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Comment by woofcat | Hacker News Reader

When unions want contract obligations on job security it reminds me of a Jack Welch quote. To paraphrase: "GE doesn't give you job security, the market gives you job security"

How can GM commit to not reducing workforce if sales decline? Just running a deficit?

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I think their biggest ask is for GM to stop using temp workers to get around union obligations. When you have a "temp worker" who has been working for you for 4-5 years, they should probably be classified as an employee.

However that doesn't impact current union employees. Is it just the union fearing for its own loss of power?

In part, though I think it's more complicated than just a loss of power. The responsibilities for employers are getting more and more expensive so they are doing the rational thing and switching to contractors.

What about the half of Google workers who are merely contractors?

Yeah, I don't want to sound anti-union, but I really don't understand what the expectation is here.

Workers sitting around doing nothing all day? GM producing excess inventory?

A greater share with workers of billions in GM profits. Their CEO makes $21 million a year. Is their CEO worth that? Better get wrenching then, because striking is costing GM $50-100 million per day.

Separately, hopefully the UAW sees the benefit in universal healthcare, and supporting candidates backing it.

> Separately, hopefully the UAW sees the benefit in universal healthcare, and supporting candidates backing it.

I've read in a news article that UAW workers get 95% of premium paid by the employer. I'm not sure how accurate that is but that is way better than most other plans. Most of my employers covered 90% of the premium. I doubt an universal healthcare plan could do any better (except for coverage during strikes.) Even the current medicare plans have hefty premiums and copays.

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