Mercury might leave WI

[marlboro180]

I don't know the details but hate to see it is even a possiblity.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/53869207.html

Mercury Marine Could Leave State
By Jay Olstad

FOND DU LAC - After 70 years in Wisconsin, Mercury Marine is the closest it has ever been to leaving for good.

The 830 union members at Mercury Marine vote on a new contract Sunday. If they vote no, Mercury Marine will most likely leave the state for its plant in Oklahoma.

Union leaders claim they plan to vote the deal down.

"They act like we're being greedy. The only ones being greedy is Mercury Marine," said local union representative Dan Longsine.

"There was nothing good in it for nobody, bunch of nasty for everybody," said Longsine.

According to Mercury Marine, a current employee would not see a wage cut, something the company president says is fair.

"If you vote on this, it says I keep my pay and respectable benefit package," said Mercury Marine president Mark Schwabero.

But the union claims the devil is in the details, with new and rehired employees taking a drastic cut in pay and health benefits.

"This is an insult when they tell the community they're offering competitive wages when in fact they're not competitive wages," said Longsine.

If Mercury Marine leaves, it would be a huge blow to the Wisconsin. Thomas Industries in Sheboygan is already leaving Wisconsin by the end of the year?taking with it hundreds of jobs.

"There comes a time you have to stand up and fight for something you believe in," said Longsine.

Even if taking a stand means losing your job.

"If the vote on Sunday is negative that would mean our manufacturing sector would not stay here," said Schwabero.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

You know, I think of all the places I've worked and seen that have unions, maybe 2 out of 100 have actually needed them to protect the workers.

All the others have done is made the company (or organization) they work for much less agile economically, much less efficient, and generally stifle change of any kind. Change is very painful, but sometimes it's very needed.

The US Postal Service, state government, auto companies, and now Mercury... they all have a huge burden of union workers who won't collectively accept economic realities, and they leave the company no options but to close its doors or go bankrupt. To stay in existence, sometimes companies have to cut workforce or benefits. Just like they sometimes have to close factories or offices, or order fewer supplies.

How many of those workers in WI would be just fine with accepting the cuts if it means they keep their jobs? Do you think the union will let them? Or will they all lose their jobs because it's "unfair" for a 20 year employee to not get their annual raise, or unfair for a new employee to not immediately get the same full benefits as everyone else?

It's too bad.

Erik

PS: I'm currently in a salary freeze, a hiring freeze, and retiring people aren't being replaced here. Our benefits have been cut too. But I have a job, when a lot of people don't. I'm civil service.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

From what I've read, there isn't much of a cut anywhere in the contract. Mostly procedural changes, and flexibility issues, etc.

Creating a 2 tier labor class under the same contract is nothing new either, many companies have done it, Briggs and Stratton, and UPS to name a few.

Its a way for the company to plan for long term viability, probably too late in this case IMHO.

Those workers aren't stupid. They see the writing on the wall, and the economic climate for the manufacturing sector; guessing the rank and file will ratify the offer; and the union bosses will all be dumbfounded and arrogant. But in the end, even they will see that they get to keep their job, and their union soapbox.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

it really amazes me the people that have ridden the coat tails of the unions in this country and while never joining or supporting them. now that that times have changed, are willing to condemn and blame them for the economy

i cant see this staying open very long with out turning polictal

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

Wow, it going to be weird calling up Mercury and hear the OKlahoman accent instead of the heavy Wisconsin German-English accent.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

Out of 2000 employies at the the plant, 838 are in the union and vote on this.

I would hate to be one of the other 1200 and have my continued employment riding on the union being reasonable.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

i bet the 1,200 are willing to work for what's being offered, so if the union is not happy, let them hit the road. and i bet the 1,200 could pick up the slack, of the lost 838 bodies. unions are not what they were originally designed to do. if i continue, another mod will have to close this.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

I would hate to be one of the other 1200 and have my continued employment riding on the union being reasonable.

Ayuh,.... While I Totally Agree that Unions are absolutely Counter-productive,...
The State of Wisconsin isn't all that Business Friendly either.... Pretty much another Michigan....

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

you guys ever had any relatives work or worked your self in a coal mine?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

I've never worked in a coal mine. And I don't care much for unions either. I have a very select viewpoint in which if you don't like your job... quit. Don't gang up on the employer. Even if you live in a hell hole of a town and you work paycheck to paycheck, it's not the employers fault that your there.
But at the same time.... If your in some kind of production work, or even a mechanic... I don't believe in by the hour pay either.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

you guys ever had any relatives work or worked your self in a coal mine?

Yea, I've had relatives work in the mines-uncles and my grandfather. Had an uncle killed when the slate fell. Most of these guy have no idea what unions were, only what they are now. Let 'em huff & puff.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

For one thing no one has posted the unions view. The company view seems to be that they are not doing anything to hurt or change the union contract. I haven't actually seen anything as to what the contract actually states. I'm sure the company is not going to put anything out that states that they are going to screw the union and try to cut back on their rates or benefits. But you guys just go ahead and believe the company line.

i think its cheap and small minded of you to try and lay this on the union. If not for unions there would be no workers rights of any kind in this country. You would not have to worry about wages you would still be working for chits at the company store. Your health care will be good as long as you are healthy and can work, that's it. That's your health care. Unhealthy,get sick, no doctor. Simple program. you will have a company shack to live in as long as you work for the company. Yes this is a pretty good system we need to go back to this.
Starting with Enron, NAFTA, the stock market tanking, the bank debacle, and the banks holding their billions and billions of dollars of losses to the jugular of the country and then demanding to be bailed out.
How in God's green acres can you blame collective bargaining and these guys for trying to preserve their pensions and lifestyle while congress and politicians in general have insulated themselves?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

Most of these guy have no idea what unions were, only what they are now.

Ayuh,..... Bingo,.... This ain't the 1930s.......

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

Ayuh,....

saw on the logging show on tv just the other night how Maine employers take care of there help. kick um to the curb when done with um.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

Good friend of mine has worked there the last 25 years or so. Not in the union. but he supports what they're doing.

Mercury is setting this up so they can blame the union when they leave. Fact is, they've been moving out for several years and the target is no longer Oklahoma, it's China. Maybe Mexico, but probably China.

This is the reason the union is standing tough. They know it's gone no matter what they do. And they will be blamed no matter what they do.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

saw on the logging show on tv just the other night how Maine employers take care of there help. kick um to the curb when done with um.

Then look for another job.... It's a free country, and everyone is free to relocate.

I burned my union card back in the mid 60's, and kept my draft card. Never regretted either decision...!

God speed Mercury!

 

[mscher]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/53869207.html


"There comes a time you have to stand up and fight for something you believe in," said Longsine.

Even if taking a stand means losing your job.

Pretty much says it all about the Union mentality.

No wonder we are headed down the tubes.

 

[mscher]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

This is the reason the union is standing tough. They know it's gone no matter what they do. And they will be blamed no matter what they do.

If the Union excepts the Company offer, exactly what will they be blamed for?

Standing tough in a poor economy and having Mercury leave quickly, versus settling and having a job for 6 more months, a year, maybe much longer, will accomplish what?

 

["G"]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

I worked in a union shop for a while and was told how good a deal we were getting. Vise versa, I've been told we were getting a good deal by company managers too. In reality and in both cases we were screwed BIG time.

Today I work without a union and frankly we are WAY better off. Does that mean we have not been affected by economics? No... but the boss has been fair. He hasn't been swimming in the bucks but he's kept us working. We've accepted some loss of benefits to help him. I'm not seeing your union doing that. Ask your union how long they will be paying your wages while on strike and unemployed. Worse yet if the company leaves the state.

In todays economy we cannot solely blame unions for the mess we are in. But we SURELY must look at the bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler and ask what part of that did labor unions have in it. Why do American companies send their assembly plants to foreign ports? Labor costs.

If I were you I'd accept what the company has offered and in a few years go back and remind them you cooperated with them. To play hard ball is to loose your job and further more put your community into economic hard times. How proud would you be of that?

Risk verses benefit............ you decide, but be willing to understand the consequences on either side. How willing or ready are you to be unemployed for the sake of a few years without a raise?

 

[hazmat5760]

Re: Mercury might leave WI

In some industries, the union is needed. My industry is one of those. I don't share the same views as many unions politically, but I'm proud to be a steward and help my fellow union brothers.

I'll agree that some unions no longer do what they were created for, but unions are NOT the downfall of our economy.

Plants don't just relocate because of labor. They also do it for insurance costs and many other things.






Nuclear is my industry, in case anybody wondered.