Here is an interesting story from the World Socialist Web Site …

Apparently, unionized workers at a Caterpillar facility believe that CAT owes them employment at a wage to be determined by them. And that executives are paid too much.

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site spoke to workers at the Caterpillar picket line in Joliet Illinois. Workers spoke about the prospects facing their strike along with the high-publicized visits by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and US Senator Dick Durbin.

A woman with 18 years, who commutes 30 miles to the plant, said that Quinn's visit to the picket line was "a publicity stunt. He gave us $10,000, but that went to food. Sure, they are feeding us, but where are we supposed to eat it? People are losing their homes and apartments. CAT was probably laughing." She added: "As for politicians, I think they are all crooks."

Another worker with 20 years, said, "CAT management doesn't understand that workers make the profits. People can't exist in this area on less than $15 an hour. This crap of the CEO making 300 or 400 times more than the factory worker has to end.

Yes, workers are necessary for a company to function. But it does not have to be “those” workers, nor do they need to be located “right here.” When companies cannot compete in the national or global market, everyone loses. So why should the workers be surprised if the company – whose fiduciary duty is to their shareholders – outsources production to a cheaper labor pool. This is the nature of free enterprise that produces magnificent results as opposed to a socialist labor pool which produces mediocre value while demanding ever-increasing rewards for lower production standards.

Caterpillar is not the enemy. It’s the unions; with their onerous workrules and ever-increasing demands for benefits. They have no incentive to ramp up productivity while reducing costs; especially the cost of labor. Their incentive lies in getting more and more people to do less and less work – all at a significant wage.

Look what has befallen General Motors – producing a politically correct car that nobody except the government and government special interests (like General Electric) wants. They are no longer a car company, they are a government/union-controlled union pension fund with a car company subsidiary.

"I run a station with a bank of 8 machines that operate simultaneously, and never stop. They produce parts at a tolerance of .00013 millimeters. Do you think some replacement can do that? And then we had nitwit managers with no experience telling us what to do. Three weeks before we went out they called what we do 'monkey work'."

Reality?

• What world are these people living in? Or better yet, what century?
• Do they not see the handwriting on the wall that their worth as employees is proportionate to what they can produce?
• Do they not see that manual labor – even skilled manual labor is being reduced or replaced by “expert” systems and robotic devices?
• Do they not see the innovation in printed metal parts where complex components are printed out instead of being machined?
• Do they not see the one man that operates 8 machines – instead of having 8 operators? Why can’t he operate 10 machines or more?
• Do they not see that their chosen location may not support the labor pool, driving out work and reducing wages?
• Are they prepared to move to a more productive climate?
• Are they prepared to continue their education?

Or are they going to rely on corrupt government and corrupt unions to mandate where and how they work – and at what wage?  

Joe, a younger worker, felt that "not everything is out in the open. Where do we go from here? Either they hire replacements, or we negotiate. There shouldn't be a grey area, but that is what we are in.”

When asked what he thought about the role of the unions in negotiating no-strike clauses at UAW plants and elsewhere: “That should be the first thing in a contract, the right to strike. It shouldn't be negotiated away.”

What company would knowingly allow a vendor to put a gun to their head and make ever-increasing demands? Knowingly allowing a union to make exorbitant demands of more money for less work or else. A strike that costs the company and its shareholders a significant amount of time, effort and money – that can never be recovered. It is so much easier to move to a “right to work” state without unions. 

G&D Integrated, based in Morton, Illinois, has lost its contract to Caterpillar and over 200 layoffs are expected in Peoria and Decatur. A logistics and trucking company, it specializes in the collection, warehousing and delivery of manufacturing products. Caterpillar has once again found ways to cut costs at the expense of wider layers of workers.

Good for Caterpillar. They have found yet another way to be more competitive in the global marketplace. Unless the workers have some perfected claim to those jobs, that’s life in the marketplace. Workers have a right to be treated fairly and honestly according to their contributions. This does not guarantee them a seat in the boardroom along with those who have risked their capital to build the enterprise. If a company mistreats its workers, they are free to move along to healthier situations. If no other situations exist, perhaps they should be questioning their future in such a limited area.

Bottom line …

Unions are about corruption, pension funds and purchasing political clout with member’s dues. They are about supporting their leadership like the “fat cat” executives found in industry that they hate. In some cases, they are infiltrated by or cooperate with organized crime. Billions in worker’s pension funds have been lost in “insider” deals. Union leaders have cut “sweetheart” deals with management. So spare me the “purity” of the union’s intentions.

If you get the idea that I am anti-union, you would be correct. We have gone beyond those days when unions were all about worker safety and redressing arbitrary management provocations. Unions are now big business, managing billions of dollars in pensions, selling profitable healthcare through their allies. But the thing I really object to is that unions are based on socialism. Rewarding seniority over merit. Allowing the mediocre to triumph over the outstanding. They represent lower quality at higher costs. Less production for more money.

I am all for the working man – especially those who have honed their skills and are quite productive and innovative on their own. 

But most of all -- I don’t like the thought of running a business while having a gun to my head! Held by someone who does not understand the nature of competition and the reward for taking risks.

Out nation has been financially compromised by the unions -- especially the public employee unions. Those politicians we trusted to negotiate in our name have been corrupted and now are beholden to those with whom they negotiate. "We the People" no longer have a seat at the table.

It is time to throw these democrat/union dirtbags out of office and to restore America's capitalist system before we turn into socialist Europe. 

-- steve  

Reference Links …

Joliet Caterpillar strikers speak out