Motor Coach workers vote for strike action

grumpy old man wrote:Is the timing here good, bad or meh? Add in the $1250 bonus, is an almost 4% annual increase a decent wage hike?

I don't know what these trades peeps earn but Motor Coach is considering outsourcing certain things like painting. Certainly one can understand a company attempting to contain or lower costs in an effort to remain competitive (especially in light of the buy American mindset by our neighbours) and grow profits/reduce debt.

I'd say their timing could not be worse. Perhaps a better solution is to work with Motor Coach to ensure they keep their doors open and sell more buses in a time where bus sales and protectionism are growing.

I agree. It's never a good time to strike at the start of a recession that can possibly be the worst since World War 2. They are taking a big chance.

Well these people will have no one but there union to blame if the jobs go south . And the union bosses forget your name real quick , after you stop paying them .

grumpyrom wrote:You make it sound like driving down wages is a good thing for your average joe.

What the average business must always be doing is managing costs. Some ways to do that is increase productivity of their people. Other methods include automation. Still others include finding less expensive processes. And yes, sometimes that includes outsourcing to less expensive companies. And sometimes that means lower wages.

I don't like it. But what is the alternative?

If a business does not maintain profits, or at least in this economy break even, do they stand a reasonable risk of losing money? How is that a good thing? If they lose too much is there a risk of going under? Think about how investors think: they have $10,000 to invest. They can invest their dollars in stocks or GICs. If the stock is for a company at risk...

If you were a businessman that faced losing your investment by keeping the business open and keeping people employed or put your money in a safe place I think I know what you'd do. Most people would do the same. Who can blame them?

If too many people take their money out of business - business is at risk. That is what we are facing today.

And for giggles... Let's have business always meeting union demands for higher and higher wages. Then all the business has to do is raise their prices to their customers. Right? Ummm, no. Wrong.

Managing productivity and costs is a sure fire recipe for keeping inflation down to a manageable rate. That is always a good thing. And that will almost certainly keep more people employed.

Pavolo wrote:Well these people will have no one but there union to blame if the jobs go south . And the union bosses forget your name real quick , after you stop paying them .

Lets vote to strike during the worst recession since the 1930's

Not too bright. This would be a great opportunity for MCI to move its operations back stateside, hire new employee's and collect some of that economic stimulus money from the US Feds. And to pit icing on the cake, one less union to bother with.

I thought those jobs were going south anyways.

The jobs, it would appear have been going south, east, west and north! I spoke to my fellow worker, whose husband works there, and they are down to 4 or 5 hours a day, down from 1500 jobs to 700, and they are assembling here in Wpg, work that has been contracted out.
I don't know what one is to think about contracting out, but that is what probably has to happen to stay competitive in the market. If another company can do certain things more efficient, then they get one job.
MCI is making pretty high tech touring buses, and they have to compete with other companies all over the world.
Back to my story on my 1990 Grand Caravan, at $22,500 appx, and todays price 19 years later is $17,978. That is pretty incredible in my opinion.better quality, 1 extra door and lower price! Has to be due to contracting out and that the autos are really priced low.

I don't believe the jobs are going anywhere. But why put them at risk? This is what unions don't seem to get.

This company is originally a Winnipeg company. Anybody wonder why they went into the US in the first place? Was it purely a business decision or...

Today they have to have a certain percentage made in the USA. Is that what drove them there to begin with?

what was that manufacturer that up and left town a few years ago when the workers voted to go on strike? They actually had the trucks come in and start hauling the big equipment out over the picket line I seem to recall.

And that was in happier economic times.

Living Dead- you are #11 now, I just passed you - Ha, Ha, you haven't been paying attention, or have you been on vacation, or are you restricting your posts to when you have something intelligent to say, ignoring what the 10 posters ahead of you are doing? lol

FlyingRat wrote:I thought those jobs were going south anyways.

A few years back they were, but then Doer gave MCI a large wad of cash to keep MCI in Manitoba.

I remember it well, MCI was threatening to shut down its Manitoba operations and move the jobs to one of their other plants in North Carolina . They (MCI) said they would keep this plant operational if Manitoba gave them some cash. Doer gave them the cash.

rosencrentz wrote:Living Dead- you are #11 now, I just passed you - Ha, Ha, you haven't been paying attention, or have you been on vacation, or are you restricting your posts to when you have something intelligent to say, ignoring what the 10 posters ahead of you are doing? lol

I have about 10 free min to spare a week and I prefer to use them jerking off, rather than wasting time keeping up on issues that only piss me off.

Rosen, just in case you needed to know, I still lurk. I still know whats going on in these forums. I have lots of intelligent things to say, its just that with your limited mental capacity I doubt you would understand.
:party 005:
Sincerely,
LivingDead

I undertstand! Thanks for keeping me advised!

LivingDead wrote:

FlyingRat wrote:I thought those jobs were going south anyways.

A few years back they were, but then Doer gave MCI a large wad of cash to keep MCI in Manitoba.

I remember it well, MCI was threatening to shut down its Manitoba operations and move the jobs to one of their other plants in North Carolina . They (MCI) said they would keep this plant operational if Manitoba gave them some cash. Doer gave them the cash.

Iam sure some smart lawyer will fiqure a way out of that problem real quick .

Pavolo wrote:

LivingDead wrote:

FlyingRat wrote:I thought those jobs were going south anyways.

A few years back they were, but then Doer gave MCI a large wad of cash to keep MCI in Manitoba.

I remember it well, MCI was threatening to shut down its Manitoba operations and move the jobs to one of their other plants in North Carolina . They (MCI) said they would keep this plant operational if Manitoba gave them some cash. Doer gave them the cash.

Iam sure some smart lawyer will fiqure a way out of that problem real quick .

Yea, and Doer will say "thank you, come again" as he hands out more cash incentives to both the unions and MCI to get them to stay.

-a little off topic now.
How the hell does Mr. Doer and his NDP remain in power? He is one of the worst premiers Manitoba has ever had.

ps You cannot use this in you own posts. Since I agree with your comment I have posted this smilie for you. Over and out.

phht cant use this in your own posts, what is this a dictatorship all of a sudden?

Ummm. Yes.

signed, a.

FlyingRat wrote:

I agree!

IG Guy wrote:

I agree!

LivingDead wrote:

IG Guy wrote:

I agree!

Stop this. Those smilies are being wasted.

Deank wrote: