Chrysler Workers Happy Hour At Break Time

[adauto]

My uncle was a millwrght at the ferd plant in Chicago for over 30 years. I'm surpised they werent caught drinkin'/smolin' while on the job! I have a few stories you wouldnt belive!

[RECHRGD]

I retired from electrical contracting a few years ago.  In general the union guys that were regular employees were pretty good.  The problems start when we would do large projects that would involve 50 to 200+ electricians.  The general mindset was to do everything possible to slow the project down and force you into paying overtime.  Some supervisors would encourage that kind of behavior and even write in time for workers that didn't even show up.  On one project during the Xmas and New Years holidays about 2/3 of the workforce took the week off.  The remaining 1/3 of them produced more work than the full crew did,  but try to fire any non-producers and all hell breaks loose.  I could write a book.  A few years back our local Kaiser Aluminum plant simply shut it's doors for good when the union struck them for more benefits.  Over the years they had negotiated that a certain task was worth so much time regardless of how long it took you to do it.  The result was the guys suddenly became very efficient and could do an 8 hour task in 2 hours.  They would spend the rest of the day reading magazines rather than going on to another task unless payed overtime for it.  Bob

[Brock Lee]

I remember reading abut the Chrysler plant guys smoking dope and drinking ON THE LINE back in the 60's. St Louis was supposedly the worst. Some describe it as being like a prison atmosphere. People got stabbed for being rats.

[rav440]

yep only union guys drink and smoke dope and F-off all day . 

[Ghoste]

I think the implications were more that union guys do it with fewer worries about losing their job over it.

[rav440]

I think the implications were more that union guys do it with fewer worries about losing their job over it.

yes that is what most think . not all unions are the same , in the trades  here in pittsburgh , you come to work drunk or or on dope or get caught drinking and / or fail the piss test on the job most likely you going to be making call to the unenjoyment office plus if you fail a piss test atleast in the carpenters you goto rehab for 30 days for the first offence 2nd offence you are out of the union no ifs ands or buts . i know alot of friends of friends whom build houses non union start the day off higher than a kite . im not saying by any means non union guys are on dope but most of the ones i know are and that is why they chose to be non union .

[Ghoste]

The autoworkers unions are much different, they'll fight like mad for the ones who shouldn't even have a job.

[chargergirl]

I have no empathy for someone who has an amazing paycheck and can't keep their stuff wired tight at least while they are at work. I could care less what someone does on their own time.

[69rtse4spd]

Ghoste is so right, we actually had a man drop dead on the trim line a few months ago, from a heart attack. They never stopped the line, just dragged him out of the way. Also the union dose fight like hell for the ones that do not deserve it. Seams like all the union wants is your two hours a month dues & their special cut of any union negotiated special pay.

[Dans 68]

Seems like the offending employees just got fired.    Good....

Dan

[Brock Samson]

It was the same at the newspaper,.. I could tell you similar stories of how the union protected complete and utter slackers. like me.. 

[aussiemuscle]

Shouldn't it really depend on chrysler's policy about alcohol in the workplace determine whether they loose their jobs, not just on the whim of bad publicity from Fox? 
We have a zero BAC policy at my work, but they are driving huge machinery, and working close to cutting saws and stuff. i'd imagine same applies to line work, but they need to do blood alcohol testing, not just fire those they suspect or were caught by a tv reporter...

[runningman]

I haven't been on here for a while but figured I would find at least one post on this.  I actually work at JNAP although I have only been here about six months or so.  I have been working for Chrysler for almost 16 years though, the majority of which as an electrician.  I have to say I was not surprised to see that story aired but of course disappointed.  I don't care what field you work in this stuff is going on everyday (doesn't make it right).  I know people in the healthcare industry that have to smoke weed in the morning before they go to work.  I knew people in the military that would go out occasionally and have some beers at lunch (occasionally taking me along by force  ) .  I worked for an engineering company and would smell pot on some of the designers after lunch.  I knew bosses that did cocaine and who knows what else.  This doesn't make it right but it's not just union people doing stuff like this and although I don't know everyone here, I don't know one that does this kind of stuff during their lunch breaks.  To be honest most people hardly bother going out for lunch, we only get 30 min and by the time you clock out the gate, get to your car and get whatever you are getting it's time to come back anyway.  I was only a year out of active duty USAF when I got hired into Chrysler.  I really didn't know that much about unions even though my dad also retired from Chrysler.  I do have to say that I was shocked by what I saw...people sitting around, sleeping and other things.  I always tell people how amazed I am at how much different things are now.  When I started in 1995 I believe there were around 80-90,000 unionized workers at Chrysler and last I heard we are down to 25,000 or so.

[runningman]

I would say 98% of the people I know that work at Chrysler are normal, hardworking people that want to do the best job they can and take care of their families.  The majority is well aware of what the public thinks of union workers but all we can really do is put in an honest day's work and build the best vehicles we can.  The majority of issues we have are out of our control, lack of maintenance is a big one due to a lack of interest by management.  I hear people talking about union workers all the time talking about stories they heard thirty years ago and I have to laugh but also realize we may never be able to change that mindset....

Off the subject a little.  I work in the paint department, specifically in the phosphate/ecoat/powdercoat departments.  It is pretty amazing at what these cars go through before being painted.  I had never been in an assembly plant before and had no idea that these cars had all the protection they do under the paint.