[stoney]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-25/uaw-negotiator-with-general-motors-says-entry-level-wage-should-be-raised.html

United Auto Workers Vice President Joe Ashton, who negotiates with General Motors Co. (GM), said he wants to raise the $14-an-hour entry-level wage for union members at assembly plants in talks this year.

The pay for new employees, about half of what senior workers get, is “not a middle-class wage,” Ashton said today in an interview after GM announced it will invest $69 million and add 2,500 jobs to start making two new models at the Detroit plant that builds the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

The UAW’s push in this year’s labor talks would seek to partially pull back on a concession made four years ago before the automakers have had a chance to hire many workers under the lower wage. The union is not seeking to eliminate the entry- level wage, which is paid to 3 percent of its members at the three largest U.S. car companies, Ashton said.

“In negotiations, there will be some conversations about moving these people up,” Ashton said. “We’re not looking to make these plants uncompetitive. It’s no good making $28 or $38 an hour if you don’t have a job.” ....

 

[dante]

Why shouldn't they share in the new GM/Ford prosperity? They agreed to cuts when the companies were on hard times, and now that they're profitable again why aren't they allowed to push for higher wages/benefits?

edit: Or is it only the executives who should be allowed to root around in the money trough?

 

[stevew]

is GM still gov't owned/run?

 

[stoney]

is GM still gov't owned/run?

36% US
10% UAW
9% CA Govt

 

[-BB-]

And the rest? Lowly stock holders?

Oh, and CA as in Cali or CA as in "how aboot a beer eh?"

 

[BurlyShirley]

Wow, a whole 28k a year before taxes is really being greedy. God forbid somebody make a decent wage for an honest day's work.

 

[Silver]

Wow, a whole 28k a year before taxes is really being greedy. God forbid somebody make a decent wage for an honest day's work.

It's not like they are busy moving money around on Wall Street. That's productivity, brah.

You'll notice the Joker started many threads about the bonuses on Wall Street a year after the bailout...

 

[MMike]

Suck it UAW.

How many people are actually at "entry level" $14/hr.......not many I bet.

 

[stoney]

It's not like they are busy moving money around on Wall Street. That's productivity, brah.

You'll notice the Joker started many threads about the bonuses on Wall Street a year after the bailout...

Actually, I was. It wasn't until I was hired to the street that I went hush, and that was because I was not putting my job on the line for this website.

 

[IH8Rice]

im surprised they havent thrown the "human rights violator" term out there again

 

[dan-o]

Suck it UAW.

How many people are actually at "entry level" $14/hr.......not many I bet.

You're right, it's currently not too many due to layoffs being based on seniority.

They want to increase the wage back to a sustainable level before the upcoming wave of retirements and rehiring by the automakers would drastically increase the percentage at this wage.