UAW warns of potential strikes at Ford, Stellantis a year after unprecedented work stoppages

[GTyankee]

The State of California employees did not pay into Social Security until 1970.
I went to work at a California Employee in July 1970,
I had a choice of either paying Social Security or NOT,
I chose to pay into it.

Soon after i started working, i don't know what year after 1970, but the Rules changed, all new hires had to pay into Social Security.
I don't know about CHP, State Police, Higher ranking Park Rangers & other Badge wearers.

One thing that is irritating to me,
the Refugees that were brought over here by the US officials, Afgans, Iraqis, etc. carry S.S. cards, the also stand in Line at the Welfare Office & they seemingly have their own Saturdays at the DMV here in Southern California, (the DMV thing was after the Covid scare had just ended )

 

[CanRebel]

If you want to see even more confusion ..............

Remember we had Covid & then the Long Shoreman on the West Coast pulled a Strike that finished crippling the US/Canadian Teamsters.

There were no automobiles on Dealerships sales lots & they are just starting to get inventory.

Now that we are up to current times

GUESS WHAT ?

The East Coast Long Shoremen are threatening a big Strike & Stellantis trying to get ahead of it.
A Long Shoremen Strike on the East Coast would mean NO ZF Transmissions coming in from Germany

That is false. They are made in Indiana under license from ZF. Have been for 10+ years.
ZF makes 8 speed transmissions in SC for US/Canada Markets.

 

[GTyankee]

ZF factory in Greenfield is mostly a repair facility, they do not sell to Chrysler/FCA/Stellantis

I am not sure about your 2021 Ram ZF transmission,
If you were to look a Equipment Sheet or window sticker & i believe on my original paperwork.

You would see in print that my ZF was imported from Germany
Originally only the ZF 9 speeds were to be built by Stellantis at their Kokomo Transmission plant in Indiana.

Stellantis Media - Kokomo Transmission Plant

Kokomo

media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

 

[Gary Fields]

Perhaps the UAW needs to remember that both PATCO and Eastern Airlines mechanics are still on strike.

 

[Dusty]

Social Security benefits are paid by a mandatory tax on many workers, and their employer (or a higher tax on self-employed workers).

The taxes are used to pay current retiree benefits (and also disability and survivor payments). There is no individualized “fund” or “account” for the individual that pay the taxes.

If a person qualifies for SS payments - the payments are based upon earnings and work history. The payments do not come from a defined account, such as a defined pension or 401k account.

One poster mentioned that some people are exempt from paying SS taxes - which is true. Certain government workers have their own defined pension system. The current law allows the government worker to retire and work at a job and pay SS taxes, but will cut their benefits (although they have fully paid the SS taxes), because they paid into a defined pension. This is called the government offset feature. The offset only applies to government workers - it does not apply to a privately employed person who participated in a defined pension plan, but then later (or simultaneously) worked another job and paid the required SS taxes and earned a work history.

There has a been a lot of talk of the SS fund expenditures exceeding the fund income - which would cause SS payments to be reduced due to the lack of tax income.

Note that the disability payments have not been mentioned as a source of being cut. Over the years, the definition of disabled has been changed to include conditions such as drug addition, anxiety, etc.

Although current workers and retirees expect a specific payment percentage, based upon their work history and taxes, a new law could be passed that would lower or eliminate the SS payments.

Also note I have never heard of the government threatening to lower or cancel any of the numerous welfare payments and programs that exist - and are exempt from taxation, including SS taxes.

Like Thanksgiving, Social Security is imbedded into the American psyche. Unlike Thanksgiving, Social Security has become a tool for some politicians to buy votes by promising more and more benefits. Social Security and the Social Security Administration have become a bloated cow compared to what was offered originally.

Now, who is really to blame for this?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 119802 miles.

 

[Dusty]

Union bosses go to jail for bribery, graft and other corruption, then the union votes in new bosses who do the same thing. Its been going on since unions have been formed and will continue until the cycle is broken.

My question is why union members, with the power of thousands of organized workers have never rid themselves of this cycle for nearly a hundred years.

The union membership embraces the union ideology because it's hard to argue against the union bosses when they claim they can get a 25-30% increase in hourly wage. Unions have significant political power. Politicians see to it that union support is rewarded by writing into law the requirement that certain contracts must be filled by union employees. Unions also have the legal power to call strikes, a threat that almost always puts a chilling effect on contract negotiations.

The biggest threat to unions is competition from non-union companies. Already shaky Yellow Freight was brought to it knees because it tried to price its services to compete with non-union trucking, and buckled when it could not meet the union demand for higher wage increases.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 119802 miles.