Why do non-union GE plants treat temporary workers like second-class citizens?

I recently met with the WAGE Committee in Auburn. Members there told me how GE is using too many temporary workers in the plant.

It's a story that I have heard all too often at GE. Somebody retires or quits, and instead of posting the job, GE fills it with a temp worker from an agency like Manpower, Inc. or Labor Ready.

GE (and many other employers), promise the temps that if they work hard and show their dedication to the job, they will be made permanent. In effect, it means workers are required to go through two probationary periods.

In Auburn, GE told one temp worker that if he worked a year, he would be made permanent. After eleven and a half months, management laid him off. Just imagine how he felt.

About a month later, still looking for work, he took another temp job at GE. Upon returning, the first thing he asked was if he worked two more weeks would he qualify for a permanent job? Guess what GE told him? "Sorry, you have to work another year." Shortly after that he quit.

When employers use lower wage temp workers, it may save money in the short run; but it eventually undermines productivity. And while there may be the occasional legitimate need for temp employees, GE is clearly abusing it.

Our nation fought a bloody civil war in order to give truth to the words, "Freedom and Equality." While temps aren't slaves, they are being treated like second-class citizens.

When companies owned slaves, it dragged down the living standards for all workers. Today, the shift by large corporations to hiring more temps with low pay rates and no benefits is once again affecting all of our living standards. And by further dividing people at work, it makes building unity on the job that much harder to achieve.

Over a hundred years ago, slavery left so called "free" workers feeling "lucky to be free." The widespread abuse of temps today has the same effect. It leaves those of us who still have a full-time job feeling "lucky to have a job."

Do you know someone who is trapped in a part-time, temporary or dead-end job? Call Rand Wilson at (781) 598-2760 ext 25 or email me at rwilson@local201iuecwa.org.

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 2.6 million people employed at temporary help agencies and another 3.8 million people employed in the broader category of "employment services." which includes "leased" workers and other non-standard arrangements. [Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Major Economic Indicators, Employment Situation, Table B-1.]

Celebration honors nine workers retiring from GE Somersworth (WAGE Bulletin)

Over 50 General Electric employees, family and friends attended a special party at the Gateway Restaurant on Thursday, October 27 to celebrate the retirement of nine workers from the Somersworth GE plant. The party was sponsored by the Somersworth WAGE ("Workers at GE") Committee.

Long-time WAGE leader and 36 year GE employee Jack Quinn from Rochester received a special plaque recognizing "His outstanding service on behalf of his co-workers and his tireless support for workers' rights at General Electric."

Quinn and the other eight retirees are leaving the company on a special union-negotiated program that allows workers with high seniority to take early retirement without reductions in pension, supplements, and medical benefits. The program, known as the Special Early Retirement Option (SERO), also mandates that the company replace each vacant position, creating upgrade opportunities for existing employees and new job openings for younger workers in the community.

Upon receiving the award, Quinn told the gathering, "We should all be grateful to the union members who won the SERO for us in their contract negotiations with GE. In my case, it means that I could get out four years early."

Quinn closed the festivities with an appeal to his co-workers, "People at the plant often need somebody to stick up for them, and that's what our WAGE committee is all about. Don't ever give up. Join WAGE so that we can keep our managers on their toes."

Why does GE treat temps like second-class citizens, and why should we care?

by the Auburn WAGE Committee
GE is using a lot of temporary workers at Auburn. Somebody retires or quits, and instead of posting the job, GE fills it with a temp worker from Manpower.

GE promises the temps that if they work hard and show their dedication to the job, they will be made permanent.

Auburn GE told one temp worker that if he worked a year, he would be made permanent. After eleven and a half months, management laid him off. Just imagine how he felt.

When GE uses lower wage temp workers, it may save money in the short run; but it eventually undermines our plant's productivity. And while there may be an occasional need for temp employees, Auburn management is clearly abusing it.

Another example was the temp who worked with us for about 8 months. Although wherever she worked in the plant she was praised for her skill and work ethic, she was overlooked for a permanent job in favor of another temp who had been here for less time.

When the HR manager was asked why, he said, "It looks like she slipped through the cracks." That's little consolation to the temp, who was then told to "hang in there." It raises a question about the process used to decide who is hired.

Our nation fought a war in order to give truth to the words "free and equal" and to end slavery. We aren't slaves at GE and neither are the "Manpower" workers who help us.

But the temps ARE treated like second-class citizens. They don't get the same pay for the same work. Although they don't have the benefits that we enjoy, there is no real difference between us. It's just the luck of the draw.

As employees know we are expendable to GE. We can be replaced at the drop of a hat. And just as easy as not, we could be like the Manpower workers: On the outside looking in.

There is no moral justification for any worker to be treated like a second-class citizen in this country.

Hiring more temps with low pay rates and no benefits drags down the living standards for all of us. By further dividing people at work, it makes building unity on the job that much harder to achieve. Over a hundred years ago, slavery left free workers feeling "lucky to be free." The abuse of temps leaves those of us who still have a full-time job feeling "just lucky to have a job."


According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 2.6 million people employed at temporary help agencies and another 3.8 million people employed in the broader category of "employment services." which includes "leased" workers and other non-standard arrangements. [Source: http://bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t14.htm table B-1.]