60,000 walk out at DaimlerChrysler

[ashlandbuck]

We recently talked our company into allowing 30 hr. weeks!

We are testing it and up to this point it is working out.

Many companies, as our own, has always had three 8 hour shifts.
Within each shift, there are 50 minutes of breaks each day. One 20 minute break and one 30 minute break.
We went to our company and showed them they were losing 2.5 hours of labor (to breaks) each 24 hour period. That equaled 12.5 hours of shut down time in each 5 day week.
We then proposed working four 6 hour shifts with no breaks whatesoever and getting paid for eight hours. We believed it was a win-win situation for all.
The company picks up 12.5 hours of production each week and the employees are working only around 32 hours and still being paid for 40 hours.
Our 1st shift works 6:00 am to 12:15 pm. The next shift works 12:00pm to 6:15 pm and so on.
When we brought it to the rank and file they were all for it.
We doubted though that we could get the company to agree.
They did agree. I don't think they could turn away from the possibility of picking up 12.5 hours of production each week.
To this point it has turned out well for both sides. Production numbers are up and we have a much happier work force.
It is still only a temporary agreement but we are hoping it will turn out to be a permanent one.

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

30 hour weeks... paid for 40? Nicely done! Take that France and Germany!!!

What might screw it up for you is when someone comes in who wasn't part of the original group and feels entitled to it. They'll begin to demand breaks, etc. and you'll be back to normal. I hope that doesn't happen to you though... you got a sweet deal.

 

[BuckeyeBeliever]

Like I said: "I'd make fun of them, but just because I'm jealous. It's a great gig if you can get it...".

I'm right with you on this opne BITB.

:)

 

[gbearbuck]

If I work a 40 hour week, I feel like I didn't get squat done... outside of joining some buddies for beer on Thursday nights (even then I tend to leave the office at around 6), I don't leave the office until late at night (I'm in at around 8:00 in the morning, and tend to work through lunch/have lunch brought in)...

I am however the type of person that cannot stand to sit around and do nothing... when I am sick, I go into the office and work through it... over the last four years I've been out 2.5 days due to being sick (and 1.5 of the 2.5 were because of tests I had to go through at the hospital... I couldn't go to the office if I wanted to during those days)...

 

[ashlandbuck]

gbear

I appreciate your dedication to your work.
But I look at it completey different. I have a family, a rather large amount of property to take care of and am busy beyond belief at times.
Many of the rank and file I represent are in the same situation. They do not feel they work for our employer, they work FOR their families. This shortened work week that we agreed upon allows them that much more time at home with their families. That's the great thing about this. For me as well as them.
I get so much done at home. My wife works a full time job.(40 hours) Because of my shortened hours she has very little responsibility at home. I am able to run the kids to their various activites, mow the yard, garden, do laundry, fix dinners and much, much more.
My father was a dedicated employee and a good man. He worked 56 to 60 hours a week for 30 years. As a kid I missed him often. He wasn't always there for some of the things I was involved in and that bothered me. As much as I respected his work ethic, I missed him more than I respected him.
This is something I decided I would never let happen with my kids.
I think the American work ethic is far and away the greatest in the world.
I don't believe for a second that we as a nation have achieved everything we have by pure chance or luck. We've worked hard for it.
At the same time, it is important to put your family first. I wish that everyone would always remember that. Your kids will appreciate and love you for it.
20 years ago I had a man tell me (not my father) that the only thing he regreted in his life was working so hard to get ahead and forgetting to watch and be around his kids as they grew up.
I've never forgotten that.

 

[gbearbuck]

ashland,

I think the new opportunity is great for you.

The only reason I posted that was how everybody was stating how they would like to only work 30-36 hours a week... I am in a different mindset... I don't have kids, my wife also works long hours, I'm not paid a salary (so the more I produce the more I'm paid.... I have the time, and am willing to work, so I do)...

I'm sure when we have kids my hours will shrink to allow me to spend more time with the family...

 

[NorthShoreBuck]

I dated a nurse that worked three 12 hour shifts in seven days.

If she got called in after that it was overtime. She got every other weekend off and loved it.

The plants down here have instituted the the 9 nines. You are supposed to work 9 hours a day and get every other Friday off. Since they do not punch in and out it has basically become a day off every other week.

I fall in the workaholic category but am fortunate in that I have complete control of my schedule. I take time off in the middle of the day to go to my kids school functions. I take my wife to lunch once a week. We spent last week at the beach, I had meetings in the AM but spent the rest of the time with my family. I work out at lunch when I am in the office.

As I have mentioned I do not watch TV so I get in extra play time with my kids. We read alot and try to play games that stimulate thinking and conversation.

I view what I do as providing a standard of living for my family that I did not enjoy as a child. My kids play in their own pool. My 5 year old has spent more time at the beach than I did my entire life until she was born. She has been on multiple cross country flights and has flown first class on a couple of occasions. All the flights, hotel stays and rental cars I am forced to endure has enabled my family to take some very special vacations.

My family realizes that I work hard and sometime long hours. They also realize how much better they have it than many kids they go to school, church and activities with.

Someone mentioned the difference bewteen being #1 and #3 or #4. I think there are orders of magnitude between those rankings. You just have to find the balance that is right for you and your family.