02.11.2009 1:35 pm
UAW encourages local GM workers to volunteer during layoff
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
More than 30 local agencies are expected to visit General Motors Corp.’s van assembly plant in Wentzville Thursday, recruiting volunteers for their organizations.
To align inventory with lower demand, GM has halted production for several weeks at some of its assembly plants. The Wentzville plant is on a three-week shutdown starting next Monday and ending March 8. During that time, workers will be temporarily laid off.
United Auto Workers Local 2250, the union representing more than 1,800 hourly workers at the plant, is encouraging its members to volunteer during the layoff.
so either they can get paid 80 - 90% salarie and do nothing, or do volunteer work….let’s see what happens.
I do know Chrysler, several years ago allowed Job-Bankers, to help out at schools and other “kids” oriented orginizations, during work hours. This all stopped around 4-5 yrs ago, for some reason. I thought maybe the liability became an issue. This was around the same times they stopped all outsider tours of the plant. Its a shame Liability issues take precidence over helping kids and allowing older kids access to the facility to learn about processes and machinery of building a vehicle. However encouraging,and participating, volunteering during a lay-off is a great idea.
Looks like the UAW is trying to get some good p/r now. Too late. It will take years to clean up your tarnished image of greed and laziness,
Larry:
Don’t anticipate what you think others will do until, you get off your own duff and help someone less fortunate! I bet you never step into a role of volunteerism. Just an FYI………..membes of the particular Local spend hundredss of hours every year donating their time to Charities. Don’t speak about others unless YOU KNOW THE FACTS!!!!
Fred…
You are so right these guys do a lot for the community. I am sure Larry has NO idea what it means, It is a shame to see someone speak so negative about an issue they have NO way of knowing anything about, Larry sounds bitter..so sad for him. Hope the day never comes when he needs hlep from a stanger.
As a UAW member for 13 years I have done more communtity volunteering than in any previous profession I have had!! Sponsor and coach little league, help out habitat for humanity, numerous food,coat & blood drives. The list goes on but if you watch FOX news (the GOP channel) you would think I am a lazy overpaid Union Worker who makes 70 dollars and hour. I wish I made half that much. Fair & balanced my behind!!!Be American!! Buy American!!!
Sorry Babyray, that well earned UAW reputation has been around a lot longer than Fox News. But keep blaming them for all your troubles!
What a great idea on UAW’s part! You wouldn’t think anyone could complain about people volunteering their time to help make the world a better place, but here come the hateful right-wing hordes. Honestly, you guys need to take a break from politics, take a deep breath, and think if attacking people for volunteering is really an expression of the values you believe in.
Look at us, look at us, we’re volunteering!! Now you can all just forget about the negative lazy-overpaid stereotypes about us. If the UAW is encouraging us to start volunteering to improve our image, that’s what we’ll do. Because we follow the people we pay our dues to, not to the company that pays our wages. Look how great it’s been working for us so far
I work for the supplier that provides Wentzville with its van frames but you’d never know we were a union shop because the UAW never steps foot in our building. Not since their big campaign to get us to vote in the union last April have we seen anyone from the UAW regional office. So it’s a good thing they haven’t shown up to ask us for volunteers during our layoff because they’d be shown the door. The UAW gets our monthly dues but management still runs the show and our union reps are in the back pocket of management.