The Future for Auto-Workers
November 20, 2008 1 Comment
If the worse scenario comes true and American auto manufacturers go under, there will be millions of primarily low-skilled laborers dumped onto the jobs market. What does the future hold for them? Please see some ideas in this archived post about unions and low-skilled workers.
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I think you got slammed unfairly in the comments of that last post, and I want to clarify some things.
Unions have no obligation to other trades. In fact, many are at odds with other trades over what work belongs to who.
An apprenticeship can last from 2 yrs (such as the laborers) to 5 yrs. You can go to another union, but you cannot advance beyond journeyman.
In a jurisdiction where I worked earlier this year, laborers made $23/hr. That doesn’t include the benfits amount, mind you. No insurance or 401k deductions from those paychecks.
A 1st-yr apprentice laborer made 60% journeyman’s wages, and a 2nd-yr apprentice made 80%.
So the lowest a laborer could be paid was $13.80/hr.
Premiums are paid for certain types of work, with road construction being the most lucrative.
These shop unions are so much different than trade unions.
It’s late. I want to say more, but it’s too late.
But I hope the auto industry doesn’t get any bailout, regardless of how many jobs it costs.
I see that as pumping the bilge. Let it go.
We’ll see.