Yes!
The labor union at Mercury Marine Inc. approved contract concessions aimed at keeping hundreds of jobs at the outboard-engine factory here, instead of sending the work to Oklahoma.
The concessions were approved in a two-day vote Thursday and Friday, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Friday evening.
Among other things, the union accepted a wage freeze and 30% less pay for new hires and workers called back from layoff.
As a result of the vote, Mercury now says it will keep its manufacturing in Fond du Lac and will bring additional work to the plant from its non-union plant in Stillwater, Okla.
This is great news for Wisconsin and I’m happy that the company bent over backwards to allow another vote and that the union got it right on the third try.
On the other hand, I fail to see how this is a good business decision for Mercury Marine. If I were a shareholder, I’d look long and hard at this decision.
Damn. I admit, I was supporting moving the jobs to Oklahoma. But only because I’m an Okie and I’ll applaud any time we “win.”
Posted by Bitter on September 04, 2009 at 2159 hrs
Good. But I remain disgusted that a gaggle of 57 year-old, fried cheese-eating fatsos are allowed to damn near cripple an entire community. I’ve had it with union goonery in this state.
Merc Marine could have packed up and left by now, but they did the right thing. Happy Labor Day Eddie Punchclock and Charlie Lunchbox!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2009 at 2219 hrs
Something to cheer about!!! Thank the two guys who bravely started that petition. I am just really happy about this outcome.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 04, 2009 at 2345 hrs
I heard a union guy today say “this contract basically makes us slaves to the company, I voted no” I wanted to reach through the TV and grab him by his ignorant neck and say HELLO DOUCHEBAG…. you are free to quit ANYTIME you find a better job where you “aren’t a slave to the company”
Good grief.
People are their own worst enemy.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0041 hrs
Pilot, as usual on autopilot.
This childish libertarian crap. Unemployment is at an all time high.
As usual this situation is more complicated than comprehended by your simple mind as laid out by Steve Jagler of the BizTimes—http://www.onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/mercurymarine.html.
God forbid you people would ever think. Seems like all you ever do is emote.
These jobs are going to leave anyways in two years. These guys are going to get knocked back to $15 while top executives will suffer nothing.
It’s happening everywhere.So how are they going to sell outboards to people making $30,000 a year or less?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0724 hrs
Keith (I never emote), as usual stuck on talking points
While unemployment is high, that doesn’t forgo this person for looking for other work. There are still a few jobs out there. His slave comment is rather stupid.
Unless “this guy” is currently laid off, his wage won’t be affected (cuts were for new hires and those who get called back).
You, and he, should ask all the salaried workers who have been laid off or taken pay cuts and/or furloughs.
But your last statement is the “laugh out loud” line. As if Merc’s only customers were its own employees…. But you and those that think like you believe that by driving up our debt, weakening our currency, and taxing the crap out of ANY type of earnings will improve the economy. On the contrary - soon we will ALL be making $30K. The accurate euphamism of “Socialism is trickle up poverty”
In another thread you made some mention of the fine economies of Europe (the ones you want Americas to be like) are humming along just fine. Since 1994 - the LOWEST that the unemployment rate has been in the European Zone was 7.1% in 2007 - it was above 11% for most of the ‘90s. During that same period the US averaged in the 5% range under both Clinton and Bush.
So your assertion is that we should tax more, spend more, have less freedom, AND get higher unemployment? ummm…. you go first.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0814 hrs
Since Mercury is the employer - they get to call the shots. If you want to tell people how much you can make, I suggest you run your own business and pay people whatever you want.
Neomom is correct. Yes we have unemployment but jobs are still out there. I just got a new job a few weeks ago. Why did I leave my old job? Because the pay wasn’t great and I didn’t think the company was going to survive in the long run.
Stop looking at things as a closed loop. If Europe is so great - go check it out for a month or two. Once you get past the tourism you’ll see what it is really like.
I met a guy from England last year. He was very discouraged and complained bitterly about the new taxes they are starting there. And there was an article recently (sorry don’t remember where - but you can probably google it) talking about all the Americans leaving England and getting different jobs due to the huge increase in taxes.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0850 hrs
As usual this situation is more complicated than comprehended by your simple mind as laid out by Steve Jagler of the BizTimes
http://happycircumstance.blogspot.com/2009/09/about-that-facebook-meme.html
Pot meet kettle…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0903 hrs
Slave to the company! I will go up there and “pick Merc’s cotton” for $20.00 per hour and bennies. I haven’t had a pay check in 18 months and my savings took a hit so I am actually in the negative, rather than zero income bracket. Yet, I have met payroll for those still left. Slave??? As much as I would like to slap that guy I wouldn’t even wish real slavery on him. At least, not right now, I could change my mind later. Keith is another matter.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 0923 hrs
This was not a stupid business decision for Merc. The cost and disruption of transferring 2,000 employees to OK could be far more than the incentives they were being offered by OK along with some lower wage costs. As long as Merc could jam down an OK type contract on the Wisconsin workers, they can stay here just fine assuming the economy doesn’t take another major dive down.
The other part of this yet to be disclosed is exactly how much $$ the State of Wisconsin and Fondy are giving to Merc. I’m all for this. But I’m guessing the number is pretty high.
Merc will get their immediate costs savings by shutting down the OK plant and move forward here. Win-Win for everyone in this State. Good job to all.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 1031 hrs
Steve A: Great point about the disruption. I would rather focus on the good news here but got distracted by the “slave” comment. This also helps the image of our State. A move out is always a black mark against some company considering moving here. If the state paid some bucks it shows we want to be competitive. It shows the workers are thinking for themselves and considering the ramifications. I am just so happy for the people of Fondy and the rest of the state. A win is a win. The impact is just huge in a positive way. We competed with OK and won. The credit goes to the workers not government. Without them this would have been an economic disaster and the State could only pick up the pieces. God bless those guys and I sincerely hope this works out for them.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 1050 hrs
Even if they move the jobs in two years, the employees bought time for the economy to improve and place themselves in a better position to find new ones.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 05, 2009 at 1328 hrs
Interesting notion about moving the jobs in two years. Let me get this straight—they move MerCruiser from Stillwater to Fondy and even before that is done they shut down Fondy and move? Okay.
I AM very glad for this news. Remember, only 900 or so people were voting but that outcome affects up to 2,000 direct jobs not counting suppliers and the like. In addition, Mercury and Harley have a close relationship what would that do to Harley?
I feel bad for the folks in Stillwater, it is tough knowing they will be shutting things down in the future.
Posted by Marcus Aurelius on September 05, 2009 at 2247 hrs
I think it will be very interesting in a couple of years when the economy is moving on and those poor guys are not getting any raises, cost of living or otherwise, because of this wonderful contract. Seven years = no raises.
And the 30% pay cut for laid off employees that are brought back. How long before everyone in the facility has been “laid off” and subsequently “brought back” at a 30% pay cut. Do you honestly believe MM wouldn’t do it because they are such a moral company?
And let’s see. All of the merchants in FDL who were begging the union people to vote once more to stay? Are they not going to increase their prices for for 7 years? Yeah, right.
The employees at MM have just been royally screwed. They were between a rock and a hard place and made the best decisions they could. And they have been screwed anyway.
And now MM is going to get a little windfall for doing it to them.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 0756 hrs
Old Angel,
So you really think that even without sales MM really could have gone placidly on forever giving everyone raises and bonuses for (for what? Really good non-production?) everyone and really great retirement for everyone because regular Joe sure can’t be expected to pay for his own retirement, and let’s not forget health insurance.How exactly does no sales equate to MM screwing the poor(heh) down-trodden laborer? Even the 30% decrease does not put the union workers below the average OK plant non-union wage. The money MM is saving is the relocation costs and potential savings if sales pick back up in less than 7 years.
The problem for the average MM union worker is not that he will be beggared or even lower middle class. It will be that his current lifestyle will have to be reduced to fit his new means or his spouse may have to work. That is a hardship, no doubt, but nothing more than the majority of people in this country face in the private sector and more than 70% better than the average non-union person who has been laid off.
All you liberals want to hear about the management pay cuts and I would like to hear they have them too, but the ‘management’ you elected in the last cycles haven’t been taking any pay cuts and their benefits and retirement pay is assured regardless of market conditions so why should the private sector big wigs be expected to to bear any brunt of losses in pay?
Thanks to more and more businesses being taken over by Government either directly or through heavy regulation, the Government is something of an equivalent to the ‘management’ of a business. They support unions both verbally and with actions, but they do not pay the union, they simply make others pay. Give a concession to waste management or teachers? No problem we will just raise our prices(read: taxes). It is a lot easier to be labor friendly when the bill for concessions does not come out of your pocket or even your budget, it simply raises your budget.
It is at least incongruous, if not a true oxymoron, to be pro worker, anti-management, and pro-big Government. I would say that it has worked to date because Government has the workers pretty well suckered in, not because management has failed to sucker them in.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1041 hrs
think it will be very interesting in a couple of years when the economy is moving on and those poor guys are not getting any raises, cost of living or otherwise, because of this wonderful contract. Seven years = no raises.
If they are smart, these workers will keep there eye out for other jobs. If the economy improves and other companies are hiring, Screw mercury marine, quit and take a better paying job.
If there aren’t better paying jobs to be had in 7 years (or 3 years) or whatever, then GUESS WHAT, these “poor guys” are actually pretty f’ing lucky to have a good paying job.
The employees at MM have just been royally screwed. They were between a rock and a hard place and made the best decisions they could. And they have been screwed anyway.
Drop the victim card. Good grief. Anyone who thinks they got screwed should IMMEDIATELY quit their job and take another better paying job somewhere else. Oh, whats that you say? There aren’t any? Well then PULL THE F’ING stick out of your crybaby ass and be thank-ful for what you have.
After you do that, then do what your f’ing union won’t do for you and keep an eye on the labor market. Look for a non-union job where you can go in, bust your ass and be more productive than the guy next to you and get HANDSOMELY rewarded with better pay.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1044 hrs
It is at least incongruous, if not a true oxymoron, to be pro worker, anti-management, and pro-big Government. I would say that it has worked to date because Government has the workers pretty well suckered in, not because management has failed to sucker them in.
I would like to clarify this a lttle. I believe pro-worker, anti mgmt, pro big guv, describes liberals and Democrats pretty accurately.
When I say Government has them (workers & liberals) “suckered in” I refer to the general belief that Government is actually pro-working class/union. I guess to a point they are, but that is because they do not have to pay for any concession they give. Ask/tell Government to make the taxes they currently receive work and take the balance out of their benefits and retirement nest eggs, and I firmly believe their stances would quickly change to a mirror of private sector mgmt positions on most issues.
‘Big Govenment officials’ are very equivalent to ‘management officials’ thse days except one is paying out from profits and one takes as much as needed from the profits of all to pay out or just goes negative, no penalty, while the company mgmt would go bankrupt. It is a very unequal playing field and, in addition, all the refs are on the Government’s team.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1132 hrs
http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/57718297.html
Can’t wait to see what the government “gave away” to Mercury Marine.
Taxpayers foot the bill again.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1247 hrs
How much would it cost to deal with all of the loss of 2,000 direct jobs? Instead Fondy gets 800 more jobs - a swing of 2,800 jobs.
Posted by Marcus Aurelius on September 08, 2009 at 1354 hrs
How much will it cost to deal with the lost jobs due to the government handout and associated taxation and/or currency devaluation caused by such polices? The idea that government can “invest” in jobs is a fiction.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1413 hrs
So, you are saying you don’t want those 2,800 jobs?
Posted by Marcus Aurelius on September 08, 2009 at 1457 hrs
If the cost of those 2,800 jobs is a government handout, then no, I don’t want those jobs. First, jobs that require such a handout in general do so because of a pre-exisitng negative business environment. This handout addresses none of that. Second, the implication behind handouts is that the jobs would not exist on their own, which, if true, means you will get requests for additional such handouts when that money runs out. Third, jobs that would not exist on their own are jobs that represent an inefficient use of resources. Future generations will inevitably pay for such inefficient uses. Fourth, you have now created a two tier set of rules for doing business in Wisconsin; one for unions, large employers and the politically connected, and another for everyone else. Finally, you have established that you can be threatened into granting such handouts, which means that every union and employer with any influence at all will be beating on your door looking for their own handout.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2009 at 1544 hrs
Dead on BVBigBro!
Shame on you for injecting economic realities into this emotional debate.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2009 at 1420 hrs
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