SpringfieldNewsSun.com

By Joseph Lewek

December 22, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

Nobody says what benefits the retired workers received, if any. Details are absent, the retiree gets no informatiomn at all. Wouldlike more information about the contract not 6 months from now.

By JB

December 18, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

What you think the supervisors haven’t paid their share along the way. Well as a supervisor who left ICC last month to go else where let me tell you what the company has done in the ten years I worked for them. When I started my medical cost were $45.00 a month when I left last month they were $429.00 a month for the same medical coverage except with bigger co-pays. When we had to work overtime which was every day we were paid $33.03 an hour for O/T and $44.04 for Double time.

By Sally Sue

December 18, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

to Craig M., you have no idea what you are talking about, there is NO MANDATORY RETIREMENT! Why would you just make up stuff?! If you no not know the facts then please do not comment! Gossip and lies are evil.

By sophie

December 18, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this

I agree with Dale… We work very hard on the line. And you can be assured that when we go back, those “lazy bums” you described will work too. I also agree with “Wayne” Don’t worry, Be happy!” I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and receives the one and only true Gift…Gods Love in the form of His Son, Jesus. Peace and Prosperity to all!!!

By sophie

December 18, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Wow…can’t you people be positive for a change? There are a lot of folks with high degrees that can’t find jobs either, a degree doesn’t guarantee you a job! I’m one of those layed-off from Dec.06, Single Parent with three children. Nearly lost my very modest little home and my relationships with my children are suffering greatly. I will be grateful to get back to work and leave my $10/hour job! Yes we had to take a lot of cuts but it’s still better than what I have now!

By kama

December 17, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this

“The comment by Sally Sue is BS about the guy working at International at 73. The contract didn’t provide or allow you to work at that age; the Company could just retire you! Of course, he could have been working during the strike as a scab”

That is totally untrue. There is no mandatory retirement age. That would be illagal under federal law. Read your contract.

By Craig M

December 17, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this

The comment by Sally Sue is BS about the guy working at International at 73. The contract didn’t provide or allow you to work at that age; the Company could just retire you! Of course, he could have been working during the strike as a scab

By tt

December 17, 2007 6:23 PM | Link to this

Now Dale, I’m not sure why somebody with a Masters degree or even a Bachelors degree would be working on the line. Why have a degree if you don’t use it to get a better job? Maybe you don’t want the responsibilities, maybe you’re lazy and just milking the company. Maybe you’re one of those who contributed to Delphi’s Bankruptcy. I started out in the blue-collar world working 12 hr shifts but I didn’t fit in because I was self-motivated. So I moved on and up.

By Sally Sue

December 17, 2007 5:52 PM | Link to this

Sure Pintdexter, if your grandfather is at International, admits to not working, leaves for personal reasons and gets paid for it, won’t work because his union people sais he doesn’t have to,then your grandfather’s lazy bum! Hope that helps you!

By worker

December 17, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

Thanks Dale I was being serious about the reduction in management when tt made a @&*@# out of himself. I believe as Internation keeps saying they want to be world class. It is a 30 to 40 to one ratio. We’ll see in months to come how serious they really are. We did give up a lot like all the companies want employees to do. Now we will see what their excuse will be this time. This is the real problem…. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15497 ..pass it on. Thanks again.

By poindexter

December 17, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

Hey Sally Sue! My grandfather is 86 years old and I have been thinking he was a lazy bum. Will you please post a derogatory statement about that worthless geezer too?

By poindexter

December 17, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

WOWZA 71 percent approval at the ratification. I’ll bet Ustian, Bowen and their cronies are kicking themselves for making this one so generous. Maybe along with the farm they could have also gotten the farmers’ daughter.

By Dale

December 17, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

Hey tt, You are one of the most ignorant individuals I have ever read. I can only assume you are a wanabe white collar worker with little to zero experience in manufacturing. Yesterday you questioned the educational level of union workers. Today you attacked the motivational level of those same employees. Motivation is not a prerequisite for the number of supervisors since the line speed is constant, and believe me, the line rarely stops and when it does it is usually a mechanical problem. What I see, is my supervisor sitting at his desk playing on his computer for most of the day. Probably, someone like you. Personally, I have gone from being a Journeyman electrician to a per diem supervisor. Now, since Delphi went the way of Bankruptcy, I am now working production at the Flint Truck Plant where the 560 truck line resides, so I can finish my 30 years and retire. I have a Bachelors degree in Business and I work with others that have masters degrees, working on the line. To insinuate that people like myself lack motivation and education is asinine at best. You need to stand on a production line for ten hours with two 14 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. Then, lets see if you think that constitutes being a lazy bum when your feet ache so much, walking to your vehicle in the parking lot is a chore. With your attitude, I bet you won’t even make it through an interview at the local fast food restaurant.

By Art

December 17, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

The only reason ITE in Springfield is not “competitive” is that the company said so. Two of the bigger customers said they only wanted trucks from Springfield or none at all. If my auditors had the biggest SEC fine for hiding money, I would claim non-competitiveness too.

By Sally Sue

December 17, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

last week I spoke to a man who is 73 and could retire from International. I ask why he doesn’t retire and he stated he has a great job. He does not have to do anything. He load trucks and then visits his friends and get paid for this, so why should he go? He also stated he leaves the plant for personal reasons and no one knows because his friends cover for him. This is why the older union guys to do want to change, it would mean WORK, HARD WORK!

By wayne

December 17, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

don’t worry , be happy kobe bryant

By wayne

December 17, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

don’t worry , be happy kobe bryant

By wayne

December 17, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

don’t worry , be happy kobe bryant

By tt

December 17, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Hey “worker” the one supervisor per 5 employees is only necessary in a union represented plant. In non-union plants its usually more like,one supervisor to 20-25 employees,sometimes more. The motivation level of the employees dictates the number of employees per supervisor. I can only think of one reason you’d complain about having too many supervisors-that would be because you can’t get away with being a lazy bum.

By Jack

December 17, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Don’t count on GM just yet,as the Union in Flint does not want to move.Starting December 21 until January 28 the Flint plant will not be building any trucks,because of poor sales.This will lead to the lay off of some five-hundred employees.All major truck manufactures are posting sales declines of at least fifty per cent or more from last years record sales, partly due to buying engines with 2006 emissions.

By worker

December 17, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

This will put it to the test to see if the compnay is really serious about wanting to be competative. They run “about” 5 workers to one supervisor. This is totally crazy. You can’t be competative that way! Ok International lets see if you are truthful about your statements you make. Maybe the Chamber of Commerence President would like to comment on this.

By ld

December 17, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

I will also say thank you john for all the time you spent with this contract and with us at the union hall calling and asking questions and raising h* with you and that even includes yesterday. thanks again

By ld

December 17, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

No I don’t agree completely with this contract but I have to live with it I’m glad its over though.Now this plant has constantly reduce its union workforce but it’s management has not gone down to fit those numbers.In Jan there will be only 500-600 people in there and yet there will be the same amt. of supers that were there in sept07 &maybe even 12/06.Aren’t they part of the same company that wantsto reduce employees cost, don’t they cost the company something I know they don’t work for free.

By Bob11

December 17, 2007 7:28 AM | Link to this

Congratulations to all!

By Bob11

December 17, 2007 7:17 AM | Link to this

Congratulations to all!