Do Autoworkers really make $73 an hour???

[Kls Slps]

Auto workers make around $28 an hour plus benefits. The $73 an hour is the total cost for labor past and present retired and not retired divided by total number of actual hours worked. I posted this because I hear that number thrown around and would gladly take $73 an hour and take care of my own benefits. Thats $45 an hour for benefits. Very misleading. Really just a lie

[Y ask Y]

Kls Slps wrote:

Auto workers make around $28 an hour plus benefits. The $73 an hour is the total cost for labor past and present retired and not retired divided by total number of actual hours worked. I posted this because I hear that number thrown around and would gladly take $73 an hour and take care of my own benefits. Thats $45 an hour for benefits. Very misleading. Really just a lie

Sounds like the Big 3 owe us some back pay! LOL !!

Since we have been laid off & lost our dental coverage & the elimination of TAP and national foot care, the Big 3 has saved over 50% of our "benefits" package.

The $73/hr figure is just more BS hype designed to bust the union. I absolutely agree KLS, pay us $73/hr and let us provide our own bennies!

Better yet, eliminate the 12 month medical extension from the VTEP and bump it up to $200K!!!

[Brewster]

I saw on the CBS evening news them using that figure. Then saying that Toyota workers got $47 an hour. But they don't tell about the tax incentives they get either. Their rate of pay isn't computed the same way as yours.

[ashley]

I'm really getting sick of seeing that number thrown around. This is very lazy, shoddy journalism.

[NorthSouth]

I wish people would understand that our pay is NOT the reason that automakers are struggling. They need to wake up or just keep quiet if they don't know what the hell they are talking about.

[Knocker]

Did anyone else weatch the senate hearing on CNBC or FOX and notice that Gettlefinger looked lost,scared, and I did not feel he made a HARSH defense of the UAW at all.

[Brewster]

If the Big 3 are in so much trouble and need help. Then start at the top with the overpaid executives at the top. If they want help start by not taking any bonuses for putting workers out of a job!!. They would be selling cars if they had the workers doing their jobs on those lines. If I'm working I'm more likely to buy that new car. But since Integram has closed and finding a job with even half the pay I can't afford to buy anything!!!!

[WHAT]

$73.00 my foot!

If $73.00 is accurate workers are OWED a lot of back pay!!!!

[guess who]

Brewster wrote:

If the Big 3 are in so much trouble and need help. Then start at the top with the overpaid executives at the top. If they want help start by not taking any bonuses for putting workers out of a job!!. They would be selling cars if they had the workers doing their jobs on those lines. If I'm working I'm more likely to buy that new car. But since Integram has closed and finding a job with even half the pay I can't afford to buy anything!!!!

I agree, and then also have the pension fund and sub fund used first. After all everyone keeps saying it is only a loan. If that would happen, I am sure there would be some more support for the bailout. It seems like all you hear though is "that is our money, we earned it"

[Belviderian]

Everyone is wrong - we make $73 an hour, PLUS TIPS!!!

[401kbyebye]

http://chryslerlabortalks07.com/fastfacts.htm...

Hourly Wage Rate Comparison for UAW-Represented Assembly Workers (As of March 5, 2007)
GM Assembler Hourly Rate $26.09
Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)$ 1.77
Total $27.86

Hourly Wage Rate Comparison for UAW-Represented Assembly Workers (As of March 5, 2007)
Ford Assembler Hourly Rate $26.10
COLA $ 1.83
Total $27.93

Hourly Wage Rate Comparison for UAW-Represented Assembly Workers (As of March 5, 2007)
DaimlerChrysler Hourly Rate $26.86
COLA $ 1.89
Total $28.75

this was before the contract.

[Georgen]

Kls Slps wrote:

Auto workers make around $28 an hour plus benefits. The $73 an hour is the total cost for labor past and present retired and not retired divided by total number of actual hours worked. I posted this because I hear that number thrown around and would gladly take $73 an hour and take care of my own benefits. Thats $45 an hour for benefits. Very misleading. Really just a lie

When I worked for a supplier to Ford, if the Ford workers had to sort bad parts, that figure is correct. That is what we paid if we let Ford sort parts.That cost to the company is accurate, even though you don't see nearly that much. Matching your social security deduction is over $2 an hour alone. 30 days of vacation and paid holidays adds $5 an hour, same $5 for active medical benefits. Add contributions to federal and state unemployment funds, workers comp, and the amount starts getting bigger. Add pension contributions, retiree costs, and that figure is accurate. You don't see nearly that much, but those costs to your company are accurate. Our auditors checked that out.

[TNAPWife]

401KByeBye: THANK YOU!!! First realistic comparison I've seen in these pages so far!!!

[Kls Slps]

Georgen wrote:

<quoted text>
When I worked for a supplier to Ford, if the Ford workers had to sort bad parts, that figure is correct. That is what we paid if we let Ford sort parts.That cost to the company is accurate, even though you don't see nearly that much. Matching your social security deduction is over $2 an hour alone. 30 days of vacation and paid holidays adds $5 an hour, same $5 for active medical benefits. Add contributions to federal and state unemployment funds, workers comp, and the amount starts getting bigger. Add pension contributions, retiree costs, and that figure is accurate. You don't see nearly that much, but those costs to your company are accurate. Our auditors checked that out.

That was my point the retiree costs are huge and are thrown in to the math. It is being presented that UAW make that money,they don't. My wifes grandmother is living off of a GM pention and her income is being counted in that along with every other retiree.

[Georgen]

Kls Slps wrote:

<quoted text>
That was my point the retiree costs are huge and are thrown in to the math. It is being presented that UAW make that money,they don't. My wifes grandmother is living off of a GM pention and her income is being counted in that along with every other retiree.

It is still a cost that the company must bear, and that is a cost the UAW negotiated. That cost is being spread over fewer and fewer workers. The CUSTOMER does not give a damn about anything but value for his dollar. If he is no longer willing to bear that cost, then it MUST be reduced or eliminated. The taxpayer does no really care either. Historically, suppliers were beaten up by Ford, GM, and Chrysler for price reductions while the UAW won more and more. The big 3 went for the weakest link, their suppliers. The UAW has given concessions, but hardly any take effect until 2010. It was gratifying when back in 2001 we told Ford to come and get their tooling, we refused to lose money on their work. By 2003, it was gone, and it proved to be a good move. The company now supplies BMW, Mercedes, and Nissan. They drive a hard bargain, but unlike Detroit 3, they do allow their suppliers to make money.

[WoodHaven Willy]

If the Uaw pay isnt the reason(or at least part), then someone explain

1) The fact Honda and Toyota have dethroned the detroit three 100 year old companies in only 15 years.

2) Why toyota and honda sell more cars cheaper make more profit yet are technilogically and fuel effiently superior ?

Honda and toyota executive are compensated the same as the detroit 3, the hourly workers make less is the difference i see.

[NorthSouth]

WoodHaven Willy wrote:

If the Uaw pay isnt the reason(or at least part), then someone explain
1) The fact Honda and Toyota have dethroned the detroit three 100 year old companies in only 15 years.
2) Why toyota and honda sell more cars cheaper make more profit yet are technilogically and fuel effiently superior ?
Honda and toyota executive are compensated the same as the detroit 3, the hourly workers make less is the difference i see.

Um, The big3 have thousands and thousands more retirees!!! Duh!!! They have builts millions and millions more autos too!!!

[NorthSouth]

In short...Honda and Toyota don't have the legacy costs that the big3 have/had.

[Brewster]

Honda and Toyota's cost per hour will go up to near the same levels. They haven't been open long enough in this country to be paying the same number of retired workers. When they start seeing more retirees their cost per hour will go up. Remember how long the Big 3 have been in business. They have millions of retired workers over the years. People who put the time in should get what they were contracted to get. Why doesn't everyone get upset about top management and their pay and benefits?? Or our politicians who don't pay social security, get to approve their own raises, and have one hell of a great retirement plan when in the U.S. Senate and Congress. Get your pay for life after leaving office!!! Our own government is the biggest scam around!! The little guy takes the brunt of everyone's anger but it's the top that's abusing the U.S. taxpayer!!

[RJM]

Good luck,
The problem is we need the govt to get out of the auto business, quit telling them what to build, what MPG needs to be, let the market decide. As for the unions. They are not needed any longer, this is NOT 1920. People are treated fairly by most employers today and last but not least. When a company has problems it all starts at the top. They should all be fired ( Auto Execs and UAW execs) because all they are doing is trying to keep their checks rolling in while they blame everyone else.