Labor Dispute

Warren Labor Dispute Hurts Ram Output

Quote :

Chrysler is reportedly having a hard time ramping up production of its 2013 Ram 1500. According to The Detroit News, only 16 of the 58 trucks built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant during the model's first hour passed final inspection. While quality eventually improved over the course of the day, just over half of the units built on Thursday were approved for shipment. Even with workers ordered to stay late to fix their mistakes, some 1,078 units remained outside the facility with defects. The problem, according to workers at the plant, is morale.

According to the report, Chrysler recently changed the shift schedule at the plant and workers are unhappy with the new situation. The new plan has workers split into three shifts, each covering four 10-hour days. With the shifts staggered, some workers now have to work nights and on Saturdays. Some employees are so upset that they've taken to protesting, though the move isn't sanctioned by the United Auto Workers.

Meanwhile, Chrysler admits there were internal issues with the launch, but that the company was able to contain them. A spokesperson has said "plant quality indicators are getting progressively better."

Source: Detroit News via AutoBlog

just reinforces my belief that Chrysler is sub-par for quality

Breathing Borla wrote:

just reinforces my belief that Chrysler is sub-par for quality

No kidding. Oh wait, who has the most recalls so far this year?



Now looking for the I'm teasing smiley.

Yikes, I wouldn't want to own a new Ram 1500 until the strike is over.

And these people are the same ones that received a bonus of $2K each?

Welcome to the new labor rules of the 19th, err, 21st century.
No OT past 8hrs or weekend if <40hrs worked.
A different AWS(alternate work schedule) is two shifts M-TH on 10hrs and two shifts F-Sun for 3-12s, no rotating shifts. If your stuck on the weekend shift so be it. It is my understanding you will get 40hr pay for the 36hr weekend shift though

Without knowing what is going on in the plant it is hard to make a true judgement. Management will always tell the story of labor being the issue even if it is their implemented production techniques that are causing a problem. Labor will blame mgmt and the news will mostly side with the company.

GMs Fairfax assembly plant had morale issues due to fumes affecting the workers. Mgmt would not address the situation so workers brought in small electric fans to create some circulation. Mgmts response over the holiday shut down was to remove the electrical outlets at the work stations.

Where I work, most employees work the normal 5 day 40 hour week. This includes mechanics, maintenance department, and Administration where I work. The water treatment plant operators work 8-10 hour days (start and end on a Thursday) and have 6 days off. 2 shifts per day 4:00AM to 2:30PM, and 2:00PM to 12:30AM. 1/2 hour overlap so the operators can tell the other shift whats going on. In the summer when we need to make more water operators can stay late at night or start the day shift early if they want the OT. We get OT only after 40 hours.

We do the five day 40 hour week too. The first four hours of OT is time and a half and anything after that is double time. We used to get up to 24 hours of OT a week if we wanted it, but the last three years everything has come to a screeching halt. I've been laid off since mid Jan and our shop has gone from 240 workers to just 62 now. Loving this recession crap.

As you guys may already know, I work for a prominent chassis builder in western Washington. Manufacturing (both fabrication and machining) work 4-10's, Mon.-Thurs., with any necessary OT Friday morning. We never put in more than 50 hours a week, usually 46-48 hours. It's a pretty nice setup, having 3-day weekends (typically), but still having a full weekend even when OT is required.

Since I come in @ 4:30am and usually am gone by noon on Friday, it still feels like a half-day to me!

Sorry to hear the recession is making its presence felt to you guys. I don't know what's going on in our market, but we're up 46% already, for the first 2 months of the year. And all of manufacturing is being pressured to put in extra hours.

I think we are a couple years behind you guys so we are just getting hit hard right now the way you guys did two to three years ago. At least in manufacturing anyway.

Wait I am confused a Dodge can be built worse than they already are ?

Hilux wrote:

Wait I am confused a Dodge can be built worse than they already are ?

Looked at a different way, they're improving the suckage.

Breathing Borla wrote:

just reinforces my belief that Chrysler is sub-par for quality

You'll just have to buy a regular cab or a HD .... those are "Hecho En Mexico"

I run a company. I expect my people to work until the job is done. I don't care if that is 6 hours a day or 24. The basic time line for my week is 4-10s plus 9hrs on Friday. I usually unlock the door in the morning and lock it at night.

Charlie in TX wrote:

I expect my people to work until the job is done. I don't care if that is 6 hours a day or 24.

You must be a real sweetheart to work for, then. Besides, there are labor laws that prevent you from enforcing that.

GMC D-Max wrote:

Charlie in TX wrote:

I expect my people to work until the job is done. I don't care if that is 6 hours a day or 24.

You must be a real sweetheart to work for, then. Besides, there are labor laws that prevent you from enforcing that.

I worked 24 hours straight one time I was sleeping for about 12 hours of that though

GMC D-Max wrote:

As you guys may already know, I work for a prominent chassis builder in western Washington. Manufacturing (both fabrication and machining) work 4-10's, Mon.-Thurs., with any necessary OT Friday morning. We never put in more than 50 hours a week, usually 46-48 hours. It's a pretty nice setup, having 3-day weekends (typically), but still having a full weekend even when OT is required.

Since I come in @ 4:30am and usually am gone by noon on Friday, it still feels like a half-day to me!

Sorry to hear the recession is making its presence felt to you guys. I don't know what's going on in our market, but we're up 46% already, for the first 2 months of the year. And all of manufacturing is being pressured to put in extra hours.

That wouldn't happen to be Freightshakers would it?

erude685 wrote:

GMC D-Max wrote:

As you guys may already know, I work for a prominent chassis builder in western Washington. Manufacturing (both fabrication and machining) work 4-10's, Mon.-Thurs., with any necessary OT Friday morning. We never put in more than 50 hours a week, usually 46-48 hours. It's a pretty nice setup, having 3-day weekends (typically), but still having a full weekend even when OT is required.

Since I come in @ 4:30am and usually am gone by noon on Friday, it still feels like a half-day to me!

Sorry to hear the recession is making its presence felt to you guys. I don't know what's going on in our market, but we're up 46% already, for the first 2 months of the year. And all of manufacturing is being pressured to put in extra hours.

That wouldn't happen to be Freightshakers would it?

Who? (apparently not)

GMC D-Max wrote:

erude685 wrote:

GMC D-Max wrote:

As you guys may already know, I work for a prominent chassis builder in western Washington. Manufacturing (both fabrication and machining) work 4-10's, Mon.-Thurs., with any necessary OT Friday morning. We never put in more than 50 hours a week, usually 46-48 hours. It's a pretty nice setup, having 3-day weekends (typically), but still having a full weekend even when OT is required.

Since I come in @ 4:30am and usually am gone by noon on Friday, it still feels like a half-day to me!

Sorry to hear the recession is making its presence felt to you guys. I don't know what's going on in our market, but we're up 46% already, for the first 2 months of the year. And all of manufacturing is being pressured to put in extra hours.

That wouldn't happen to be Freightshakers would it?

Who? (apparently not)

Frieghtliner. Guess not... They used have a plant up your way some place

erude685 wrote:

Frieghtliner. Guess not... They used have a plant up your way some place

Are you sure you're not thinking of Paccar Northwest (Kenworth)?

Knew they were there too. I think freightliner has a class 7-8 factory there.