Offer detailed Provided no pay raises for six years while health insurance costs would double.
Failed to put the retiree’s health insurance payment plan in writing. Stripped away seniority rights.
Prevented Tier II workers from transitioning to the higher-paid Tier I. Eliminated cost of living increases tied to inflation rates for Tier I workers and failed to provide them for Tier II workers.
Allowed “supplemental” workers to work at the plant for two years with no benefits.
Frozen and eliminated the pension program and shifted everyone to a 401k-type plan.
Company spokesman Rusty Dunn would not comment on the union’s specific concerns.
Tier II workers — who were hired after May 2, 2005 — have been earning $13 an hour for the past seven years and the company’s new contract would have kept them at $13 an hour even with health care costs increasing.
$13 an hour for 13 years with escalating health premiums and no pension is ridiculous.
Top scale for Tier I workers — who were hired before May 2, 2005 — would be frozen at $28 an hour.
All we want is a fair agreement at a time when Caterpillar is making record profits.
I think I would have offered an increase of 50 cents a year over the 6 years to the tier 2 to get them up to $16/hour, and a cut of $1/year to the tier 1 to cut them to $22 at the end of the 6 years.
The additional long term costs would probably be covered by inflation, and it would help level things out while splitting the Union.
Based on this comment, I assume you are one of the union workers. SO I further assume that you are prepared to suffer the potential consequences of the strike (loss of pay, possible loss of your job entirely, Caterpillar moving operations to another state) without further complaint if your side loses in this gamble you are taking?
you know if you're an illegal, you don't get car insurance or worry about health care...its all free...
but the young American worker....zilch..nothing....
I feel very bad for todays' young people...that can't win for losing...
best advice I guess is to go get a cushy govt job that you can't get fired from with defined pensions and great health care...hell, we can all be govt workers...
You have no right to demand anything as an employee beyond your pay which you agree to, or not.
As to the individual items:
No pay raise for 6 years - Look at increased costs due to increased Gov’t controls/regulations WHICH THESE WORKERS, BEING UNION, AND THEREFORE DEMOCRAT VOTERS, THEY VOTED FOR THESES COSTS, THERFORE THE PAY FREEZE.
Increased HealthCare premiums. THEY VOTED FOR THIS.
Senioroity rights. WHO CARES? How about an employers rights to fire/layoff an unproductive worker even if he is most senior?
“Supplemental” workers - WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME THAT I MUST JOIN A UNION TO WORK?
Pensions - I would not TRUST a company with my pension anyway, let me decide how to provide for myself.
Unions are populated with FOOLS!