Got called a Troll in a deleted post. Just to clarify- When I started in 2014 I was amazed at the work atmosphere/ethic or lack of that I walked in to. Laid back would be a sprint race in comparison. It took me over three months to acclimate to the "Culture" of this Union's work ethic . I had more than a few D-Rates telling me I need to "pace myself" as opposed to "slow down". I did walk in to a conversation with a D-rate lecturing a T-rate what they gave up for us. I did instill ,VERY forcefully,the thought of "not rubbing our noses in it" but unfortunately the sentiment seems to prevail. Why is it that now the "Culture" of not having to work for a living becomes the fault of all those lowly T-rate's that have been flushed down the drain? We all paid MORE than our share of dues based on our hourly rate.In effect the Union has caused most of this themselves. GE IS changing the culture and who are the D-rates going to blame now?? NO TALK about the Holy Ones at the Hall- I don't want to get deleted again. (Holy is a GOOD term!!)
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The trouble with the GE i know is the more work you give them the they want.They are never satisfied. They care nothing about the worker.
First of all GE created the T and D rate to create division within us union brothers and sisters. So that we wont have a solid voice if ever we don't agree on what GE would do with its company which it already happened. 301 agreed on the creation of the T rate because they have to. They cant fire the D rate because its costly to GE and they need workers. Its easier to fire T rates because its cost effective. GE were tired of the lazy D rate and they need to get work done so they hired lot of T rates. They told T rates not to complain even if other guys were earning $10 more than themselves. T rates accepted that because most of them need money to survive and give food and shelter for their family. Others, who have all their relatives worked with GE in the past, accepted the offer hoping GE would get better and be like their fathers and brothers. For me, I accepted the T rate because its GE. Just by the name of it makes you proud to be working with the company. Plus its the only biggest company here in Schenectady. I need work, I need money and I need job security. Which up until now I don't have, even working for GE in years. When we started working management told us to work hard so that you can inspire others to work hard also. A lot of T rates have a hard time doing that because a lot of the D rates were just sitting down and doing nothing. And they earn more than us. D rates don't even train us well on the job at hand and they have the guts to call us incompetent. The effectiveness of the worker is based on how well they were trained. A lot of T rates have to learn their work by themselves, taking notes and pictures. Asking some other workers on other shift what's the most effective way to do the job. They don't train us well so that we wont be qualified to do OT which they want it for themselves. With that culture, T rates also adapted the same. That was how they were trained. We were trained also to have 2 hours of break time instead of ten and fifteen minutes. In fairness, not all of the D rates are lazy. I know a lot of them who were hard working and you wont see them sitting down even in break time. A lot of them were smart and fun to work with. With these, I am very thankful for all those who I worked with. T rate and D rate. Those were the fun years. Its sad that its all gone for us but we have to move on and be proud with the experience in working with GE. Good luck on the people who were laid off and good luck also for the people who were left behind. GE is on a downward spiral since 2016. Because of the CEOs. They did nothing to improve GE's products. They were focused on the shareholders and not GE itself. They were focused on how much money they can get from GE.
Sounds like another D rate going to sleep?
@UIcUrHz-1ny
Clap..................clap...............clap........Yawn................
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Well said, thank you.
The smartest thing 301 did was this agreement. They have seen the bleeding of the membership and know it’s time to change. The last I checked the wages and benefits are good or people would have left on their own. The next thing 301 should do is tell people to work an honest 8 hour day. If they try to protect those that are lazy they will be ultimately cost hundreds more people their jobs. It’s time for them to stand in front of membership and say slackers are on their own and not wanted. I’m sorry people unions are not there to protect people that work 3 hours a day. They are there to bargain with numbers and protect unjust terminations. If some guy gets canned for not pulling their weight, that’s on them not the union. The working conditions are good. Harassment is not telling people to work. Go back in history to study up on bad labor conditions, and you will understand that you are all treated very well. Do you honestly think the union has so much power that they could have prevented pensions going away? GE SR leaders don’t get pensions if they are hired after 2011, but you think 301 could have prevented it. Are you delusional? Also do you think they have any leverage for you to get $10 more an hour. There is no other company locally that pays manufacturing better than trate scale. Educate yourself on market wages and then you will understand. Ask your friends in Erie how their fight to keep wages legacy ended.
Reality-
Trying to change the union culture at 273 is a lost cause. It is only a matter of time before GE pulls the plug on 273 and the remaining union employees discover what the real world is like.
At GE the union tells management: "Safety, Quality, Productivity--pick two out of three."
In the real world management tells employees: "Safety, Quality, Productivity--if you can't give us all three, we will find someone who can."
Trades or no trades the union is suppose to fight for equality in pay and benefits! We all pay the same dues
Did you notice the D Rate response had nothing to say about instilling work ethic into the younger generation. First off, I never was laid off and it’s not about wage scale it’s about people like you being lazy and cheating the system. Management is on to your games and will no longer accept it. How about you grow some self worth and try to save this place. How about you tell the younger guy to pick up the pace to earn an honest days living. But I know that means you yourself may have to work an honest 8 hour day, can you do that?
I hope both of you find employment somewhere else, and hate the fact you were laid off affecting both you and your family. Unfortunately it was your attitude and division created by your t vs.d that created an unpleasant place to work...that I'm glad I dont have to hear anymore. When you get hired somewhere and you're told your wages and benefits, the difference between a t and a d before you are hired dont cry later after you accept the job. In fact instead of getting laid off maybe you should never had accepted the job in the first place.
Very well said. Not sure how the newer employees of that plant are to blame of the culture that existed for many years. The D rates did not give up anything other than agreeing to a new wage scale to attemp to bring the plant to realistic wages in the future. If long service employees instilled work ethic into newer employees. Instead they talked about “pacing” yourself so people could inflate their wages and cause the shop to run on Saturdays and Sundays so they could drive around in Corvettes and 50 thousand dollar trucks. The reality is with no overtime people had it made there on the D rate scale. Pensions and solid pay. Now the company has more options to put this work and people were too lazy to pick up the pace to justify Schenectady’s worth. I hope the light has been seen and these legacy employees can change the culture that has eroded over the years. Strap on your work boots and gloves and get to work.