MacGyver
Charter Member
Wonder what he/they voted. Keep a job with a pay cut, or unemployment and mortgage foreclosure.
Headlines
Mercury Marine To Close And Move All Production From Fond du Lac, Wisconsin......
- Thread starter MacGyver
- Start date
Wonder what he/they voted. Keep a job with a pay cut, or unemployment and mortgage foreclosure.
Scarab KV
New member
Exactly why my tongue hurts.
When I took on this new venture, I took an 80% decrease in what I paid myself. We learned to live on that. Now granted we don't live in a house we can't afford and have over priced leased vehicles and boats in the driveway......ok, vehicles in the driveway:biggrinjester:
MacGyver
Charter Member
Thats awesome for Wisconsin, but not so good for Stillwater.
MacGyver
Charter Member
The majority of union workers at Mercury Marine have voted yes on wage and benefit concessions to keep more than 800 jobs from moving to Oklahoma.
The union did not provide any numbers on the vote, only saying the contract was ratified.
Mercury Marine issued a statement ten minutes later, confirming it would transfer work from its plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Fond du Lac. It expects that process to begin this year and take a year-and-a-half to two years.
Company president Mark Schwabero said in the statement, "After weeks of intense discussions and completion of the voting process, we accept the union's ratification of our contract proposal."
"Our employees in Stillwater and Fond du Lac, as well as the communities and the states of Oklahoma and Wisconsin, have been very supportive throughout this challenging period," he continued.
Local government officials plan a news conference at 8 P.M. to comment on the vote.
Mercury Marine is Fond du Lac's largest employer, with more than 2,000 employees.
The re-vote ended at 6 P.M. after 12 hours of voting on both Thursday and Friday. Union members tell Action 2 News just about every name on the voting list had been crossed off by 5 P.M.
A much smaller number of union members came to the labor center Friday after it was estimated more than 500 of the 800-some eligible workers voted.
Union members approved the same contract offer they overwhelmingly rejected almost two weeks ago. That contract includes wage freezes for seven years, increased health care costs, and pay cuts for new hires.
After a petition drive by employees and lobbying by local and state government officials, the company and union met Tuesday and came up with an agreement for a sanctioned re-vote clarifying some points of the contract offer.
Today we are hearing mixed opinions about the process -- some saying they're extremely happy to be able to re-vote and others saying the union should've just stood by the first vote.
Now, in comparison to the attitude and mood of the first vote, when just about every union member who spoke to the media was supporting a "no" vote, today the vast majority members being vocal are voting "yes."
It doesn't indicate how the vote will turn out but it appears to be a shift in the comfort level of some union members.
Wayne Belongia said he voted no. "I did not vote this way because of my job. Don't get me wrong, I did not vote this way because of my job. I voted this way because of what is in there.
"It ain't fair what they're doing to us, really, but try to find a job out there anywhere. It's not there. So I'm going to take what I can get," John Nigl, who voted yes, said.
One "no" voter told us the contract offers too much power to the company and that a yes vote could cause more turmoil than people realize.
One "yes" voter told us he'd rather have a fellow union member steal his car than steal his job by rejecting this contract.
Dave Gerlach, a yes voter, said, "They estimated 280 people will be taking that buyout and retiring, and that would probably open the door for another 250 to 300 people" to get jobs.
Another worker expressed that even if the contract passes he thinks he'll be laid off because Mercury will stop producing its two-cycle engines.
Union members were just as anxious as the rest of the community to find out the results.
The union did not provide any numbers on the vote, only saying the contract was ratified.
Mercury Marine issued a statement ten minutes later, confirming it would transfer work from its plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Fond du Lac. It expects that process to begin this year and take a year-and-a-half to two years.
Company president Mark Schwabero said in the statement, "After weeks of intense discussions and completion of the voting process, we accept the union's ratification of our contract proposal."
"Our employees in Stillwater and Fond du Lac, as well as the communities and the states of Oklahoma and Wisconsin, have been very supportive throughout this challenging period," he continued.
Local government officials plan a news conference at 8 P.M. to comment on the vote.
Mercury Marine is Fond du Lac's largest employer, with more than 2,000 employees.
The re-vote ended at 6 P.M. after 12 hours of voting on both Thursday and Friday. Union members tell Action 2 News just about every name on the voting list had been crossed off by 5 P.M.
A much smaller number of union members came to the labor center Friday after it was estimated more than 500 of the 800-some eligible workers voted.
Union members approved the same contract offer they overwhelmingly rejected almost two weeks ago. That contract includes wage freezes for seven years, increased health care costs, and pay cuts for new hires.
After a petition drive by employees and lobbying by local and state government officials, the company and union met Tuesday and came up with an agreement for a sanctioned re-vote clarifying some points of the contract offer.
Today we are hearing mixed opinions about the process -- some saying they're extremely happy to be able to re-vote and others saying the union should've just stood by the first vote.
Now, in comparison to the attitude and mood of the first vote, when just about every union member who spoke to the media was supporting a "no" vote, today the vast majority members being vocal are voting "yes."
It doesn't indicate how the vote will turn out but it appears to be a shift in the comfort level of some union members.
Wayne Belongia said he voted no. "I did not vote this way because of my job. Don't get me wrong, I did not vote this way because of my job. I voted this way because of what is in there.
"It ain't fair what they're doing to us, really, but try to find a job out there anywhere. It's not there. So I'm going to take what I can get," John Nigl, who voted yes, said.
One "no" voter told us the contract offers too much power to the company and that a yes vote could cause more turmoil than people realize.
One "yes" voter told us he'd rather have a fellow union member steal his car than steal his job by rejecting this contract.
Dave Gerlach, a yes voter, said, "They estimated 280 people will be taking that buyout and retiring, and that would probably open the door for another 250 to 300 people" to get jobs.
Another worker expressed that even if the contract passes he thinks he'll be laid off because Mercury will stop producing its two-cycle engines.
Union members were just as anxious as the rest of the community to find out the results.
Scarab KV
New member
Mercury Marine will accept IAM Lodge 1947’s ratification of the company’s contract proposal, Mercury President Mark Schwabero said Friday evening.
Union workers have agreed to accept the same labor agreement they previously rejected Aug. 23.
As a result, Mercury said it will begin this year to consolidate manufacturing work in its Fond du Lac facilities.
A vote count was not released by the union, but officials of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers on Friday evening confirmed that the two-day voting process resulted in union ratification of the proposal.
“After weeks of intense discussions and completion of the voting process, we accept the union’s ratification of our contract proposal,” said Schwabero in a statement. “As we’ve stated throughout this important process, comprehensive changes to wages, benefits and operational flexibility are necessary for Mercury to effectively compete in a smaller and fundamentally changed marketplace.”
Consolidation of work in Fond du Lac will include transition of work from the company’s Stillwater, Okla., facilities over the next 18 to 24 months.
Schwabero said he thanks the Stillwater community and Mercury Marine employees for their support.
“Our employees in Stillwater and Fond du Lac, as well as the communities and the states of Oklahoma and Wisconsin, have been very supportive throughout this challenging period,” Schwabero said. “In both locations, community and business leaders as well as our employees have done everything possible to help ensure a sustainable future for Mercury Marine. We want to thank each of them for their commitment and focus, particularly during these last two months.”
Schwabero said the company will develop and execute a transition plan that balances the needs of employees, the communities and Mercury Marine’s future.
Union workers have agreed to accept the same labor agreement they previously rejected Aug. 23.
As a result, Mercury said it will begin this year to consolidate manufacturing work in its Fond du Lac facilities.
A vote count was not released by the union, but officials of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers on Friday evening confirmed that the two-day voting process resulted in union ratification of the proposal.
“After weeks of intense discussions and completion of the voting process, we accept the union’s ratification of our contract proposal,” said Schwabero in a statement. “As we’ve stated throughout this important process, comprehensive changes to wages, benefits and operational flexibility are necessary for Mercury to effectively compete in a smaller and fundamentally changed marketplace.”
Consolidation of work in Fond du Lac will include transition of work from the company’s Stillwater, Okla., facilities over the next 18 to 24 months.
Schwabero said he thanks the Stillwater community and Mercury Marine employees for their support.
“Our employees in Stillwater and Fond du Lac, as well as the communities and the states of Oklahoma and Wisconsin, have been very supportive throughout this challenging period,” Schwabero said. “In both locations, community and business leaders as well as our employees have done everything possible to help ensure a sustainable future for Mercury Marine. We want to thank each of them for their commitment and focus, particularly during these last two months.”
Schwabero said the company will develop and execute a transition plan that balances the needs of employees, the communities and Mercury Marine’s future.
Scarab KV
New member
All I can say is YES! I'm happy that Mercury will continue to be part of Wisconsin and keep 2000+ jobs here.arty:
:iagree::iagree::iagree:
MacGyver
Charter Member
:26::26::26:
MacGyver
Charter Member
Unfortunately, one community had to lose. I'm just happy with the final outcome.
Maybe for now. It would be interesting to follow this for a couple of years. Really. `My guess is that the company will do everything in their power to make sure younger workers are their focus. The older ones have very little incentive to do more than finish a few years and get out. Many families are without jobs well before this vote there. At a certain age, coming back would be painful indeed.
But following up on these stories is indeed interesting. Companies that win these types of concessions usually see the following.
1) No real benefits to shareholders
2) Less experienced workers and harder to employ new ones
3) More jobs shipped overseas After the concessions are made
4) Lower standard of living and benefits to retirees
Imagine their fate if Mercury didn't have such a monopoly?
MarylandMark
Charter Member
Sorry to hear..
Hit the nail on the head! I have no love for the unions but killing the guy putting his boots on vs collared shirt every AM is not the answer. Every one wants the working man to make $10/hour for some reason.
phragle
Charter Member
Mark...there are MANY parts to the equation that aren't being acknowledged/considered....
Say I have a company that makes widgets...for that company to succeed, there has to be a steady stream of people willing to buy my widgets... since there are people willing to buy my widgets, I have to price them so they are appealing to the customer, but also generate an acceptable profit to me.
So I am selling widgets faster than I can make them in my basement, so I need a factory. the cost for that factory needs to be as low as possible so as not to cut to dramatically into my profits, yet the cost must also be high enough to acurately reflect the value of the factory. next I need employees to work in the factory. the cost of these employees must be low enough as to not destroy my profit (the whole reason I a making widgets to begin with) yet high enough that decent employees are attainable (willing to do the amount of work for the amaount paid) then theres marketing distribution etc..
so profit has to be greater than expense, thats the general equation of buisness. Sure great nobility can be idolized.... but the fact is as a person (employeee) it is your reponsability to maximize your return on labor, as a widget maker it is my responsiblity to maximize profit on my widgets........ having a huge widget buisness entails many many factors to be in balance, but the success of the middle class is not my concern. I dont have an obligation to my widget builders... I do need widget builders though. I want them as cheap as possible, but if the widget builder is unwilling to build me widgets at the salary I can/am willing to pay.. then I wont build widgets.
so the short version
Say I have a company that makes widgets...for that company to succeed, there has to be a steady stream of people willing to buy my widgets... since there are people willing to buy my widgets, I have to price them so they are appealing to the customer, but also generate an acceptable profit to me.
So I am selling widgets faster than I can make them in my basement, so I need a factory. the cost for that factory needs to be as low as possible so as not to cut to dramatically into my profits, yet the cost must also be high enough to acurately reflect the value of the factory. next I need employees to work in the factory. the cost of these employees must be low enough as to not destroy my profit (the whole reason I a making widgets to begin with) yet high enough that decent employees are attainable (willing to do the amount of work for the amaount paid) then theres marketing distribution etc..
so profit has to be greater than expense, thats the general equation of buisness. Sure great nobility can be idolized.... but the fact is as a person (employeee) it is your reponsability to maximize your return on labor, as a widget maker it is my responsiblity to maximize profit on my widgets........ having a huge widget buisness entails many many factors to be in balance, but the success of the middle class is not my concern. I dont have an obligation to my widget builders... I do need widget builders though. I want them as cheap as possible, but if the widget builder is unwilling to build me widgets at the salary I can/am willing to pay.. then I wont build widgets.
so the short version
MarylandMark
Charter Member
I understand all of that very well; just in general it's always the worker vs the suits that pays the price. I have no beef if everyone is taking a 15% (made up number) pay cut across the board but I doubt that is the case. Unions didn't come about just to make more fat Italians; most companies deserve the union they get.
So the next question is how many of these Merc guys are going to be able to afford to go out to eat/movie/new clothes/etc with their new reduced pay? (I hate talking about things I don't have a clue on..LOL...and not sure who took a pay cut for how much but just tossing it out for discussion).
So in the end is any one- Merc or the workers- better off staying in WI or just prolonging the inevitable?
I think by moving more jobs to WI and in a few years instead of Merc being able to walk away they union will have them by the balls where they can't? Not saying good/bad on either side; just saying.
So the next question is how many of these Merc guys are going to be able to afford to go out to eat/movie/new clothes/etc with their new reduced pay? (I hate talking about things I don't have a clue on..LOL...and not sure who took a pay cut for how much but just tossing it out for discussion).
So in the end is any one- Merc or the workers- better off staying in WI or just prolonging the inevitable?
I think by moving more jobs to WI and in a few years instead of Merc being able to walk away they union will have them by the balls where they can't? Not saying good/bad on either side; just saying.
phragle
Charter Member
thats the beauty of it...all things involved seek balance or failure is inevitable. the advent of unions in the beginning was the imballance between employer and employee. however the pendulum went past center and swung the other way. that pendulum is now swinging back. you wont have an employee if you do not pay him enough to self justify going to work and you wont have an employeer if you demand more pay than what you contribute. you wont get somebody to work for you for 2 bucks an hour..they cant afford to live... but is it worth $20+ an hour with medical, dental, paid holidays and vaction plus retirement to put part A onto part B and torque to specification 45 times an hour?
MarylandMark
Charter Member
45 times an hour? LOL!
60 minutes with a 15 minute break, then 5 minutes each way to the break room, then a few minutes chatting with Johnny Union guy over a cup of joe leaves about 20 minutes an hour of actual work. You ain't getting 45 of nothing in 20 minutes in my union..
:rofl:
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
That's why Unions are ceasing to exist.
Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
I agree, but, we are currently seeking balance with the employees in China, Korea, Indonesia, Viet Nam, etc. Where they will work for less than $2 per hour because they have to to live.
Our fault, our crooked politicians, we elected them. Doesn't affect them in the slightest. Once elected, even if they resign for getting caught being thieves, they continue to get their current salery with COLA increases for life.
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