UAW Members Get Free Lawyers—And They Ain’t Giving Them Up for You

AVANTI R5 · 02-17-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Free legal services — a benefit cherished and used by three out of four autoworkers — has so far been preserved in talks between Ford

Motor Co. and the UAW, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Free Press.The two sides are discussing ways to help Ford, which posted a record $14.6-billion loss in 2008.

The UAW declined to comment and the head of its legal services operation could not be reached late today. Ford also declined to comment.

Established in 1978, the UAW Legal Services Plan provides “personal legal services,” to about 725,000 workers, spouses and retirees from several companies, according to the program’s Web site. It is the largest pre-paid legal services program in the country.

The program employs 290 attorneys and fully covers some legal services, such as personal bankruptcies, and partially covers others.

As the economy has worsened, usage of the program “has increased considerably,” according to a summary of a meeting between the UAW and Ford, which was sent to UAW locals by the National Ford Council in December.

Three out of four autoworkers have used the legal services for a variety of purposes. In 2008, the letter said, that included:

Bankruptcy assistance: 9,392 UAW members, including 2,938 Ford members.

Divorce assistance: 6,899 members, including 1,924 Ford members.

Foreclosure assistance: 2,973, including 821 Ford members.

Real estate: 27,000, including 6,265 Ford members.

The program is funded by the automakers, as a benefit, based on the number of hours worked by UAW members. Companies that offer the benefit include Ford, GM, Chrysler, Delphi Corp. and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

Fully covered legal services include: Residential real estate, wills, adoption, personal bankruptcy, probate proceedings and consumer debt.

See the UAW's legal services site at http://www.uawlsp.com/default.asp

http://www.freep.com/article/2009021...es+for+workers

flexer · 02-17-2009, 01:21 PM

i can understand dental coverage.... but honestly with free legal services, why stop there, why not free dog grooming services, and free landscaping around the house, free breast implants for the wives, free lap dances at the local strip club

who cares when they workers making $100k plus for driving a ****ing forklift aren't paying for it

monovich · 02-17-2009, 01:58 PM

I seriously picked the wrong industry to work in.

Vostok 7 · 02-17-2009, 03:46 PM

Ahhhh the Unions. Hopefully people start figuring out that Unions are fossils of another time and age and just have no place in the world's economy anymore, other than dragging it down like they've already done.

Vostok 7

Ralliart4 · 02-17-2009, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

Ahhhh the Unions. Hopefully people start figuring out that Unions are fossils of another time and age and just have no place in the world's economy anymore, other than dragging it down like they've already done.

Vostok 7

Exactly, its funny when I tell people that about the unions today and get all the strange and angry looks.

The unions where nessary back in the day to have fair, safe and equal working environments where employers did whatever they wanted to the people working for them.

The unions are a big part of what is wrong with the auto industry today and you know whats even more funny your service men and women dont get these types of benifits.

E. Nick · 02-17-2009, 04:30 PM

Something tells me that this is not what Sam Gompers had in mind. The UAW is to the Auto Industry as Haliburton is to the US Gov't.

Ralliart4 · 02-17-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E. Nick

Something tells me that this is not what Sam Gompers had in mind. The UAW is to the Auto Industry as Haliburton is to the US Gov't.

Your are damn right but they have so much pork that they can admit to bad management, leadership with questionable integrity and NOT GIVING A FLIP!! And still get a phat check to let the madness continue.

OC_crook · 02-18-2009, 12:07 AM

Its free......thats news to me. So what was that fee i paid every year for prepaid legal sevices. Hmmmmmmm Its more like discounted legal services. But FREE probably sells this BS story more.

kpluiten · 02-18-2009, 12:36 AM

I knew a kid in school who's dad worked for GM. He used the legal services several times in the four years I knew him for a variety of stupid stuff that simply wasted money, time, and were largely his fault. Twice for reckless driving. Once when he illegally parked his car (knowingly but was too lazy to look elsewhere) and he blamed pre-existing paint and panel damage on the towing company and sued them. I don't know if it was completely free, but the way he kept using it and the way he said his family used it, I thought it likely was.

Also, his dad was an electrician at GM and he (the kid) never payed for a tool, multimeter, connector etc. They stole it all from GM and would readily admit it laughing the whole time they told the stories. Said they "couldn't be fired" for it.

Vostok 7 · 02-18-2009, 12:59 AM

I loved it when I went to Michigan for NAIAS last year. OK, get this, Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country (primarily because of the automakers), and yet everywhere you looked you saw "Help Wanted" signs... But it was all retail, fast food, service, jobs that any self-respecting Union member was "too good" to do. Ridiculous.

There's only two things Unions are good at in this day-and-age, demanding dues from their members and driving the companies they work for in to the ground. Laughing all the way to the bank meanwhile.

Vostok 7

Hondaslayer · 02-18-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

I loved it when I went to Michigan for NAIAS last year. OK, get this, Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country (primarily because of the automakers), and yet everywhere you looked you saw "Help Wanted" signs... But it was all retail, fast food, service, jobs that any self-respecting Union member was "too good" to do. Ridiculous.

There's only two things Unions are good at in this day-and-age, demanding dues from their members and driving the companies they work for in to the ground. Laughing all the way to the bank meanwhile.

Vostok 7

Yep,

There is no shortage of jobs in Michigan if you simply downgrade for a little while.

Too bad it's easier for these ******** to collect unemployment for the immediate future. The sense of entitlement in this city is sickening.

Hites · 02-18-2009, 11:20 AM

Society is collapsing. Simple as that.

Hondaslayer · 02-18-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hites

Society is collapsing. Simple as that.

I have guns, I can make fire and I can purify water.

I'll be fine, I'll just sell fire and water off craigslist

02-17-2009, 04:30 PM	#6
E. Nick Scooby Specialist Member#: 8489 Join Date: Jul 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Atherton, CA Vehicle: 1978 Plymouth Volare Maroon / White Vinyl	Something tells me that this is not what Sam Gompers had in mind. The UAW is to the Auto Industry as Haliburton is to the US Gov't. Last edited by E. Nick; 02-17-2009 at 04:31 PM. Reason: trigger happy laptop

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lehigh Valley Area: Anyone have a FREE blown motor they want to give me?	yo14jman	Tri-State Area Private Classifieds	5	12-04-2009 01:24 PM
If you had to give one up for the rest of your life: tits or beer?	dmross	Off-Topic	81	05-02-2008 03:29 PM
what gas mileges you are getting from stock and with utec stage 2 set up?	imprezaBlue	Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain	6	12-27-2005 09:05 AM
Used RA-1's - Free to the first one to pick them up.	mav1c	Mid Atlantic Impreza Club -- MAIC	9	06-07-2005 12:33 PM

02-17-2009, 01:21 PM	#2
flexer Scooby Newbie Member#: 111947 Join Date: Apr 2006	i can understand dental coverage.... but honestly with free legal services, why stop there, why not free dog grooming services, and free landscaping around the house, free breast implants for the wives, free lap dances at the local strip club who cares when they workers making $100k plus for driving a ****ing forklift aren't paying for it

02-17-2009, 01:58 PM	#3
monovich Scooby Specialist Member#: 8124 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Denver, Colorado Vehicle: 1998 Old Grey Mule Regacy Rype R	I seriously picked the wrong industry to work in.

02-17-2009, 03:46 PM	#4
Vostok 7 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 30209 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: I was a RX7 now. Vehicle: Now I understand what this is a formidable	Ahhhh the Unions. Hopefully people start figuring out that Unions are fossils of another time and age and just have no place in the world's economy anymore, other than dragging it down like they've already done. Vostok 7

02-18-2009, 12:07 AM	#8
OC_crook Scooby Newbie Member#: 59923 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Virginia Vehicle: 2004 slo pos	Its free......thats news to me. So what was that fee i paid every year for prepaid legal sevices. Hmmmmmmm Its more like discounted legal services. But FREE probably sells this BS story more.

02-18-2009, 12:36 AM	#9
kpluiten Scooby Guru Member#: 120273 Join Date: Jul 2006 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: AZ Vehicle: 06 WRBWRXWGN Now with 100% more Spec-C	I knew a kid in school who's dad worked for GM. He used the legal services several times in the four years I knew him for a variety of stupid stuff that simply wasted money, time, and were largely his fault. Twice for reckless driving. Once when he illegally parked his car (knowingly but was too lazy to look elsewhere) and he blamed pre-existing paint and panel damage on the towing company and sued them. I don't know if it was completely free, but the way he kept using it and the way he said his family used it, I thought it likely was. Also, his dad was an electrician at GM and he (the kid) never payed for a tool, multimeter, connector etc. They stole it all from GM and would readily admit it laughing the whole time they told the stories. Said they "couldn't be fired" for it.

02-18-2009, 12:59 AM	#10
Vostok 7 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 30209 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: I was a RX7 now. Vehicle: Now I understand what this is a formidable	I loved it when I went to Michigan for NAIAS last year. OK, get this, Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country (primarily because of the automakers), and yet everywhere you looked you saw "Help Wanted" signs... But it was all retail, fast food, service, jobs that any self-respecting Union member was "too good" to do. Ridiculous. There's only two things Unions are good at in this day-and-age, demanding dues from their members and driving the companies they work for in to the ground. Laughing all the way to the bank meanwhile. Vostok 7

02-18-2009, 11:20 AM	#12
Hites Scooby Specialist Member#: 138997 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Belle Center, OH Vehicle: 0000 Nothing	Society is collapsing. Simple as that.