UAW Prefer Secure Jobs to Financial Bonuses

2010 was a rebounding year for the whole American auto industry and all three major producers in the country, General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, have returned to profits. Workers will thus receive financial bonuses for the way the companies performed last year but workers are actually looking beyond these annual bonuses and ask for more.

UAW said, through the voice of Brian Fredline and Mike Green, two leaders at GM plants, that employees would prefer secure jobs and new products to annual bonuses, a report by Automotive News reveals.

While carmakers would go for variable pay increases, which will be dependent on the profits the companies post each year, the UAW emphasizes that each worker has to give up much more money than the amount he receives from the employer in the form of an annual bonus.

"The average member has given up $12,000 in pay and benefits," said Green, while pointing that this situation has occurred every year since 2005. "But it's a third of what we gave up. That's not a big gift we're getting," he added talking about the $4,300 bonus each GM employee has received.

The UAW officials also commented on GM's production strategy, explaining that the carmaker should expand its product lineup by adding new coupe or wagon versions. This way, production will be again boosted and, as a direct result, jobs would be more secure within the company.

"You can keep your bonuses; bring the jobs back," Green explained. "Do we deserve a raise? Absolutely. But it's questionable whether we'll get one," Fredline concluded.