Right-to-work law: yay or nay?

Back to the original question. The biggest opposition I see to right-to-work laws is that non-union employees would get the same benefits as union employees. In the states that have adopted this kind of law already does this actually happen? And I'm talking well after the law has gone into effect. I would expect initially it to be true, but eventually when union contracts have been re-nogatiated a couple times are all employees typically given those same benefits? Or do the union employees begin to get better benefits?

 

I just think about american cars in general as crap. I had an 83 K5 Blazer...POS
Then a 96 Intrepid...POS then I got a 96 4Runner with 135k and took it to 215k with no issues what so ever. I loved that thing. Now I love my taco. I think that the UAW is why american cars are pieces of shit. People make 100,000k a year working on the line. When they retire, their health care is paid for and its the same for all of their managers. You have to be a complete criminal to lose your job there apparently.

 

American made cars "were" a POS because of engineering. Made to fail, cheap crap. Blame the Brass for that one.

 

I dont know that they have gotten any better.

 

As far as blame goes, I think there's plenty to go around. You can argue both ways. Perhaps because of the high cost of UAW employees their hands were tied, and they had limited resources as to what they could put into R&D, engineering, materials ect....There's a reason why they are struggling and foreign owned. Either way, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, KIA, Boeing, Hyundai are all opening plants away from the UAW. It's to control cost. BMW, MB, Boeing make high end quality products w/o union jobs. They are all great companies to work for at any level with outstanding benefits.

 

I believe they are getting better. It's about time.

 

I work at BMW and build the X5 and X6.

 

no doubt,. I think the engineering was on purpose to sell more cars and parts. Designed to fail at 80,000- 100,000 miles. They new exactly what they were selling, it was a decision not a result of labor cost's. The UAW was not such a burden back in the late 70's early 80's anyway.

 

nice

 

I'd love an X5, Im looking at the Q5 though. German design can't be beat!

 

In a nutshell, the original intentions were good. However Unions have become too big, too powerful, and Frankly are probably one of the biggest problems we have in this country today.

I think a bit of "scaling back" is in order.

 

Its by far the toughest job I have ever had. Pays well and the benefits are good. You have to start through a temp service (MAU) which I am doing right now. No telling when I will actually get hired on, but I get up to 10 hours of OT if I want. 11 hour days total including two 10 minute breaks and a 40 minute lunch. So 10 hours split into 4 quarters. You do a different job every quarter to keep it interesting. I am off saturday and sunday and have a rotating day off which is where my optional OT is. Actual BMW employees max out at 26.50 an hour on the line. They are also able to get that 10 hours of time and a half if they want. I think its a great model of how a car company should be run. No unions no bull shit, do your job and go home or dont do it at all. I think its brilliant.

 

Cost of ownership can though. Get a 4runner! Or perhaps a GS 470 if your looking for a luxury vehicle.

 

Those aren't very good sources to prove your point. The first one, Fox article has no mention of Iowa and just speaks generically about the midwest (which comprises a huge geographical area which includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, N & S Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas).

The second one (the Rand study) is from 1979. Much too dated (33 years ago). It was before Reagan was president.

The 3rd one shows a large population boost near the city areas in Iowa (>25%).

 

They over-design. Why does a car need an electric motor to open the fuel door? Every audi and volkswagon has had one for years. Stupid little things like that are just begging to cause problems at the worst times.

 

you work five days per week at eleven hours? or four days?

 

I am in a union, but I think that it should be by the choice of the employee. I dont think that an employee should be forced to join one. It is also really frustrating when the unions take your dues and send themselves to nice warm vacation spots to have their meetings to eat and drink.

 

Four at 10 working hours. But you can always come in on your day off if you want double time.

 

yah thats bullshit

 

Fun Fact about BMW....My brother bought a small metal fab shop from this old German guy. He worked for BMW during WW2 making German aircraft engines. Because he worked during war time, he was still receiving a pension.