forestboomer
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User ID: 783
forestboomer
1yr ago
Can the UAW Rise Again?
I would like to give a brief overview and submit for discussion this article and the broader questions it raises. The article's premise is whether the UAW can recover from its multi decade decline from globalization, concessions during the automotive bankruptcies, and corruption; given the recent election of new leadership within the UAW.
The article starts with detailing some of the corruption issues in the UAW highlighting UAW members thoughts and opinions. Including an interesting tidbit from a member so disillusioned from the corruption that:
The loss of union pride was so devastating that he briefly saw a therapist to help him grieve.
Apparently the UAW elections for years have used a delegation system to elect their leaders with a particular caucus - The Administration Caucus - maintaining control and crushing dissent for decades within the UAW. Recently after a large corruption scandal that landed twelve UAW officials in prison, a federal monitor was appointed in which the UAW held a referendum for direct elections which passed.
After the subsequent direct election a new president and seven other board seats were elected from a new caucus - Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) - with the party slogan, “No Corruption. No Concessions. No Tiers.” The board has six other seats belonging to the Administration Caucus and one other seat filled by an independent leaving the UAWD with a slight advantedge. After winning the election, the new UAW president Shawn Fain is quoted as saying:
“We’re here to come together to prepare ourselves for the war against our only one and only true enemy: multibillion-dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share,” said Fain from the stage.
The Administration Caucus is presented in the article as managing the unions decline, being closer to the automotive companies than the members, and rife with blatant corruption. From the article:
As in other unions, concessionary bargaining and a shrinking membership went hand in hand with corruption, as UAW leaders, closer with management than with their rank-and-file members, managed the decline of their industry. The agreements left workers in an ever-worse position even as the leadership enriched themselves, securing resources for their personal fiefdoms and select allies in the union. The details of such corruption are almost cartoonish: a federal investigation found that senior officials had embezzled millions, spending it on, among other luxuries, golf outings and extended stays at a Palm Springs villa. According to the New York Times, union officials acquired enough “golf bags, sunglasses, shirts and ‘fashion shorts’” on these trips that they used a semitruck to ship the items home to Michigan.
The article then goes on to highlight the various issues the recently elected officials are going to face. Namely:
Reversing bankruptcy concessions
The UAW made concessions with the automakers during the GFC and subsequent bankruptcies that faced Chrysler and GM. The concessions gave up Cost-of-living allowances (COLA) and introduced the tiered and temporary system - basically new workers get less pay and benefits and pre-existing workers get to keep what they had.
Bringing EV plants under UAW contract
Something I did not realize, the new EV production plants don't fall under UAW control.
Further agenda items of the new UAWD leadership include:
... pushing for thirty-hour workweeks, building cross-border solidarity with workers abroad, expanding health care coverage to include reproductive care, and gaining the right to strike an employer nationally over plant closures.
In summary the rest of the article goes on to talk about the grad students - which are apparently members - working with the UAW to strategize. Then the article talks about the history of the UAW and its advancement of civil rights. These topics to me aren't what was more interesting to me however I'm sure there's some great CW fodder in there which I encourage you to read.
My answer to the authors premise - can the UAW rise again? - no not by a long shot. The concept of a union, much less the UAW, is dead on arrival in a globalized world. Furthermore, it seems to me that the UAW have been useful pawns by the political class in their own destruction.
It always bothered me how union members always seemed to vote at the direction of their union - unbothered by it, as if they have no free will. The politicians their UAW has supported went on to push globalism and now EV manufacture, which require fewer workers and is outside of the UAW contract.
As far as the issues are concerned I don't see the auto manufacturers allowing EV plants into the UAW agreement. Right now with the UAW out of the picture for EVs, it provides a path for the auto manufacturers to become independent of the UAW. I can see the auto companies giving back some of the concessions in order to keep the UAW out of the EV manufacture as a compromise but thats a minor victory to a longer war.
As for the future of the UAW, I see the automotive companies slowly phasing them out and politicians continuing to use them for virtue signaling until they are no longer useful. While the workers may have finally regained control of their union, it seems like too little, too late.
forestboomer
7mo ago
The most important thing for Israel is that it moves toward firing squads and summary execution of perhaps 10,000-30,000 fighting age men in Gaza, as well as the entire political leadership, mercilessly but quickly and professionally. But then again, I’m a Zionist.
While I appreciate this candor and show of true colors from a Zionist, it's incredibly unsettling to hear the casual avocation of genocide. I can't see this happening in this day and age though, not with cameras in every persons pocket and social media. I would hope that if Israel would do something like this, it would spark it's neighbors and Muslims around the world into a great Jihad.
forestboomer
2mo ago
I actually don't really care too much who is president. Either one of them would IMO do a good enough job. I mostly care whether the president impacts my everyday life or causes nuclear war. However, though it isn't his fault directly, having Trump in charge would impact my everyday life negatively, mostly because it would fuel another 4 years of incessant leftist whining all around me, from all my friends and family, along with people starting to (erroneously, IMO) see and declare that racism and sexism is everywhere again. It'll start causing fights between me and my wife again. My workplace and all local institutions will start making statements about how they're standing up to Trump and racism. Under Biden, I have truly enjoyed some nice peace and respite from politics.
I'm also not looking forward to the toxicity that will result from a Trump win. I would argue against Trump having a greater effect on ones own life though as Biden reinforced and introduced such draconian measures during COVID, such as the vaccine mandates, which was a HARD and direct effect on my life vs a SOFT effect of putting up with a bunch of whiny liberals. Not to mention the censorship industrial complex, wars, judicial overreach; a leftist executive wields hard power much more readily than a trump administration with all of the deep-state headwinds.
forestboomer
1yr ago
I hate that Trump is once again a thing but lets not pretend that the system was worth saving before Trump. For myself, I voted for him in 2016 on the off chance that he delivered on some of his platform, then in 2020 because why not - let it burn. Not like there were any other choices for me besides not voting anyways. Honestly if he is the nominee, if I vote I will likely vote for him again. This system is a circus and I'll do my part to elect a clown it deserves.
I honestly don't even know where to go from here, since 2016 it's been validated time and again that the powers of the state and its zeitgeist are insurmountable and resistance is swiftly quelled through its institutions. I'll lay low, try to guide my child through the clown world, and hopefully stay out from under the eye of Sauron. In my fantasies Florida or some other red state becomes the first to secede and maybe in the new confederacy I can live a free man with a judicial system that defends personal liberty.
My only regret - which isn't in my control - was that the champion the right had was Trump, which is probably the champion we deserved.
forestboomer
5mo ago
Yes it was, don't be disingenuous.
forestboomer
6mo ago
Telling corporations they need to respond harder to antisemitism in light of the recent Israeli / Palestinian escalation, like they did during BLM, encouraging their CEO's to sign workplace pledges against antisemitism. Telling the media - on air - to refer to Hamas as terrorists or barbarians, not fighters or militants.
forestboomer
7mo ago
So I've been reading and listening to a lot of WWII memoirs, specifically of Germans on the eastern front. I want to find out for myself the motivations of these men, dispel the myths and western propaganda of WWII, and find any parallels to our modern times. Many of these memoirs are written by soldiers of a Waffen-SS division. What I have picked up from reading these memoirs, is that the reasons these men joined the Waffen-SS are diverse and not as dubious as our western propaganda and the myth of the just war would have you believe. The Waffen-SS were elite units composed of volunteers, whereas I imagine the Wermacht were comprised of mostly conscripts.
Based on the accounts I have read, many of the men joined the Waffen-SS out of pure hatred for the communists and concerned the growth of communism would swallow European culture and religion. The time they spent in the Ukraine often talked of the local populace's hatred of the communists and the atrocities that were committed against them by the bolsheviks. The more fanatical SS that one usually thinks of were termed the Allgemeine SS and were often thought of poorly by the soldiers of the Waffen-SS.
So, it is no surprise that many Ukranians such as Mr. Hunka volunteered to serve in a Waffen-SS division as a matter of revenge against the bolshevik hordes. This hardly makes him a nazi as is the common narrative and its hilarious to see this backfire on Canada. Many if not most of these brave heroes died and its sad to see them slandered after the fact, when they were right to fear, and fight against communism.
Relevant Books
The Eastern Front: Memoirs of a Waffen-SS Volunteer
Für Volk and Führer: The Memoir of a Veteran of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler One of my favorites and actually has a really good audiobook on Audible, which as you can imagine is hit or miss on these memoirs.
The Forgotten Soldier This one is unique as the author was a young poor french kid who joined the army under Vichy France because of little opportunity when he came of age, then found himself a part of the Großdeutschland division. Also had a real good audiobook on audible.
forestboomer
8mo ago
My wife and I really enjoyed this post, after the wives club post I've finally explained this "online forum" I talk about sometimes. Anyways, it hit close to home.
I have always remained cognizant of how necessary it is to have breaks from watching a child all day and not getting to a point of frustration or annoyance with the task. I try to make sure I give my wife as much breaks as I can and try not to be selfish. Saying that I wish I could afford a nanny or something on a part-time basis.
Something that many of us with a working class background lean on is the support of family when it comes to balancing work, life, and childcare. We tried for awhile to have my MIL watch our son during the day. This worked for awhile until unfortunately she had a heart attack. My MIL is doing better now however caring for a now 18 month old during the day is off the table. My mother unfortunately has schizophrenia so it was always off the table to lean on her for childcare.
My BIL and his wife just had their second child. He is in the space force of all places and lives halfway across the country without any close family support and it sounds like a nightmare. His wife stays at home and their oldest child is autistic as we are learning. I'm happy to raise a family close to home because I cannot imagine not having any support, even for a few hours, especially with an autistic child.
A related thought I've often pondered since the WFH revolution is the broader effects it will have in child rearing. At first I largely thought that it would be a huge positive to young families at a time when its most needed. WFH allows a family to spend more time with their kids and potentially balance work and childcare, the best of both worlds. My wife and I tried to do this at first juggling work commitments and coordinating shifts, but eventually it became unsustainable and my wife decided to quit to care for our son, freeing me from time constraints and leaving me our families champion career wise. So maybe WFH is not the silver bullet I thought it would be to raising a family and both parents maintaining a career.
forestboomer
1yr ago
So what do you guys think was up with trumps big announcement tonight? The music started playing, he looked off in the distance in contemplation for an uncomfortable minute, made a pretty good soliloquy speech then announced that he will make a big announcement at Mar Lago on the 15th. Stating that he did not want to detract from the candidates running for election tomorrow.
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Did he change his mind on a run for presidency at the last minute?
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Did he personally change his mind last minute to move his presidential announcement?
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Was he told to stand down by someone in the party?
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Was this all some scripted thing to get the MAGA vote for tomorrow?
I think it must have been something last minute because making a half-ass announcement like that is burning some credibility, as well as a wasted opportunity to be the first to maneuver and scare off his political rivals in the GOP. I'm really confused by the political strategy for this blown announcement thing.
forestboomer
5mo ago
I was ranked #3 in North America for PUBG solo during the times when PUBG was popular. Still not sure if it was accurate or I should be proud of it or not lol
forestboomer
7mo ago
You could turn this same argument around on every western ally justifying their fight against Nazi's. Don't forget the soviet forces had political commissars in their units.
forestboomer
7mo ago
forestboomer
1yr ago
I should have thought more before commenting to explain better why I think this will - or could - be interesting. As @desolation has pointed out and hit upon my way of thinking, red flag laws usually have some provisions for mental illnesses. As the definition of transgenderism as a mental illness falls into sides of the culture war I can see red states classifying transgenderism as a criteria for disarmament. Which if it happened would be hilarious to see the group that clamored for red flag laws later say "no, not like that!" Bonus points if it causes red flag laws to be brought in front of the supreme court.
forestboomer
6mo ago
Except now all their neighbors are rallying around a common cause, so guess that isn't sound warfare strategy either.
forestboomer
7mo ago
This is excellent. Maybe Elon can send them some rockets.
forestboomer
10mo ago
Nate was, of course, a LIBERAL (spits, makes sign of the cross)
I laughed thanks.
forestboomer
6mo ago
To me what you described seems like a multi-proxy, insurgency war within or near to the borders of Israel which is very sobering to think about. You're right though perhaps I am being too much of a doomer in regards to Israel's ability to fight this conflict, even a regional one. I think however, the idea or era of Zionism is over. As in, Israel has used all of it's grace and the global community might even make Israel give up concessions for a lasting peace.
forestboomer
1yr ago
As usual for themotte a beautiful comment that captures my thoughts written far better than my own. Thank you!
forestboomer
7mo ago
Fair enough. Almost every memoir has some romanticism about it, however its no reason to discredit the book. As with everything, one should read with a critical eye and draw their own conclusions. Also, not sure why it matters if he was unsympathetic to Nazi Germany or not, many even in the Waffen-SS were not.
forestboomer
8mo ago
Look into a Mother's Helper
That's not a bad idea I'll recommend it to my wife.
I am unfamiliar with the Au Pair business relationship however I imagine I cannot easily afford it, or would want to stretch my budget like that. Nonetheless it would be a non-starter in our home to have another female staying in the house. We tried that combination with my MIL and it was the only way I could see WFH + quality child-rearing working out and I wish we could have that again, but alas we have depleted our free childcare resources. I'm about to get a new job with a 25% travel req and a modest raise so maybe I can afford some sort of part-time nanny soon.
Anyways its good to see mothers on here and we enjoyed your other posts on this thread :)
forestboomer
1yr ago
Seems like these instances are just a correction, obviously people care about crime in their neighborhoods. A momentary victory of rationality in a lost war against woke ideology. These victories aren't really that big of a deal and I don't believe change the momentum at all.
forestboomer
1yr ago
Did you listen to the speech? I don't see any blaming of minorities. The transgender culture and movement is toxic to families and there is limited data on the long term prognosis for children raised by transgender parents which I'm sure will be censored if anyone at all is studying the topic, which I imagine is impossible in academia now. Transgender people are mentally ill, unfit for raising children, and absolutely disgust me and I'm tired of pretending they don't.
forestboomer
6mo ago
IMO, we are moving to a multi-polar world with the powers being US, Russia, and China. During this transition the powers are trying to find their place in the new hegemony and we are seeing the areas of friction such as the war in Ukraine and now a looming war in the ME. Our rivals, seeing us weakened, are likely to take the opportunities to strike or make moves for their own position.
The ME is kind of a wildcard IMO as they are not organized, and without a regional polar power, split themselves between US and Russia as protectorates. This conflict has the possibility to provide a unifying rallying cry for the Arab states. You can see the reshuffling of the cards now with the diplomatic disposition of Saudi Arabia and Jordan to name a few.
Again IMO, I think this is signalling the end of Pax Americana and our leadership is just not capable of realizing it. Russia will win and gain some clout, some ME countries will throw off the yoke of the US, and I await a Chinese flex. I'm not sure exactly how things will play out but it seems like something is going to happen in these calamitous geopolitical environments.
Well now that we know it's a transgendered individual, it will be interesting to see how the culture war plays out with red flag laws. If mental illness is a red flag leading to disarmament this particular incident will be hard to explain away.
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