Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials
Chrysler asks UAW for 10-hour, four-day workweek
In an effort to cut down on travel and energy costs, Chrysler is said to be in negotiations with the United Auto Workers Union to switch from five, eight-hour days down to four days with ten-hour shifts. We first heard this scheme mentioned as a possibility for the Jeep Factory in Toledo, Ohio, though it now appears as if all but the few plants turning in high amounts of overtime would be affected if the UAW agrees to allow Chrysler to make the scheduling change. As is typical with the new Cerberus-owned automaker, the Chrylser LLC isn't giving out any information on specific savings targets, though preliminary figures put the reduction at something close to -- but under -- $10 million a year. The new shifts are already underway at a Chrysler distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia.[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
arturo 5:09PM (8/11/2008)
to be honest i think 10 hours is better than 8 hours. work from Monday to thursday and party on friday, saturday, go to church on sunday and rest, for monday again. :)
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Randy 5:39PM (8/11/2008)
I agree! But what I'm wondering is, if Chrysler posted such a huge profit, why on earth are they nickel and dime-ing everything :)
Ya know?
knifetramp 5:06AM (8/12/2008)
Agreed 100%!! Why is Chrysler saving pennies when their balance sheet is supposedly so robust? They can't hide the reality that Chrysler is in deep trouble.
The UAW of course will fight this, unless the "brothers and sisters" get daily overtime pay after 8 hours. Union management have never been flexible on this.
Adam Marcello 8:03AM (8/12/2008)
Chrysler should be savingg every penny they can. Just cause they have a profit doesnt mean they shouldnt try to save more and be more competitive. I would think most workers would lover the change too. Same total hours with an extra day off.
Ten hours isnt that much different than 8 in a day. I regularly work 10-12 hours a day for 5 days a week. Im salary though so it all means nothing to my bottom line.
mroverlord 5:10PM (8/11/2008)
I was wondering when someone was going to try this. Back when I was in the military our base commander wanted to do this to save on energy costs. Unfortunately Congress shot him down.
Personally I like the idea. Your pay is the same, and you spend less money on fuel, work lunches, and Starbucks :)
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That One Person 8:55PM (8/11/2008)
A few municipalities are doing it here in Michigan. And from what I understand, the savings on fuel is pretty big. Plus, a lot more work can be done.
MemphisNET 5:20PM (8/11/2008)
I'd love a 4day work week! More time off for me, 2hours a day isn't much in the grand scheme of things (especially when line work already seems like it never ends) and saves Chrysler millions a year.
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300C 5:23PM (8/11/2008)
I think it makes complete sense. Of course the UAW will groan and moan a bit at first, but if they stop for a minute and think about it, they'd get an extra day off every week by just working 2 extra hours per day.
And trust me, the amount of extra breaks they would work, they wouldn't be working those entire extra two hours.
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azzo45 8:05PM (8/11/2008)
Why would the UAW "moan & groan" about a 4 day work week??? They are not losing anything & most of their members save by adopting this plan (at the very least on vehicle mileage & fuel costs associated in traveling to their jobs).
knifetramp 5:21AM (8/12/2008)
You guys are trying to apply logic. The UAW doesn't apply, or understand, logic. Auto manufacturers have longed for 4 x 10h days - what Chrysler is asking for is nothing new.
UAW management has consistently fought to preserve OT pay after 8 hours, which would do the opposite of what Chrysler is looking to do.. save money. We would have seen 4 x 10h days decades ago if the UAW was flexible.
Beastage 5:25PM (8/11/2008)
I agree with you guys , 10 hours 4 days work week is excellent for the industrial sector.
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JD 5:26PM (8/11/2008)
This is a really good idea, I've been thinking about changing out to this type of schedule myself, it would help cut fuel costs for sure. And 3 days off is always nice, right? I can't see why the UAW wouldn't be good with this, but there are a lot of things the UAW does that are the opposite of intuitive and logical.
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Lx 5:51PM (8/11/2008)
"...from five, eight-hour days down to four days with ten-hour shifts."
Add my voice to the chorus of approval. Not here, but I've been saying this for years, when the stock market was stronger, gas went cheap, and I was getting funny looks.
But now I'm (we're) validated by not just Cerebrus Chrysler but the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, who moved some municipal workers from 40 over five to 40 over four, and the sky hasn't fallen.
I agree with everybody's observation that we can do as much work in four weekdays as five, and I would vote positively for this development whenever it's presented.
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iOrange 5:52PM (8/11/2008)
I work the 4 10 hours days, and it is great.. Yeah the work day is long and when I get home I am tired.. but having a 3 day weekend EVERY weekend is the best. Plus I save around 60 miles of commuting a week.. which is more money in my pocket.. I suggest it if you can do it!
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wagonphile 6:17PM (8/11/2008)
Makes good sense, but I'm really surprised it saves that much cash.
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MONTE 6:23PM (8/11/2008)
I have an idea, stop asking the UAW anything. They are the biggest reason why U.S. companies are in the tank right now with their stupid union that gives Joe Bob $30/hr to put a screw into a dashboard and then have him complain every two years about not making enough money. If Chrysler wants to go to four 10s, then do it like the rest of the business World does it, by just making it so.
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swimstarguy 7:11PM (8/11/2008)
Good point.
I used to work 4 10's. I loved it. One day I was told how I was going to be working. If I didn't like it I could work somewhere else. That's how the real business world works.
Illis Billis 1:37AM (8/14/2008)
Almost all Canadian autoworkers make around 30 bucks an hour. If the UAW didn't fold over their wages, they still would be making that much as well. 30 bucks an hour is a good wage if you are working the whole time, and making a quality product. The days are over where you get paid to do nothing. It's called Lean Manufacturing. It's more like they put 2800 screws in 700 dashboards, a shift. That's how much an autoworker builds in a 10 hr day, big 3 or not. The problem is with that long of shift is that you will see more repetitive strain injuries. Doing something that labour intensive 3000 times a shift, will eventually injure you.
Rocketboy 6:30PM (8/11/2008)
So, everyone will stay home without and sit in their house w/o using any electricity? How does this save money?
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Brent 7:27PM (8/11/2008)
That isn't Chrysler's problem.