit automakers have each offered “concessionary profit-sharing” formulas that lower the current standards, which are based on a company’s North American profits.’
‘The union said Ford’s formula would have resulted in 21% smaller checks over the last two years; GM’s would have resulted in 28% smaller checks over the last year; and Stellantis would like to base payments on “an unknown internal company attendance calculation.”
“Profit-sharing was implemented in recent years as a way for the companies to “reward” members in good times but not have to pay as hefty of bonuses when the companies were not doing well.”
‘Temps’ ‘Ending the use of temporary workers, who can be paid lower wages and have no job security, is another longstanding UAW priority. Fain said that Ford has agreed to convert all current temporary workers with 90 days of continuous service to full-time workers, with full benefits, in the tiered progression.’
‘Fain said that GM has offered “inadequate” benefits and “meager” wage increases for temps and that Stellantis’ proposal provides no path at all to full-time status’
‘Job security’ ‘The UAW has proposed what it calls a “Working Families Protection Program,” under which employees at a shuttered factory would be paid by the automakers to do local community-service work. All three automakers rejected the proposal, Fain said. Stellantis went further, proposing a unilateral right to close and sell 18 facilities, including factories and parts depots, he said.’
‘Work-life balance’ ‘The UAW has demanded more time off for workers, with more paid vacation and holidays and extended parental leave. All three of the automakers agreed to make Juneteenth an official holiday, Fain said, but only Ford went further, proposing 2 weeks of parental leave.’
‘Retirees’ ‘The UAW has demanded a “significant” increase to pay for retired workers. All three automakers rejected any increases, Fain said.’ (CNBC) See link below.
Thank you, as always. Question: the small towns of the Midwest were once linked by trains. As we try to pollute less, shouldn’t we focus more on public transportation (which brings people together and might get vaccinations and masking to be more popular as Covid continues) than on private cars?
We've just been traveling by U.S, Highway 80 from New York to Chicago. The number of trucks on the road is staggering, and while we build more electric autos and pick-ups, while crucial, is only part of the problem. We need to move more freight and people by rail, it seems to me.
Yes. Absolutely. The catenaries left from the PRR still stand on the East coast (or did 10 years ago). Electric trains are still possible. Also electric trolleys.
Virginia, my grandmother talked about rail lines connecting small towns in Illinois. They were gone by the 1950's (how did that happen?) and agree that is a tremendous negative for the environment but also for those who live in rural areas today and have no option but cars and truck for transportation. Living in a large city I love the freedom of public transit.
Transportation by rail, air and the roads need to be planned, regulated and used with life on earth, including health, housing, community, efficiency, equality, and cost... considered to be crucial factors.
'Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Birth of the Interstate Highway System'
'On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation funding the construction of the U.S. Interstate Highway System (IHS)--something Americans had dreamed of since Detroit starting building cars.'
'The Missouri Highway Commission awarded the first contract to begin building the interstate along the famous Route 66 in rural Laclede County, 160 miles southwest of St. Louis. However, construction on the first section of interstate actually began in St. Charles County, Missouri, on Aug. 13. Kansas and Pennsylvania have also made competing claims that their states were first to possess sections of interstate.'
'No matter who was first, the enthusiasm for a uniform system of roads, bridges, and tunnels was very high in 1956, nearly fifty years after the introduction of Henry Ford's Model T automobile. The building of the IHS, formally known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, proceeded rapidly throughout the country, and by the early 1990s, nearly 45,000 miles of interstate highway were complete.' (ArmySustainmentMag.) See link below.
Yes, and it has proved disastrous for climate. BTW: Amtrak runs on some of those small town connective rail lines. My husband had old maps which we followed taking Amtrak from Charlottesville to Chicago.
The corruption in the courts will continue just like the corruption in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the House of Representatives. The basis of the current Republican Party is corruption. They still hold enough power to protect themselves from any consequences, just like they are doing for Trump.
KARMA ! , Will come, Eventually ! ( THEY !, Just Do NOT ! , ,,,,BELIEVE IT ! ) . ( NOTHING !, is Hidden ! From the EYES ! ,, of OUR LORD/GOD ! . ALMIGHTY ! )
The only reason Trump will go there is publicity. He doesn’t give a damn about those auto workers. Doesn’t care about the unions. He only cares about himself and making more money.
Thanks, and for the record, I am a loyal union man. When non-union workers complain about paying dues or other expectations, I ask them to list all the benefits they enjoy which were given to them out of the company's goodness of their heart.
Without a doubt, without unions wages would be much lower and workers would have no method of demanding more. But, where the auto workers are concerned, they're working on a dinosaur, so to speak. Electric vehicles are much less complicated. Down the road all of those auto service centers like Jiffy Lube, etc., will be gone. No need for them. They're the blacksmiths of the current era, soon to be gone.
Your comment is on the money sir, and provides even more incentive for the UAW to get what they can while it's still there to get. EVs plus automation plus temp workers plus a fickle consumer market adds up to a lot of uncertainty.
Union concessions made in 2007 have evidently not been rewarded, 16 years later. Without a union underpinning, the middle class, by which I define as those who can afford the products they make, will suffer and whither away.
Labour saving technologies have always been both boon and bane. However things develop, the long term financial gain has to accrue broadly, not simply to improved profits. Part of this could be greater corporate tax rates, which have been gradually clawed back in recent years, esp via the GOP.
I’m going to say some things here, and I dearly hope I don’t puss anyone off. But, it’s what happened to me, and I wish to share it.
In the early 70s, as a beginning law enforcement officer, and firefighter, for a small town in South Carolina, my starting salary was under $300 a week, gross pay mind you. That’s for each position. Not every officer had that opportunity. I strived to gain the training so I could do both jobs to get employed in both positions, and therefore draw two checks from the city. That’s the only way I could have ends meet, and all I had in me at the time was my rent, utilities, and vehicle payment. I didn’t buy much food because I usually ate at the firehouse or just took lunch to work at the P. D.
Anyway, we talked about unionizing for better wages, better benefits, and the like. We were quickly informed by the upper powers that if that discussion continued, we would be immediately replaced. They had a drawer full of applicants begging to work. Plus, it was against the law to unionize a Civil Service position. So, we couldn’t unionize anyway.
Fast forward to early 1980s. I’m working as a deputy sheriff in DeSoto County, Florida. I’m employed at a salary of $900 a month, gross pay, taking home just over $400 a month on a single check the first of every month. My rent was $350 a month. I had a wife, 4 step-children. Two were in school, early grades, two were at home, still in diapers. My wife got a job at a local store, but after a couple months I had her give that up because it was costing us money for her to work. She wasn’t bringing home $150 a week after taxes, and it was both g more than that for the babysitting, her lunch, wear and tear on the vehicle, plus fuel. So it wasn’t worth it for her to work. I gained two extra jobs, after begging the Sheriff to allow me to work. That’s how we almost made ends meet.
We talked of unionizing at the local police and our department. We were informed quick that it was a violation of state law. We couldn’t unionize.
I was injured at a fire I assisted the local city fire department at one morning. I was actually a volunteer for them, since I had such extensive training, I joined them when I moved there in ‘79. After I was injured, when a roof caved in on me at a house fire, I was tossed like a piece of trash. I eventually was forced to give up my law enforcement career in 1995 because of my back and leg injuries. The illustrious Florida state Retirement System decided that I didn’t qualify for a full medical retirement, although I had over 26 years with the system! They cut my retirement by 76%, and I turned me that I was able to gain employment in a different field.
I tried. I went to school to become an insurance agent. And, for a few years was extremely good at it. I actually had a reputation of telling people the truth about their coverage, and if my policies I offered would help them, or not. Many times I sent I to homes to do reviews and walked out without writing insurance, because they didn’t need any written. A lot of families had much more than they needed. And I told them exactly that.
My long story is this. We tried as law enforcement and firefighter officers to get unionized. We needed better benefits. We needed better wages. We were not able to support our families on our salaries, and the upper echelon knew this. We were their slaves, and they owned us.
Now, in disabled, homebound, and living in a hospital bed under daily nursing care in my apartment, alone, and if you think fit one second that any part of this government gives a damn, you are sadly mistaken.
Yet, the northern departments were able to unionize years and years ago. Those folks had benefits. Those folks had good salaries. I had a buddy that lived in Arcadia. He was an officer for a department in Ohio when he retired. His check monthly was almost $2,000. My check at the time was $236. I served more time as a law enforcement officer than he did! He had full paid health benefits from his department. I had nothing!
Thank you for getting us the quotes and information on Shawn Fain. I’m so glad that he’s seeing through Donald Trump’s claim to be pro-union after Trump worked so hard to gut the power of unions.
Another person who has tried to hide his true feelings is Clarence Thomas. I can hardly wait until there is a law stating that the Supreme Court justices have to obey the same recusal rules that every other judge follows. Obviously, leaving it up to their policing themselves to practice judicial neutrality hasn’t worked. The damage that Alito and Thomas have done to the reputation of the court will take years, if not decades, to heal.
How many more reports and investigative blogs does ProPublica have to publish before someone either holds the Supreme justices to the same ethics and morals as simple mortals, or starts to 'impeach' Alito and Thomas? Aren't there enough reasons and justifications already?
Those two should have been removed long ago. There’s no excuse in this at all. The Chief Justice needs to grow a pair!!!
The chief justice is part of the problem due to the source of his wife's income.
This chief justice is in a bind. The court has his name on it, and I think he knows it is already notorious and will go down in history as corrupt which is why every now and then, he votes the right way, but not often enough and now with all the other extremes on it, he has lost control and yes, then there is his wife and his own political views.
I believe he’s trying to figure out a way out of this mess the Court’s in. These 5 justices appointed by Frumpy have flipped the Supreme Court making it the laughing stock of the world. And with the antics that Clarence Thomas and Alito have brought to light, it has put every one of them under a heavy microscope where every move of all of them are now being scrutinized to the hilt.
‘Laughing stock’ is an inappropriate expression. Most of us Europeans are shocked and revolted at the turn the Court has taken. We know that this is no laughing matter.
Justice John Roberts will also be remembered for making The Supreme Court into a “gated community”.
So desiring to be removed from “ordinary” US citizens as to erect a fence.
And the sad part is that he had the fence around the court erected because he’s afraid that the Court will be stormed by a mad mob wanting to string them all up. How sad of an individual that he is. What he doesn’t seem to realize is that he, and his fellow Justices have done an excellent job of stringing themselves up either all of their law violating they have done, and do about every weekend. Not to mention the rulings that are being handed down in return for their actions.
‘…votes the right way..’! As in supporting far Right policies? Or as in CYA, covering your a$$!
He needs to be impeached too. Wouldn’t you love to make millions as the wife of the sitting head of the supremely slimy court?
And let’s hear it for striking workers!!! Even at 77 years of age I am ready to stand behind both impeachment for unlawful behavior and in the UNION lines supporting American citizens.
The power of being heard is great than any drug taken!
Sadly, New Jersey drags down the cause with an equally sliMey powerful corrupt Senator. Yet again. As A native New Jerseyan, I'm ashamed and saddened to see this happening, but not surprised. Remember the headlines in the NY Daily News from the late 1970s? Abscam. "WILLIAMS IS GUILTY!" Here we go again Thanks a lot, Menendez.
Oops! You left out sleazy Bob Torricelli whose corruption allowed Roberto to fill that senate seat!
Oops is right. It's Jersey and we all gotta problem wit dat!
Greater.... should have been greater
Heard you loudly there, Jean. And you are absolutely correct. Impeach them all! But, with a House that can’t even elect a Speaker either a spine, or set of gonads big enough to see, we are all in limbo!
WOW! , That IS ! , a BiG , AMEN ! Dan !
I’m 71, Jean. Heard you loud and clear! ✊🏻
I just sent an email to Senator Durbin who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee. I thanked him for asking Justice Thomas to recuse, but added that isn't enough. We must push to impose regulations on the Supreme Court.
We the People need to make more noise!
Cheryl Cardran, thank you for contacting Durbin and I will do so too. He is my Senator but lately I'm having second (and third and fourth) thoughts about his decisions on important issues.
It is impossible to love everything an elected offical chooses to do. There hasn't been one in my lifetime (72) to say they were perfect in my book. But then they covered the basics that I cared about and I continued to keep a list of my top 5 priorities to see if they kept up those, and had to ignore the rest, unless it was flagarently against the law.
Joyce Kell-Sanders I didn't mention, ask for or expect perfection from anyone. I'm concerned about the big issues. IMHO Supreme Court Justice ethics are big. It's also not the only issue I've written to Durbin about. As a constituent it's only fair to communicate where I disagree with his decisions. How else will he understand what the people he represents are thinking?
Good idea. I’ll follow suit. If we all put pressure on these clowns, maybe they will move on it, despite the antics being played in the House of Representatives!
SHOUT IT ! From the HOUSE-TOP Cheryl !! ULTIMATE NOISE !
Oh my God, no kidding.
Don't blame God. Check power and greed!
And timidity
The MAMMONITES ! , of the *Earthly*, Mankind ! . The EARTH ! , is HEATIN' UP ! ,,,,,, AMEN ! Eleanor !
The rest of us don’t have the overbearing rich to finagle and lie to get their way.
Its difficult to imagine Trump working hard, but he is part and parcel of the plutocratically occupied Republican Party, and their ruthless obsession to crushing every barrier to rendering the entire planet into maximized profits for their uber-wealthy patrons. Here is just the latest example of that cruelty, which I hope that can be pointedly turned against them in the ongoing wars for election: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/22/republicans-animal-welfare-law-food-safety
JL, appreciated the article. Persons who raise animals or poultry are a vast variety of humans....some caring .....some not. Decent care and cleanliness is important for the safety of the animals as well as of the humans who will consume the products that eventually appear in our markets.
I have seen very clean situations .... raising animals to sell... and I have seen very awful ones.
Good character is so valuable....in every walk of life and in every workplace.
I realize this is just a revolting topic for those who have chosen not to eat meat of any type.....so please excuse my comments.
My concern is especially for the young immigrants who are being used to clean slaughter houses.
We do eat meat. However, we buy it locally from small farms which are not factory farms and raise their animals in a pasture, not a feed lot. They also raise heritage animals in some cases. We do the same with eggs. And we support small farms that grow produce, preferably organically although the government has made that expensive among other things. One good thing happened this week in Marion County, a property that wasslated to become Foster Farms monstrosity is now for sale. The locals have fought Foster Farms on this, so hopefully the property will go to other than a factory farm. I thought there was a second property as well, but the article yesterday mentioned only the one. The other good thing is that we are finally getting rain in the form of an atmospheric river.
That is good to hear. We do the same thing with our meat. I eat far less pork than I used to, since I will not buy pork that is not locally raised, and it is roughly double the cost (my pork use is confined mostly to ribs and shoulders that get the Traeger treatment) although I do by a holiday ham from a local farm every other year.
We get our pork at Heritage Farms. They do have a booth at the Corvallis Market. Dick loves pork, so we eat a lot less beef. We used to get a ham at Gene's Meat Market up the canyon. It burnt completely down in the 2020 fires. We cooked it all night in the paper bag it came in and the house smelled wonderful all night long. The original owner, Gene, was on our school board and was anti-union which at that point was a lost cause. My bro-in-law does great ribs. We have some for lunch today that we bought at a BBQ place at the Saturday Market. I would think there would be some locally raised pork around Eugene. I know meat done right is more expensive, but we also eat a lot of veg meals, so it works out for us.
The farm where we get our beef does hogs every other year. I like Carlton Farms (out of Yamhill county) or truffles and trotters from up towards Albany. A couple of or produce stands also do local pork.
Thank you for the good news. As the furor over the price of eggs escalated, I thought about the cost of decent chicken feed as the wheat crops fail because of climate change. The article in The NY Times this morning will answer a lot of questions about our future on the planet. The UN warned US in 1977 that 2.2 children was the limit. Now the number is reduced. Will those who read the article take it seriously and think about adopting if they want to raise a child?
Well, if the Supreme Court succeeds in totally banning abortion, there are going to be plenty of children available. The clamor for zero tolerance is just nuts both for women and the planet.
I'm not seeing the article in the NY Times (after spending 10 minutes looking on their site). Could you please provide a link?
In any case, the world population is projected to rise from the current 8 billion to 10.5 billion, adding the equivalent of the total population in 1953 (my birth year). Not good.
And the Census Bureau projects the US population will grow by 75 million over the next 40 years--equivalent to three and three quarter New York States. 68 million of that growth--nearly three and a half New York States--will be from mass immigration; the remainder, equivalent to one Massachusetts--from native increase.
Moving people from third world countries to the US is not like switching deck chairs on the Titanic. The US, the major industrialized nation with the greatest per capita greenhouse emissions (and resource use generally), is the worst place on the planet to put more people. The average immigrant's greenhouse emissions rise threefold after arrival in the US.
Unfortunately, our leaders are oblivious. I've brought these issues up with all three of my national legislators (Markey, Elizabeth Warren, and Katherine Clark--all of whom I voted for). They were all dismissive.
Will see if I am capable of such a stunt. At least I should be able to give author and title.
We have done our part and have no children. Most of my ex-students have one or two if they have children. My sister's family makes up for this and I think I have about a dozen great greats. A new one is on the way to my great niece who shouldn't have any and this will make five.
I had one, my daughter had one, and it seems unlikely that he will have any. The cost is prohibitive and housing, until small houses become popular (my father built his first one with the help of neighbors), will make large families impossible to house. Then there’s food
unless you grow your own.
Thank you Emily Pfaff, you have said the most important thing in all of the issues addressing this letter by HCR “Good character is so valuable....in every walk of life and in every workplace.” It needs to be on bumper stickers, lawn signs an billboards everywhere and stated so often by everyone that it finally sinks in as all the R’s lies have been imbedded into so many American’ brains.
So long a maximizing profit trumps every other human value, industries while leave a sociopathic wake. Reagan wrapped up the main dictum of the "The Chicago School" of "The only corporate social responsibility a company has is to maximize its profits." in smarmy razzle dazzle; and somehow the public thought it was great. But in retrospect, who gained and who now suffers?
Go vegetarian problem solved ❤️👍🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you JL Graham for sharing this link! I will email my state and federal representatives about this and watch how they vote. I value my fellow HCR readers. This is an example of how you and other HCR readers help me be an informed voter! I have already passed on the link to my family. Thank you again.
Also an example of how The Guardian is a real newspaper.
Thank you for this important article JL. Shared.
I find it interesting that the Guardian often has better articles of this type than our own media although I do read the Atlantic and the Nation.
Shared.
It seems the Repub party has no more feeling for young children (of course migrant children) than they do for other species. I dont eat beef anymore after seeing pictures of a slaughterhouse using a forklift to take downed cows into the plant. The cruelty & abuse present in these places - whether its cows, horses, pigs or chickens, should make anyone aware of what it takes to "make our meat"! I'm not a vegetarian, but eat very little of any meat these days.
Well, in devaluation of all life, farm animals seem to be at the bottom of their ranking.
Souls eagerly traded for a shot at absolute power.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/trump-administration-family-separation-policy-immigration/670604/
I read this article earlier - certainly makes clear exactly what tfg's administration AND the Bush Administration did.
The fact remains - as ever - if the environment is healthy, there are enough jobs for people, and THERE IS LESS CRIME - people will have no reason to migrate. How the hell is that so dam hard to understand?
That works in whatever country is losing their people.
Could it be that "developed" nations might possibly have an interest in helping to stop the crime & the economic mess in these countries?
I realize this kind of problem/issue is not something to be corrected with a snap of the fingers - but maybe making a try at it?
Maybe put a billion or so from our defense budget towards it.
Some have suggested creating a "Department of Peace" that is actually devoted to uncovering and promoting conditions that reinforce peace in the world. Not that there are no precedents or current examples for such efforts, but perhaps there are ways to bring them into better focus. One thing for sure is that war is mass murder. Violence may be a legitimate last resort defense, but violence (which can manifest in subtler ways) is the bane of humanity.
It seems as though most of our most serious problems are either rooted in politics or made worse by political power plays. So many seemingly soluble problems don't progress for political reasons. Follow the money.
J L , G . NOW ! Your Thought, SHOULD BE, a WAKING Moment, for ALL, of MANKIND ! The MAMMONITES, Will Not UNDERSTAND That They CAN NOT " TAKE IT !", With THEM ! LOVE !, ,,,,,,, HAS Already WON !, in The END !
I agree that politics seems to be the root of all evil - as much or more so than money!
JL, thanks for the link
Isn’t it odd that the very people who trumpet their support for states’ rights are so eager to eliminate those rights when the states threaten to use regulation to improve food safety and animal comfort.
The "state's rights" they object to are any that empower or protect the general public. Like for "all" of the people, such as the right to vote. Trump was hot to deprive California of the right to set stricter auto emission standards than other states. Inconvenient for auto manufactures don'cha know. Profit uber alles.
And the healing won't start until they're both off the Court.
Not just those two. Roberts, Gorsuch, Kavenaugh, Coney-Barrett rammed through and supported by Federalist Society influence must go, too. No one can ever see the Court as an unbiased purveyor of justice as long as they are a part of SCOTUS.
True, but it's much more feasible to replace 2 Justices, even seriatim, than 6. The Court will need to continue operating while the surgery takes place.
SCOTUS ! Re NAMED ! ,,,,,,,* SCROTUSS ! * ( LORD ! , have MERCY !! )
Dave, definitely.
Interestingly, there is a judge in Florida (where else?) who is refusing to recuse himself from hearing about an abortion bill that his WIFE has sponsored!! It was said that he had been in the legislature before becoming a judge and it would be impossible to recuse himself from every thing since he knows the Senators and Congressman. The article went on to say that at least he could recuse himself from really important crucial issues-especially those sponsored by his wife!
Such articles have little effect because Floridians don't read newspapers, which generally stick to the facts.
We must realize that most of the strategies of the Republican Party are virtual seditious attempts to reshape the American experiment.
White Supremacy Christian Nationalism are manifest in the arrogant corruption of Clarence Thomas, the blithe dismissal of precedence by Anthony Alioto and just the seating of religious fanatic Amy Coney Barrett who exemplifies the crude applications of religious ideology over the precepts of Jesus Christ.
The continuation of these threats to the nation’s freedoms must be interrupted and ended and the only path to relief is the election of decent valid representatives that obviously must be Democrats for at least 3 national elections.
We must forever purge our nation of the taint of adoring wealthy might and passive witnessing of these destructive forces.
Does anybody have the balls and power to confront Thomas now before he fouls the Supreme Court nest any further? Or is the American system so coated so hidebound and impotent that it cannot produce a legal solution to get a total freeloader out of the Court?
The Supreme Court has the potential to be the most majestic branch of government. Most citizens have revered it symbolically without understanding its workings in detail for decades. This is true faith - a commodity that is magical when the group receiving is aware of the enormous challenge that faith confers - to do what will maintain and increase the belief of the country (and other countries) that here is an institution searching impartially for the truth.
ProPublica has effectively told us that there is no Santa Claus. And it’s not like we are too young to hear this. The Court has become tawdry, a mere shadow of what it should be. And it appears that Clarence Thomas has been in the vanguard.
How much worse can it get? Is it going to be a marketplace where the worst ideas prevail because American shysters are willing to pay to get them?
Somebody please blast this court into permanent oblivion and start over again. They are a sickeningly bad joke on the concept of fairness in America. We cannot tolerate this egregious defiance of the common good any longer. The longer this goes on the more the Court appears to be “above reproach” - in the most meaningful sense of the phrase.
Fool me once - shame on me. Fool me as nauseam - ah well nobody’s perfect seems to be the bored response.
This is a disgrace in plain sight.
And when you know that the Koch family fortune was made in Russia and Germany in the 1930’s and that Koch Enterprises continues to operate, regardless of sanctions, in Russia.... The Fifth Column is still alive and very healthy.
Time for mass demonstrations in Washington demanding the court clean up.
This should be completely acceptable to any republican since they approve and condone mass demonstrations in Washington.
Did not think of that .. :)
THREE YEAR TERM !!, MANDITORY !,, ( No ! ,,,,," LIFE RUNS !! " )
‘Doc Killian, who has worked in a Ford assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan, for 26 years, says he can no longer afford the cars he helps build, crystallizing how the nation’s middle class has been squeezed.’ (AP)
‘Jaron Garza, 49, a third-generation General Motors autoworker, said for him, the strike is about much more than getting a raise, but preserving the middle class job security that uplifted his family after emigrating from Mexico. Garza has been on strike three times before.’ (WAPO)
‘In the 88 years since it was founded, the union has called strikes aimed at a single automaker, and a handful have halted production for several weeks. G.M. plants were idle for 40 days in 2019 before the company and the union agreed on a new contract.’
‘The plants designated for walkouts on Friday represent only a small portion of all the unionized factories of G.M., Ford and Stellantis and of those companies’ 150,000 U.A.W. members.... And Mr. Fain has made it clear that the walkout could grow wider as contract accords remain elusive.’
‘The union’s demands for significantly higher pay and new benefits are a sharp departure from the past 20 years, when the automakers were ailing and the U.A.W. was forced to accept major concessions to help the companies survive.’
‘In speeches to union members, he has frequently highlighted the pay of the automakers’ chief executives. Last year, Ms. Barra took home $29 million. Jim Farley of Ford made $21 million, while Stellantis’s chief, Carlos Tavares, was given a package worth about $25 million.’
‘An extended strike would crimp the availability of new cars and drive up prices. A long stoppage would also ripple through the automakers’ supply chain and could hurt other businesses as workers live off $500 per week in strike pay from the union.’
‘Fain has sought to broaden his argument beyond just autoworkers, telling a recent livestream that his union’s demands are about “raising the standard for workers everywhere.”
“The auto industry accounts for about 3% of the nation’s gross domestic product and though union leaders say they are mulling strikes at a small number of factories run by those automakers, as many as 146,000 workers could eventually walk off their jobs. The effects would be most immediate in Michigan and other auto job-heavy states such as Ohio and Indiana. But a prolonged strike could trigger car shortages and layoffs in auto-supply industries and other sectors.”
“Anything that goes beyond a week, you’re going to start feeling the pain,” said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. “And anything beyond two weeks, that’s when the effects start to compound.” (AP)
‘What role is the switch to electric cars playing in the negotiations?’
‘The auto industry is in the middle of a sweeping transition to battery-powered vehicles, and G.M., Ford and Stellantis are spending billions of dollars to develop new models and build factories. The companies have said those investments make it harder for them to pay workers substantially higher wages. Automakers say they are already at a big competitive disadvantage compared with nonunion automakers like Tesla, which dominates the sale of electric vehicles.’
‘The U.A.W. is worried that the companies will use the switch to electric cars to cut jobs or hire more nonunion workers. The union wants the automakers to cover workers at the battery factories in their national contracts with the U.A.W. Right now those workers are either not represented by unions or are negotiating separate contracts. But the automakers say they cannot legally agree to that request because those plants are set up as joint ventures.’
‘Will a strike have political ramifications?’
‘The union fears that Mr. Biden’s decision to promote electric vehicles could further erode union membership in the auto industry. Mr. Fain has criticized the administration for awarding large federal incentives and loans for new factories without requiring those plants to employ union workers.’ (NYTimes) Sorry that a gifted link was not possible.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/business/uaw-strike-plan.html
https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-targeted-strikes-general-motors-stellantis-ford-a0b4b8b66e2001230fda0f2114ef78a0
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/business/uaw-strike-shawn-fain.html
‘Workers at the big three carmakers earn less now in real dollars than they did 15 years ago – as their CEOs make more and more. Their fight is everyone’s fight’
__Bernie Sanders
Excerpts from Bernie’s OPINION in The Guardian
'In the United States today, at a time of unprecedented income and wealth inequality, weekly wages for the average American worker are actually lower than they were 50 years ago after adjusting for inflation. In other words, despite a massive increase in worker productivity, despite CEOs now making nearly 400 times more than what their employees earn, despite record-breaking corporate profits, dividends and stock buybacks, average American workers are worse off than they were 50 years ago.'
'The UAW members will be fighting not only for themselves but against a corporate culture of arrogance, cruelty and selfishness causing massive and unnecessary pain for the majority of working families throughout the country. Their fight against corporate greed is our fight. Their victory will resonate all across the economy, impact millions of workers from coast to coast and help create a more just and equitable economy.'
'What are some of the issues that are pushing UAW members to strike? At the top of the list is the extraordinary level of corporate greed shown by industry leaders.'
'In the first half of 2023 the big three automakers made a combined $21bn in profits – up 80% from the same time period last year. Over the past decade, these same companies made some $250bn in profits in North America alone.'
'Yet last year, the big three spent $9bn – not to improve the lives of their workers, not to make their factories safer, but on stock buybacks and dividends to make their wealthy executives and stockholders even richer.'
'Further, while many of their workers are struggling to survive financially, last year the CEO of General Motors raked in about $29m in total compensation, the CEO of Ford approximately $21m and the CEO of Stellantis over $25m.'
'Incredibly, over the last four years, CEO pay at the big three has increased by more than 40%.
While auto industry CEOs and stockholders make out like bandits, the workers who build the vehicles earn totally inadequate wages.'
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/12/bernie-sanders-support-united-auto-workers-strike
‘Tiers’‘Ending tiers, or in-progression pay, where members are paid differently based on seniority, has been a top priority of the union for years.’
‘Fain said each of the automakers has proposed cutting an eight-year grow-in period to top wages that are currently at more than $32 an hour to four years.’
‘COLA’ ‘Fain has demanded a return to cost of living adjustments, or COLA, which increase wages to keep pace with inflation.’
‘Fain said all companies have made “deficient COLA” proposals that either include lump sum payments, limit the amounts, or only kick in at certain levels that the union finds inadequate.’
‘Ford has proposed a return to a COLA formula used in the past, which Fain said would provide estimated wage protection of less than $1 over the term of the contract; proposals from GM and Stellantis would provide no protection, he said.’
“Profit-sharing”‘The UAW wanted to enhance profit-sharing payments to provide workers $2 for every $1 million a company spends on share buybacks, special dividends and increases to normal dividends.’
‘Fain said the Detroit automakers have each offered “concessionary profit-sharing” formulas that lower the current standards, which are based on a company’s North American profits.’
‘The union said Ford’s formula would have resulted in 21% smaller checks over the last two years; GM’s would have resulted in 28% smaller checks over the last year; and Stellantis would like to base payments on “an unknown internal company attendance calculation.”
“Profit-sharing was implemented in recent years as a way for the companies to “reward” members in good times but not have to pay as hefty of bonuses when the companies were not doing well.”
‘Temps’ ‘Ending the use of temporary workers, who can be paid lower wages and have no job security, is another longstanding UAW priority. Fain said that Ford has agreed to convert all current temporary workers with 90 days of continuous service to full-time workers, with full benefits, in the tiered progression.’
‘Fain said that GM has offered “inadequate” benefits and “meager” wage increases for temps and that Stellantis’ proposal provides no path at all to full-time status’
‘Job security’ ‘The UAW has proposed what it calls a “Working Families Protection Program,” under which employees at a shuttered factory would be paid by the automakers to do local community-service work. All three automakers rejected the proposal, Fain said. Stellantis went further, proposing a unilateral right to close and sell 18 facilities, including factories and parts depots, he said.’
‘Work-life balance’ ‘The UAW has demanded more time off for workers, with more paid vacation and holidays and extended parental leave. All three of the automakers agreed to make Juneteenth an official holiday, Fain said, but only Ford went further, proposing 2 weeks of parental leave.’
‘Retirees’ ‘The UAW has demanded a “significant” increase to pay for retired workers. All three automakers rejected any increases, Fain said.’ (CNBC) See link below.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/13/where-uaw-negotations-stand-a
Thank you, as always. Question: the small towns of the Midwest were once linked by trains. As we try to pollute less, shouldn’t we focus more on public transportation (which brings people together and might get vaccinations and masking to be more popular as Covid continues) than on private cars?
We've just been traveling by U.S, Highway 80 from New York to Chicago. The number of trucks on the road is staggering, and while we build more electric autos and pick-ups, while crucial, is only part of the problem. We need to move more freight and people by rail, it seems to me.
Yes. Absolutely. The catenaries left from the PRR still stand on the East coast (or did 10 years ago). Electric trains are still possible. Also electric trolleys.
Virginia, my grandmother talked about rail lines connecting small towns in Illinois. They were gone by the 1950's (how did that happen?) and agree that is a tremendous negative for the environment but also for those who live in rural areas today and have no option but cars and truck for transportation. Living in a large city I love the freedom of public transit.
People in the US love the independence of owning their cars.....and big trucks. Other countries have wised up.
Transportation by rail, air and the roads need to be planned, regulated and used with life on earth, including health, housing, community, efficiency, equality, and cost... considered to be crucial factors.
'Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Birth of the Interstate Highway System'
'On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation funding the construction of the U.S. Interstate Highway System (IHS)--something Americans had dreamed of since Detroit starting building cars.'
'The Missouri Highway Commission awarded the first contract to begin building the interstate along the famous Route 66 in rural Laclede County, 160 miles southwest of St. Louis. However, construction on the first section of interstate actually began in St. Charles County, Missouri, on Aug. 13. Kansas and Pennsylvania have also made competing claims that their states were first to possess sections of interstate.'
'No matter who was first, the enthusiasm for a uniform system of roads, bridges, and tunnels was very high in 1956, nearly fifty years after the introduction of Henry Ford's Model T automobile. The building of the IHS, formally known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, proceeded rapidly throughout the country, and by the early 1990s, nearly 45,000 miles of interstate highway were complete.' (ArmySustainmentMag.) See link below.
https://www.army.mil/article/198095/dwight_d_eisenhower_and_the_birth_of_the_interstate_highway_system
Yes, and it has proved disastrous for climate. BTW: Amtrak runs on some of those small town connective rail lines. My husband had old maps which we followed taking Amtrak from Charlottesville to Chicago.
Fern, thank you for all the information and links!
Mary Hardt, you always nourish us with understanding and heart. Thank you.
Thank you for the compliment—it means a lot coming from you.
Mary Hardt, it is wonderful that we are together with such a rich assembly of
friends!
Yes, it’s such a joy in these turbulent times.
Don’t hold your breath, Roberts will have none of that.
The corruption in the courts will continue just like the corruption in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and the House of Representatives. The basis of the current Republican Party is corruption. They still hold enough power to protect themselves from any consequences, just like they are doing for Trump.
KARMA ! , Will come, Eventually ! ( THEY !, Just Do NOT ! , ,,,,BELIEVE IT ! ) . ( NOTHING !, is Hidden ! From the EYES ! ,, of OUR LORD/GOD ! . ALMIGHTY ! )
It seems that the Supreme Court is allowed to be the only branch of government that has nothing to balance its power.
Exactly. An ethics code is necessary for these special folks.
I am so happy to see that Biden is going to stand with the UAW! I hope Trump gets booed off the stage.
The only reason Trump will go there is publicity. He doesn’t give a damn about those auto workers. Doesn’t care about the unions. He only cares about himself and making more money.
Trump has truckloads of his expired bottled water and paper towels to distribute, and many many discount coupons for pizza with which to buy votes.
Oh, wait...
😂 how right you are, Ed!
Thanks, and for the record, I am a loyal union man. When non-union workers complain about paying dues or other expectations, I ask them to list all the benefits they enjoy which were given to them out of the company's goodness of their heart.
The conversation usually ends at that point.
Without a doubt, without unions wages would be much lower and workers would have no method of demanding more. But, where the auto workers are concerned, they're working on a dinosaur, so to speak. Electric vehicles are much less complicated. Down the road all of those auto service centers like Jiffy Lube, etc., will be gone. No need for them. They're the blacksmiths of the current era, soon to be gone.
Your comment is on the money sir, and provides even more incentive for the UAW to get what they can while it's still there to get. EVs plus automation plus temp workers plus a fickle consumer market adds up to a lot of uncertainty.
Union concessions made in 2007 have evidently not been rewarded, 16 years later. Without a union underpinning, the middle class, by which I define as those who can afford the products they make, will suffer and whither away.
Labour saving technologies have always been both boon and bane. However things develop, the long term financial gain has to accrue broadly, not simply to improved profits. Part of this could be greater corporate tax rates, which have been gradually clawed back in recent years, esp via the GOP.
I’m going to say some things here, and I dearly hope I don’t puss anyone off. But, it’s what happened to me, and I wish to share it.
In the early 70s, as a beginning law enforcement officer, and firefighter, for a small town in South Carolina, my starting salary was under $300 a week, gross pay mind you. That’s for each position. Not every officer had that opportunity. I strived to gain the training so I could do both jobs to get employed in both positions, and therefore draw two checks from the city. That’s the only way I could have ends meet, and all I had in me at the time was my rent, utilities, and vehicle payment. I didn’t buy much food because I usually ate at the firehouse or just took lunch to work at the P. D.
Anyway, we talked about unionizing for better wages, better benefits, and the like. We were quickly informed by the upper powers that if that discussion continued, we would be immediately replaced. They had a drawer full of applicants begging to work. Plus, it was against the law to unionize a Civil Service position. So, we couldn’t unionize anyway.
Fast forward to early 1980s. I’m working as a deputy sheriff in DeSoto County, Florida. I’m employed at a salary of $900 a month, gross pay, taking home just over $400 a month on a single check the first of every month. My rent was $350 a month. I had a wife, 4 step-children. Two were in school, early grades, two were at home, still in diapers. My wife got a job at a local store, but after a couple months I had her give that up because it was costing us money for her to work. She wasn’t bringing home $150 a week after taxes, and it was both g more than that for the babysitting, her lunch, wear and tear on the vehicle, plus fuel. So it wasn’t worth it for her to work. I gained two extra jobs, after begging the Sheriff to allow me to work. That’s how we almost made ends meet.
We talked of unionizing at the local police and our department. We were informed quick that it was a violation of state law. We couldn’t unionize.
I was injured at a fire I assisted the local city fire department at one morning. I was actually a volunteer for them, since I had such extensive training, I joined them when I moved there in ‘79. After I was injured, when a roof caved in on me at a house fire, I was tossed like a piece of trash. I eventually was forced to give up my law enforcement career in 1995 because of my back and leg injuries. The illustrious Florida state Retirement System decided that I didn’t qualify for a full medical retirement, although I had over 26 years with the system! They cut my retirement by 76%, and I turned me that I was able to gain employment in a different field.
I tried. I went to school to become an insurance agent. And, for a few years was extremely good at it. I actually had a reputation of telling people the truth about their coverage, and if my policies I offered would help them, or not. Many times I sent I to homes to do reviews and walked out without writing insurance, because they didn’t need any written. A lot of families had much more than they needed. And I told them exactly that.
My long story is this. We tried as law enforcement and firefighter officers to get unionized. We needed better benefits. We needed better wages. We were not able to support our families on our salaries, and the upper echelon knew this. We were their slaves, and they owned us.
Now, in disabled, homebound, and living in a hospital bed under daily nursing care in my apartment, alone, and if you think fit one second that any part of this government gives a damn, you are sadly mistaken.
Yet, the northern departments were able to unionize years and years ago. Those folks had benefits. Those folks had good salaries. I had a buddy that lived in Arcadia. He was an officer for a department in Ohio when he retired. His check monthly was almost $2,000. My check at the time was $236. I served more time as a law enforcement officer than he did! He had full paid health benefits from his department. I had nothing!
Tell me the justice in that!