UAW "Open" To Considering GM Proposal To Change Auto Worker Compensation Structure

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1342740

1/12/2011
By Doug Cunningham

In Detroit auto labor contract talks this year General Motors will push for a dramatic, historic change in the way hourly United Auto Worker members are compensated. GM reportedly wants to compensate union workers the way non-union, salaried employees are paid – including performance-based variable compensation instead of a set amount of money spelled out in labor contracts. UAW President Bob King says the union is open to considering some portion of UAW member compensation tied to financial and quality performance. But he said rthe details of how union workers “share in the upside of the companies” will be left to collective bargaining that starts this summer. UAW members fought hard many decades ago to do away with piece-work and other performance-based forms of compensation because such methods could be and in fact were abused by management to unfairly target some workers while rewarding the boss’ favorites. If the UAW does accept this form of compensation it would be huge shift, essentially eliminating the union as a representative of workers on wages, since compensation would be determined by management based on the financial performance of the company.

[Jack Bone]

1. Thanx 4 this...I argued w/ my steward about an hour ago..

about how much Bob King's gonna screw us over...seems Mr. King will be around Indy 2morrow and my steward's going to his speech...I asked him to call Mr. King out on this "New UAW" B.S....something tells me he doesn't have the jewels to do it. Too many of my brothers & sisters are buying into this load of crap...It's scarey..."Go along to get along" gets you in a long unemployment line!!