The Art of Corporate Promise's !

[Jack]

It's 1998 I report for work at Harrison Radiator everything seems normal. My Supervisor approaches and Informs Me We are going to Start a New Product Line J-Car and gives me the Details. Parts numbers, packaging numbers and were to find these. And were to place them. So as Business as Usual I proceed to carry out My Task. I retrieve the parts and put them in the staging area. Next I head for the Packaging Area! When I arrive something seems out of place. I think to Myself for a moment is it the packs are plastic and cardboard versus all steel. Nah! Since We had already converted to this type of Packaging. Then it Hit Me.

These Packs had a Different Company Name (Delphi Automotive) as I further examined them I noticed there was NO UAW Logo on them as per the other's. So I thought to myself could this just be they are making this product as they had done in the Past for Toyota or some new company. Now my curiosity had the better of Me! I asked my Super, the Engineers and Our Trusty Union Whom this Delphi Automotive Was. No one seemed to know or did not want to relinguish any Information.

Next I brought this to the Attention of My Co-Workers! They were just as dumb founded as I was! I remember saying to them We have been SOLD OFF. Some laughed. Some Said I was just trying to stir up trouble. So as the days and weeks went on I proceeded to seek the answers I had sought.   A Year goes by then Out of Nowhere We are notified by the Union Reps We had been SPUN OFF! Yes We had been SOLD! Next We are instructed there will be a series of Meetings at Niagara Community College Hosted by the International Reps.(Sold Out House).

Now We are thinking what how will this affect Us! Questions and Notions are Flying like Bats in the Night. As the days and weeks go by the Frustrations and Tensions are mounting. Then the Big Day has arrived the International is here. They tell US of the spin off and the Promise G.M. has made to make Us whole if Delphi were to fail. They also speak of the New Contract that they , GM, and Delphi have agreed to. They say that We must Vote yes to Two Tier wages for future Hires with other Hidden Agendas that would be worked out after the ratifacation of the Contract. Yes after the Vote. They also said this would Pass no matter how We would Vote. Some Democracy!

They Promise Us that Our Wages, Benefits, Pensions would be Secure. Now jump 7 Years ahead Delphi enters Bankruptcy. The Ceo Battenberg is Ousted! Enter Robert ( Mad Man Miller ) the Hangman of the Steelworker's and Other's. The Contract is reopened and again We are forced to take more concessions. He Vows to make the Business Profitable. But as time went on the Product Line is reducing Rapidly. Jobs are being lost. People are getting Frustrated and Angry. Over the next 4 years the contract is reopened and more concessions are made. Wages are cut in half, Medical Benefits are being reduced greatly, 30 year and out Pensions are no longer. Us 30 year career people retire feeling that we will get Our Pensions. Some DID and SOME were turned over to the PBGC. With the Blessing of the International Union. How can I make that statement? Well as We all know the UAW is a Majority Shareholder of GM. So how do You negotiate for Your Members when You are the Owner!

So as of to date Us that were left out of the fold live each day with a Hope and Prayer and Another " Promise " that Our Pensions will be made whole by General Motors!*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Main Entry: 1prom∑ise
Pronunciation: \ˈpr‰-məs\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English promis, from Latin promissum, from neuter of promissus, past participle of promittere to send forth, promise, from pro- forth + mittere to send
Date: 15th century
1 a : a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified b : a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act
2 : reason to expect something <little promise of relief>; especially : ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence <shows considerable promise>
3 : something that is promised