The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Stark County, Ohio is a lot like Detroit. It is old steel, old Union, and in a state of decay. The local hospital is now the largest employer in an area that onced played host to some of the world's largest companies like Hoover Vacuum Sweepers.
One of the last remaining old line companies is Timken. When the world's wheels move, there's a good chance they do so on Timken Roller Bearings. They are also in the specialty steel business and there is a growing need for US-made steel in critical parts industries like oil drilling, hydraulic fracturing and heavy equipment, places where companies can't take the chance on cheap Chinese alternatives.
Timken decided to invest $225M to upgrade the local plant. The State of Ohio promised $19M in tax breaks to help out and the company promised 18 years of steady employment levels.
The only problem is that they wanted to assure themselves that they would also have long-term labor peace and their contract with the United Steel Workers expires at the end of 2013 with the upgrades going on line in 2014. So they asked the USW to bargain early for a contract that would last through 2017.
Seeing the possibility to save jobs and enhance job security, the Union and the company reached an agreement right before Christmas. Last night the rank and file rejected it, 917-608. If the country is lucky this mill and its jobs will land in a Southern right-to-work state.
The union leadership was disappointed and now faces an uncertain future. Says Local 1123 President Joe Hoagland, “It’s up to the company. They wanted a tentative agreement by the end of 2011. If they didn’t get that, they said they’d take the money and go elsewhere,” he said. “I take them at their word.”
It's not the union or the company that failed here. The American middle class worker is committing mass suicide.
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Jul '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
It is a little more complicated than that. In many cases people are living pay check to pay check so when they are asked to take a pay cut or to pay more in benefits they view it as being asked if they want to lose everything slowly over time starting now or if they want to take a chance they might lose everything at some time in the future if the company closes or leaves. Given that choice many decide to take the chance the company will not abandon its investment and will figure a way to stay since in the past the company always has.
Mar '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Maybe they just want an excuse to get out of Stark County.
Feb '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
EJHill
The local newspaper now says the reason was a "two-tier" wage structure for new hires.
Instead of dealing with today's realities they insist that they are living in the 1960s.
The local newspaper also noted that there are already hundreds of new hires already getting lower wages since a contract in 2009. Also the proposed contract offered a wage increase well below the rate of inflation, which is effectively a pay cut.
Of course American workers are supposed to just shut up, embrace today's realities, and rejoice over their shrinking paychecks because at least they have one.
Yeah. America: It sucks to be you, because you aren't living in the 1960s anymore.
May '10
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Those are odd comments. But then again the America I remember is the one where you'd rather be scrubbing toilets than to be on the public dole.
It's not a question of "embracing" the realities, but facing up to them. When you have a (non-seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate of over 8% and your employer has national and international options, you're not exactly dealing from a position of strength, are you?
Aug '10
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Are these the same "______(Newsweek term)____" that chipped in their union funds to the $50 million dollar pool to try and recall the Governor of Wisconsin ? Now there is a good use of funds !
Sheesh ! Kasich must be freaking out.
Feb '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
EJHill
Those are odd comments. But then again the America I remember is the one where you'd rather be scrubbing toilets than to be on the public dole.
It's not a question of "embracing" the realities, but facing up to them
As an ex-steelworker from a unionized mill who learned to thoroughly hate unions I was both fascinated and repelled by these comments. So much so that I stared at this page for a good long while trying to arrange my thoughts into something coherent to say.
Perhaps I just failed. But I've had jobs where I scrubbed toilets and I just can't connect your assertion about the "public dole" and my comment at all.I think private sector union members long since faced up to "realities', if only because they had to.
Thing is, I don't think telling Americans to enjoy the suck and heart their perpetually sinking wages is a good political strategy for- well, anyone.
So of course the GOP will adopt it. Stupid party, yes.
Apr '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Xennady
EJHill
Those are odd comments. But then again the America I remember is the one where you'd rather be scrubbing toilets than to be on the public dole.
It's not a question of "embracing" the realities, but facing up to them
Thing is, I don't think telling Americans to enjoy the suck and heart their perpetually sinking wages is a good political strategy for- well, anyone.
So of course the GOP will adopt it. Stupid party, yes. · Jan 17 at 7:48am
I don't think EJ is running for office. Politically problematic truths (at least, "truths" as seen by the utterer) are proper to the context. I'm also somewhat confident that there won't be a candidate running on enjoying lowered wages (although I'm not certain of this; several candidates have been heroically defending the intrinsic nobility of labor this cycle, so perhaps).
May '10
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Yeah, pretty much. Because what you don't offer is a substantial alternative view point. Don't accept it is not a valid strategy either. That's protest for protest sake. Taking a stand that forces jobs out of your community on principle may, in some people's minds, be noble, but it does not seem particularly practical either.
What would you advise?
Sep '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Humza Ahmad
And Carrier Corp., GM, Seneca Foods...
Sep '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Barely 7% of the private sector workforce is unionized. The actions of this union have just guaranteed that a few more tenths of a percent are going to be shaved off that number. It's not exactly a suicide pact; more like removing a tumor...
Edited on January 17, 2012 at 10:27pmApr '11
Re: The Middle Class Mass Suicide Pact
Union members have chosen to be unemployed at $20.00/hr, rather than employed at $15.00/hr.