Union workers fired for smoking weed & drinking on job get reinstated

[Jeebus]

Union members must be so proud to have a union fight for the reinstatement of these dirtbags.

Chrysler suspended two workers and fired thirteen others.

Their cases ended up in arbitration and the arbitrator sided with the fired workers. They came back to work this week.

"Chrysler Group LLC acknowledges the reinstatement of a number of employees from the Jefferson North assembly plant who were discharged from the company in September 2010 after appearing in a local TV station's story about their off-duty conduct."

While the company does not agree with the ultimate decision of the arbitrator, we respect the grievance procedure process as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement and our relationship with the UAW. Unfortunately, the company was put in a very difficult position because of the way the story was investigated and ultimately revealed to the public. These employees from Jefferson North have been off work for more than two years. The time has come to put this situation behind us and resume our focus on building quality products that will firmly establish Chrysler Group's position in the marketplace."

[flyboy56]

I can see already how some people will view "the off-duty conduct." But before employees are hired they are required to sign a drug free statement. Either by a urine test or self incrimination, a company has the right to fire anyone. There is also an "at will" clause that perspective employees must acknowledge, usually by initialing, next to the clause. If unions do not fight for everyone, regardless of what the employee did, union members will start to question why they even have a union, even if they know the employee(s) fired deserved it.

[OldBay]

The only reason they were reinstated was because 1:they had binding arbitration and 2:the company chose to honor the finding of the arbitrator.

Collective bargaining alone - with no binding arbitration, would not have achieved this result. I know a state worker who received a DUI on his own time on the weekend (not "on call"). He was fired immediately and certainly did not get reinstated.

People often confuse collective bargaining with binding arbitration. Collective bargaining without binding arbitration is nearly completely worthless and a waste of time.

[flyboy56]

The only reason they were reinstated was because 1:they had binding arbitration and 2:the company chose to honor the finding of the arbitrator.

Collective bargaining alone - with no binding arbitration, would not have achieved this result. I know a state worker who received a DUI on his own time on the weekend (not "on call"). He was fired immediately and certainly did not get reinstated.

People often confuse collective bargaining with binding arbitration. Collective bargaining without binding arbitration is nearly completely worthless and a waste of time.

Was driving critical to his job? Maybe they fired him for missing to many days while trying to work with the courts to satisfy is punishment. If he had more than one DUI this would required the guy to take regular drug tests, AAA meetings and probably and 2 week drunk tank where you can't leave for 2 weeks. I know all of this because my brother just had his 2nd and went through all of that. Plus he was fired from his job after 30 years with the company. The company did not have a union. Might have his job today if they did. Who knows.

[dsummoner]

Unionista slugthug deviance rewarded, yet again.

[SteamChief]

Unionista slugthug deviance rewarded, yet again.

Live better, work Union,

[dsummoner]

Live better, work Union,

Don't forget 'workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite' and 'Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen!' These, also, are mottos of the unionista slugthugs.

[OldBay]

Was driving critical to his job? Maybe they fired him for missing to many days while trying to work with the courts to satisfy is punishment. If he had more than one DUI this would required the guy to take regular drug tests, AAA meetings and probably and 2 week drunk tank where you can't leave for 2 weeks. I know all of this because my brother just had his 2nd and went through all of that. Plus he was fired from his job after 30 years with the company. The company did not have a union. Might have his job today if they did. Who knows.

It was a first offense. There is a zero tolerance policy. His job did not require driving and he used earned leave time (vacation leave) for court. They fired him because they could.

Sorry about your brother. Hope he manages to turn it around.

[flyboy56]

It was a first offense. There is a zero tolerance policy. His job did not require driving and he used earned leave time (vacation leave) for court. They fired him because they could.

Sorry about your brother. Hope he manages to turn it around.

Thanks. It was his fault and he blames no one but himself. Pleaded guilty and accepted the court's decision without complaint. Besides, I think he is happy to be away from that job. He made oil paint since the 1970's. I worry about his health as there wasn't much in the way of OSHA back then. And respirators back then were for wimps, according to my brother.

[OldBay]

Thanks. It was his fault and he blames no one but himself. Pleaded guilty and accepted the court's decision without complaint. Besides, I think he is happy to be away from that job. He made oil paint since the 1970's. I worry about his health as there wasn't much in the way of OSHA back then. And respirators back then were for wimps, according to my brother.

Yeah, I can see that social stigma at work about the respirators. That's the thing guys say. To work right anyway, they need a perfect fit, and of course, no beard.

Hope it works out for him.

[Jeebus]

The only reason they were reinstated was because 1:they had binding arbitration and 2:the company chose to honor the finding of the arbitrator.

Why was there even an arbitrator? What did they need to arbitrate?

The workers returned to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

And just like Mayor Marion Barry, who "Smoked crack, got his job back" so did these union workers.

Arbitrator shmarbitrator - you cannot make a case for them to continue to have a job there.

[Retired Ramp Guy]

Why was there even an arbitrator? What did they need to arbitrate?

The workers returned to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

And just like Mayor Marion Barry, who "Smoked crack, got his job back" so did these union workers.

Arbitrator shmarbitrator - you cannot make a case for them to continue to have a job there.

Heck... what's a little pot, what's a little "alcohol" to a union job holder?????

"it's all good" !

[OldBay]

Why was there even an arbitrator? What did they need to arbitrate?

The workers returned to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

And just like Mayor Marion Barry, who "Smoked crack, got his job back" so did these union workers.

Arbitrator shmarbitrator - you cannot make a case for them to continue to have a job there.

I have no idea what the facts are in this case. I'm certainly not in favor of drug or alcohol use on the job.

My point was that they got their jobs back only because there was binding arbitration - which is not the same as collective bargaining. They did not get their jobs back because they belonged to a union, but because an independent arbitrator made a decision in their favor. Few workers today have the benefit of binding arbitration.

[flyboy56]

I have no idea what the facts are in this case. I'm certainly not in favor of drug or alcohol use on the job.

My point was that they got their jobs back only because there was binding arbitration - which is not the same as collective bargaining. They did not get their jobs back because they belonged to a union, but because an independent arbitrator made a decision in their favor. Few workers today have the benefit of binding arbitration.

Jeebus I believe is talking about his post case, not the case you were talking about.

[Jeebus]

I have no idea what the facts are in this case.

Did you watch the video?

The employees were in a park, on their lunch break, smoking weed and guzzling alcohol. They then returned to the Chrysler plant to work the afternoon.

I'm certainly not in favor of drug or alcohol use on the job.

So you believe that these workers should not have been reinstated?

Because if you do favor their reinstatement, then you are excusing/allowing their criminal behavior only because they have a union to protect their drunkenness & drug intoxication on the job.

No employer should be forced to employ such people.

[OldBay]

I did watch the video. But I have no idea if it is as represented. Chrysler agreed to the arbitrator used and also did not fight the findings. So there could be something that we're not aware of about that video. I find it hard to believe that an arbitrator (essentially a judge) who was agreeable to Chrysler, would not be objective. Or that Chrysler would not appeal the arbitrator's findings if they were so sure the decision was incorrect.

Do you believe that every person accused of a crime is automatically guilty?

[Jeebus]

I did watch the video. But I have no idea if it is as represented. Chrysler agreed to the arbitrator used and also did not fight the findings. So there could be something that we're not aware of about that video. I find it hard to believe that an arbitrator (essentially a judge) who was agreeable to Chrysler, would not be objective. Or that Chrysler would not appeal the arbitrator's findings if they were so sure the decision was incorrect.

Do you believe that every person accused of a crime is automatically guilty?

Do you believe these guys used alcohol and drugs on their lunch break and then returned to work at the Chrysler factory?

THAT is the reason they were fired.

And you think they should have their jobs back?

Wow.

Why are you excusing their drug use & alcohol use? Because they are union?

This is the reason they are dinosaurs (and laughing stocks) - protect and deflect, even under the weight of video evidence.

[OldBay]

Do you believe these guys used alcohol and drugs on their lunch break and then returned to work at the Chrysler factory?

THAT is the reason they were fired.

And you think they should have their jobs back?

Wow.

Why are you excusing their drug use & alcohol use? Because they are union?

This is the reason they are dinosaurs (and laughing stocks) - protect and deflect, even under the weight of video evidence.

I was not the arbitrator, so I can't attest to the video. Any HS student can edit a vid. An arbitrator APPROVED BY CHRYSLER found in the workers' favor.

Why, without knowing the facts, are you so willing to conclude that they are guilty? Why didn't Chrysler object to the findings?

[Jeebus]

I was not the arbitrator, so I can't attest to the video. Any HS student can edit a vid. An arbitrator APPROVED BY CHRYSLER found in the workers' favor.

Lol, of course, the video shot by the Detroit News Investigation team was faked.

That's what you're going with? An edited video?

Thanks for proving what we already knew about unions and their "excuse any behavior" attitude that has them slowly dying the death they deserve.

[OldBay]

Lol, of course, the video shot by the Detroit News Investigation team was faked.

That's what you're going with? An edited video?

Thanks for proving what we already knew about unions and their "excuse any behavior" attitude that has them slowly dying the death they deserve.

Why didn't Chrysler appeal the decision by the arbitrator? It was no stacked deck - they approved of the arbitrator!