GO NORTH AND ASK THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE SAME POSITION YOU WERE IF UNIONS WERE REALLY NEEDED. ESPECIALLY NOW, SINCE THEY ARE ALL WORKING OTHER JOBS BECAUSE THE COST TO SUPPORT UNION DEMANDS FORCES COMPANIES TO GO ELSWHERE TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE COST INCREASING INSURANCE RATES AND OTHER ECONOMIC SWINGS. I GUARANTEE IF YOU OWNED A BUSINESS YOU WOULDN'T WANT A UNION IN YOUR COMPANY.
GO BACK TO YOUR PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOB WITH BENEFITS AND STOP!STOP! DEMANDING! STRIKES DESTROY COMMUNITIES!!! BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO HAVE---A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN NON-UNION PEOPLE THAT WORK TEN TIMES AS HARD. I'VE BEEN TO VOLVO --YES--YOU WORK VERY HARD!!!!
Votes: +0

My hubby works for Volvo in Hagerstown and quite frankly I have never seen a company that likes to throw good money away like Volvo does. Don't get me wrong I love all of the overtime money but I would rather see my husband have a job for the long haul than alot of money for a short period of time. They are now laying off 1 shift at a time each week, sounds ok right...oh wait lets have employees come in early and stay over late. That makes alot of sense, lets pay a person time and a half while someone is sitting home collecting unemployment and sub pay. I have heard countless stories about guys sleeping in boxes, corners etc. I have heard about guys accepting overtime just to turn it down later to keep someone else from getting it. Let's not forget to mention that "it's not my job mentallity". I have heard to many stories to even count when it comes to employees either coming into work later or leaving whenever they feel like it, lets' not forget about the ones who just don't show up. There are no consequences for these employees because the "UNION" stands behind them and won't let Volvo get rid of them. These guys have no idea how lucky they are. They can get away with just about anything. Try getting a normal job without a union to protect them and let's see how long they last. Votes: +5

I will apologize in advance for this to be a longer comment then is what is on here now, but I just want to take time to explain some things. First of all I am a union worker at Volvo. I see people on here talking about us being lazy people who wants everything for free. That's simply not the case. We work very hard for this company! If someone thinks otherwise then they have never been inside the plant to see or it is some company official posting on here that is tired of doing our jobs while we are out. These trucks don't put themselves together and we just set back and watch the magic happen. I am very sorry that other people are not working for what is going on. Believe me, this is no vacation for us either. I as everyone else that works for Volvo wish we could be back inside. Inside making a living instead of standing out in the cold, rain and wind but we are having to make a stand for a fair contract. Seems some people are not informed of what we are fighting for. The company is trying to take away recall rights for employees. The only reason they are trying this is so they can hire new people at the lowest wage but mostly they don't have to provide insurance for them for 8-10 months. Get that? 8-10 months. Yeah, they care so much for thier workers. Most companies the new employees only have to wait 90 days. They are trying to take away medical insurance for those people that retire after 30 years working if they are less then 62 years old. The union said that in America puts a race horse out to pasture and takes care of them after they have finished their service, Sweden said after they are done with theirs they shoot them. WOW, what a statement. Here is one of the biggest things. The use of cadmium bolts. These bolts cause dust when tightened down. This dust gets not only on the employees hands but their clothes to take home to their families. This dust has been linked to causing kidney and liver cancer. After being recalled from lay-off in 2004 (thank goodness for recall rights) I came down with cancer myself a few months later. I'm not saying this is what caused it but it does make one think. Maybe this is why it has taken Volvo so long to give the UAW (almost four months) information on health and safety. Other things on health/safety is ergonomics, emergency response, lifting, paint overspray. If someone wants to blame the employees of Volvo because Pulaski has gone down hill, well that's just unfair. The only thing I see in the local paper is how town council is wanting to build up main street, tons of things on the New River trail. Why not complain to the politicians who voted in NAFTA that sent the end to companies like Pulaski Furniture and Renfro. Just so they can move to other countries. Pulaski didn't even want to keep Wal-Mart, but they like all the drug stores. Like Pulaski don't have enough of them on the streets. I want this strike over as much as anyone but not until we get a fair contract for both sides. Strikes like war is not something anyone wants or desires to go through but must be done sometimes. Where would our country be today if we didn't stand up for what we believe is right. To fight for fairness. Well I guess we would still be part of "The old country" Everyone has their opinion on things and I respect that and I'm not trying to change someone's mind here just to explain some of what we are out for. Thanks for your time, Mark Votes: +3

Yes, the new hires did take a hit last contract. I voted no on it also, because I feel like we should take care of everybody. This contract the company wants to take the recall rights away from anyone hired from here on out.

We do have some really good supervisors and of course we have our share of the bad ones too. All of them are stuck in the middle all the time. If we stop the line for anything, they have to answer for it.

Haven't ever really thought about moving up North. I'm still sort of young and a gypsy at heart who knows where I'll end up. Votes: -2

Please accept my apologies about my statement concerning smoking.

The last contract that was signed with Volvo did your local remove benefits from new hires? In Hagerstown they did. Do you know why? So those that worked there longer could get pay raises! In my opinion that is the biggest bunch of union trash that I have ever heard of! I thought the union protected their own! Nope, it's only about the ones that worked there the longest.

As far as the supervisor thing, if what you are saying is true, it is shameless! But again, it isn't that way up north. Consider a transfer. Votes: +2

There has never been a Union where it wasn't needed! Votes: -2

Well first of let me set you straight, I don't smoke. Thank you anyway. Secondly if I have time to go to the bathroom on my job, I'm lucky. So you can take those 2 theories a put them back in your empty hands. How long do you spend on your smoke break?????

If we worked in a place where Management was fair I'd be all for basing promotions and wage increases on performance. So therefore, we have a Union contract and to be fair to EVERYONE things are based on seniority. Before you start talking about something else you have no clue about ask the supervisors how they get their tpromotions/wage increases. I can assure you it's not done fairly. The better the supervisor treats the employees the worse the supervisor is treated by the company. Votes: -1

I must be hitting home if the only thing that you can attack is my spelling! Votes: +0

Jenny, Where in any union contract that Volvo has is it based on a persons preformance for pay increases of even a promotion to a lead man's posistion? It does not exist! How do you get more pay? How do you get promoted? How do they decide if a person get's laid off? It is all based on SENIORITY, not on Preformance.

Obviously you are a union 'worker' (using the term worker VERY lightly) high on the seniority list and no longer works for a living. How many hours a day do you spend on your "smoke breaks?" Votes: +3

What kind of a stupid idea is that if it isn't based at all on preformance?

You better be glad life isn't based on your PERFORMANCE, you wouldn't be out of second grade. Go back to turning your wrenches and forget about trying to write your clueless opinions. Votes: +0

I'm no hater. I am a company man. I'm tired of waiting around for some union slug to decide if he wants to get off of his coffee break and turn a wrench when I'm totaly capable of doing it myself. Unions-"Let's not reward those that work hard, lets reward those that have been here the longest." What kind of a stupid idea is that if it isn't based at all on preformance? Votes: +3

You think they are a bunch of overpaid crybabys but a least they get out every day and work hard and don't lay around on welfare thats the crybabies to me the ones who are to sorry to move their butts and the way the economy is it take every bit of what they earn to survive and they should stand up for what is fair.April Votes: +3

Shawn obviously you are just jealous. Don't be a hater man...... Please don't comment on something that you obviously do not know anything about. Votes: +4

Unions are a thing of the past. I hope Volvo closes the plant PERMENENTLY! What a bunch of over-paid, grown-up, cry-babies! Move the operations NORTH where the union is reasonable and willing to work with the company. Votes: -3

Victor,
You have no idea what you are talking about! Votes: +10

I hope the UAW is happy by causing other people to lose their jobs. You guys need to step up, be a man, and go back to the bargaining table. Pulaski is already a dried-up area and you are only making things worse by striking. Votes: +0