UAW Activist Gregg Shotwell on Democracy Now - 12/19/08 (Part 2 of 2)

[1131982vincent]

I think that all uion's for all 50 states,if they do that the heatlh-care will be so much better for all worker.

[SharpShootist]

Wahhhhhhhhhhhh I'm so sick of UAW members crying, I wanna puke! No one forced you to work for these pathetically managed crporations. Also, you were equally responsible for the utter garbage that came out of Detroit in the 70's and 80's.

[FlintPublic]

@SharpShootist What is your advice to those who's wage has been cut in half and benefits slashed? Say thank you, sir, may I have another? These manly men posers who advocate polite, "professional" civility to those whose job is to steal from actual workers is disgusting.

[solidarity4]

Gregg Shotwell is a very intelligent man. I saw him at the 2002 UAW International Convention.

I just wish that he would use some of his advanced knowledge to help workers organize to become UAW workers.

[FlintPublic]

Thanks for commenting, Solidarity4. Right now Soldiers of Solidarity are fighting to ensure that the UAW is a union worth joining. Google them for links to updates/actions. Take care!

[hondacivic1992]

This guy explains everything. The heads of GM waste money like crazy, plus stuff their own pockets. Meanwhile they cut corners in order to stay competitive on the market. They cut corners in all of the wrong places, materials especially. The steel used in USA cars is vastly inferior to German, Jap, or French steel. This is why American cars are inferior to the Japanese, German and French cars. The head of GM reminds me of Russian Mafia. Grab as much money while you can, then retire in luxury.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

Wow H.R. 676 gets no converge in the main stream media, we are in for a big fight on this one, the fat cat insurance companies have deep pockets and they will come at us with all they got. We need to stand strong on this. Check it out.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

H.R. 676 Lets make is so the people can, opt out of the one person pay system on their tax form but this will prevent them from using the system. They will have to use the private health care provider. This will give people choice and provide some competition for the private health care providers and the one payer system.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

Health care costs are part of the problem we have with job out sourcing; the burden of health care is put on the workers and employers, why cant we have a hybrid type of health care, use income tax money to pay into a non profit system that will pay for coverage for all Americana and then pay back a percentage in the form of a tax refund to the tax payers that dont use the coverage.

[Manchac7]

I was forced to join the teamsters when I got me first job at 18. Unions are run by mafia type oligarchies whose primary concern in stealing from the hard working slobs they allegedly represent. Let's have full disclosure and look at the union leadership's books. By the way, does anyone seriously think a production line job produces middle class income?

[FlintPublic]

Not all unions are entrenched, ineffective business unions. The UE & IWW are examples of what democratic, member-driven, action-oriented unions can do. It's not unionism that's flawed, it's those that run them. Just like it's not democracy that's flawed, it's our current leaders. And yes, a job producing a highly lucrative societal need (or want) deserves a middle class income. The question is: is a job sitting on your ass thinking of ways to send work overseas worth six figures? Anything?

[EpiDemic117]

excellent point. And I agree. I don't have a problem with the unions. They just build the cars. Its the god damn corporate management. They stopped caring about the product.

[solidarity4]

@Manchac7 : You were not forced to join the Teamsters any more than any other "condition of employment" in your first job when you were hired. That was what workers and managment agreed to before you were hired.

Labor unions are required to have full disclosure of their financial records to their members; and by the Labor Management Reporting & Disclosure Act.

[BlackMask2012]

GM failed because of their greedy employees. Pay more for health care than steel??? What kind of business is that??

[FlintPublic]

Indeed, how greedy it is to want things like being able to retire, send your kids to college, and people to take of you when you are hurt or sick. Is that more or less greedy than profiting from your illness or fear of not being able to retire, send you kid to college, or live? Where does the Big Three buy their steel from anyway? Countries that have national health care? Union labor including benefits account for 10% of production costs. Where do the other 90% go? HINT: Not the UAW. Offshore?

[solidarity4]

@BlackMask2012 : GM workers are not greedy by negotiating health insurance.

Rather, it's the failure of public policy not to have a national health care system.

[ANGELBEAR53140]

GREAT JOB GREGG...