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Unions Really Have Gone to Pot.

By: LaborUnionReport (Diary)  |  September 23rd, 2010 at 04:30 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Have all the unions in the country gone to pot?  It certainly seems so.

As California’s unions work to target the budding pot industry out on the Left Coast, it appears the UAW’s workers in Detroit are getting in on some of the ganga action.

Unfortunately, some miscreant members of the Union of Ailing Workplaces United Auto Workers who work [cough, cough] at Chrysler’s the Government’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant have taken to toking on the company’s taxpayer’s time.

According to a MyFoxDetroit investigation:

While taxpayers are footing the bill to keep America’s auto industry off life support, an undercover investigation shows illegal activities by Chrysler employees who have enjoyed nearly $15 billion in government money.

Dozens of autoworkers in Detroit were caught on camera drinking beer and smoking marijuana before heading to work at the Chrysler plant that President Obama praised in a speech just two months ago.

Fox News has the video here.

While this isn’t the first time the UAW has found itself in the middle of a beer bust, it is the first time UAW members have been caught on camera doing the doobage.

What makes this even funnier sadder is this is the same plant where President Obama stated:

“It’s workers like you that built this country into the greatest economic power the world has ever known.”

“I want all of you to know, I will bet on the American worker any day of the week.” he told the crowd.

“I wish they could see what I’m seeing in this plant and talk to the workers who are here, taking pride in building a world-class vehicle,” Obama said, referring to opponents of the multibillion-dollar government auto bailout. “I don’t think they’d be willing to look you in the eye and say that you were a bad investment.”

Um. Mr. President? We’d like to look them in the eye, but they would probably be too bloodshot and just a bit droopy…

As of today, Chrysler says it has suspended some of the workers.  For its part, the UAW says “it strongly opposes the use of alcohol or controlled substances on the job.”

We wonder, will the UAW fight to preserve these members’ jobs?

Mr. President, regarding that “investment:” Can we have our money back, please?

__________________

“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.”  Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

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  • izoneguy

    I have never owned a Chrysler vehicle…
    I have had to rent a few and some friends I knew owned them.
    My friends always had trouble with them.
    The build quality is horrible and they just plain suck.
    I wonder how long the beer-bong parties have gone on?

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

      my first car, ie a 1969 Chevy Malibu 350. I used to joke when I was buying new GM cars every few years that I was buying, for instance, a 1993 Pontiac Warranty (instead of a Grand Prix), as it was in the shop so often as I drove a replacement vehicle.

  • drfredc

    Hmm, wonder what a stoned out picket line would be like…

    ‘Yeah, man, we’re on quite a blow here. Sure, you can cross the line if you just hand over that bag of donuts…”

  • Douglas Erley

    I noticed one of those rocket scientists was driving a Mustang.

    • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

      You might have missed the link to this…

      http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/15908257/index.html

      • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

        to be somewhat an exception to the public employee and the UAW and other unions that have run their companies into the ground?

        • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

          UPS (which is Teamsters) is one player on a (primarily) two-player field. Even with that, UPS has an economic disadvantage due to the Teamsters, which is why both the Teamsters and UPS have been lobbying Congress to put FedEx under the NLRA, as opposed to the Railway Labor Act (which is what FedEx is under).

          The NLRA would allow the Teamsters to unionize FedEx site by site, as opposed to the RLA in which unionization happens across an entire company.

          In addition, the pension issue has, for years, been a big thorn in UPS’ side, which is why it paid $6.1 billion to extricate itself from in 2007. FedEx does not have that burden.

          Nuke Plants and Railroads are somewhat anomalies in that they are in a somewhat closed market. Even still, though, the term ‘featherbedding’ originates from the railroad industry.

          The problem with the vast majority of today’s unions are not with the members, but with the leadership and, in many cases, the business model.

          If unions were ever to flourish in the private sector (where there is competition), they must change their business model. The government “fix” that they are so reliant on will only temporarily help them. However, as Samuel Gompers (the Founder of the AF of L, and a fervent anti-socialist) recognized, government involvement in labor relations would be a double edge sword….as the political winds shift. And, he was proven right numerous times over the last century.

          Sorry. I said this would be brief. ;)

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            became disillusioned with his own Carmen’s Union at Norfolk-Southern Railway in the 90s as did I as their attorney. more later

  • Libertarian Republican

    I am in full civil libertarian mode preparing to celebrate a dagger (if only a symbolic one) to the heart of the imperial federal government with a yes vote on Prop 19. Now that joy is squashed by the idea of union thugs injecting themselves into the debate.

    As much as I want Prop 19 to pass I think an ad with the fat AFLCIO guy smoking a joint would be it’s death kneel :-)

    • http://www.laborunionreport.com LaborUnionReport

      I didn’t think this was an appropriate post for RS, due to the dig to Nancy’s War on Drugs (didn’t feel like debating it), but, here you go…

      As Californians head to the polls on November 2nd, among the other decisions voters will be deciding on (like choosing whether or not to recycle ex-governor Jerry

  • http://www.marklaiminger.org Lammo

    Seems a bunch of their employees were using some of the warehouse space to grow weed.

    The arrest has the anti-drug movement all up in arms.

    You see, for years they’ve been telling everyone that marijuana was a Gateway drug.

    :-)

    • aesthete

      Which is why I’m glad I tamped it down to merely a smirk :)

  • http://www.libertytreehugger.com reverelth

    #1. Legitimize the illegitimate, then organize it.

    Works for pot, illegal immigrants, and so much more.

  • http://www.downstateiladvocate.com anacreon

    “Local 420 Walks Out Over Management’s Desire To Lower THC Levels”

    I had an opportunity to talk with a couple IBT members tonight and they’re response?

    “Figures. They need more people to pay their dues so we can get less and less benefits.”

  • popdaddy

    Years ago General Dynamics was one of my accounts.
    Whenever I visited their nuclear submarine construction base in Gorton CT,, my contacts advised avoiding parking in the parking garage of the facility.

    Since I am a curious type, I parked there anyway. The

    • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

      there is something very obtuse about them in a nation that was basically built by independent men on horses. Generally, we are not joiners like Europe’s collective mindsets, traditionally. Americans think of themselves as kings if their castles, not subjects.

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