Chrysler Auto Workers in Trenton Caught Smoking and Drinking During Lunch Breaks

[Generic Other]

Wow! This makes American workers look really bad! I am dumbfounded by the fact that FOX goes after these workers in this underhanded way. n It reminds me of Michael Moore going after the CEO of GM. Of course, FOX would never think of going after the fatcats in the same vein. Yes, they are sneaky. Spying on people even in the USA.

Am I wrong to think they should not be doing this sort of thing any more than they should be tapping phones, etc? It's not their job to go undercover and spy on workers to get dirt on them. If they are breaking the law, call the cops if you dare, but when you secretly film them aren't you party to their crimes?

********

myFOXdetroit.com - FOX 2 investigative reporter Rob Wolchek got a call from two different workers inside Chrysler's Trenton Engine Plant telling him they don't want to work with people who have been partying.

"It's dangerous," says one worker.

Ten months ago, Wolchek revealed how some workers at the Chrysler Jefferson North Plant in Detroit spent their lunch hour drinking beer. The video showing them going to the park to catch a buzz before heading back to work to finish their shifts gained worldwide attention. Subsequent disciplinary action of the workers was taken by Chrysler. The company does not condone this kind of behavior. (see story )

This time our video shows workers a mile from the plant, but just steps away from a United Auto Workers hall. It's the same kind of problem at a different location with a new method of having a good time; inhaling lunch before finishing a plant shift.


http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/chrysler-workers-in-trenton-caught-smoking-and-drinking-during-lunch-breaks-20110713-dk

[Brickbat]

1. Looking forward to seeing a similar story about bankers, lawyers, HR managers, ad designers and

other white collar workers!

[Generic Other]

6. A padded expense account lunch includes the bar tab

Of course they are not handling heavy machinery...but you are correct, at the corporate level getting high at a fancy establishment over a long lunch/meeting is oh so much more acceptable than sitting in the old beater with your lunch pail and a beer.

[Brickbat]

14. They're not handling heavy machinery, but investment bankers and lawyers and politicans make lots of

decisions that can hurt a lot of people.

The majority of assembly workers aren't handling heavy machinery, either.

[Whiskeytide]

25. Banker's don't...

...make decisions that ultimately hurt people because they're drunk. They make them because they're profitable.

[Brickbat]

31. Welcome to DU.

I tip my hat. :toast:

[Romulox]

26. "Of course they are not handling heavy machinery" Ummm, AUTOMOBILE?

Face it--this is like drug tests: a special scrutiny given only working people.

[Generic Other]

40. They are probably most of them under the legal limit anyway

I wonder if their employee handbook covers drinking?

[EC]

30. No, they are just handling the finances, designs and

well-being of the companies.

[Dappleganger]

2. Haha, that's nothing...

you should see what they do at McDonald's. ;)

They drug test there, get reported and fire their asses. What's new? Screwups are gonna screw up no matter where they work.

[NightWatcher]

3. that explains the emptys in my trunk and the roach in my ashtray

Officer, it came from the factory with that

[Wait Wut]

48. !

Like when DeLoreans came with coke? :rofl:

[Philippine expat]

4. Fire them all n/t

[n2doc]

5. Let's see..What was that expression..."A 3 martini lunch"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-martini_lunch

The three-martini lunch is a term used in the United States to describe a leisurely, indulgent lunch enjoyed by businesspersons or executives. It refers to a common belief that many businesspersons have enough leisure time and wherewithal to consume more than one martini during the work day. Steaks or lobster are sometimes considered a staple of these lunches.

Comedian George Carlin once commented that while the three-martini lunch was being cracked down on, that it shouldn't affect the working man's "two-joint coffee break".

[Generic Other]

8. three-martini lunch vs. two-joint coffee break

Perfect symbols of class warfare.

[geardaddy]

7. What's wrong with smoking on their break?

:shrug:

[Generic Other]

9. It's the spying on them with cameras that annoys me

Again, I hate Murdoch more than I hate the workers.

[geardaddy]

13. No, I totally agree with you there.

[backscatter712]

12. Yeah, it's the drinking that's not cool.

These are workers that spend their days operating heavy machinery - drinking is definitely a no-no.

I don't care if they smoke - just take it outside.

[WatsonT]

16. Smoking? Nothing

I see no problem with that.

But drinking then going back to work with heavy machinery makes them a danger to themselves and other workers.

They they get a little buzzed then go back to their office jobs what happens? A report gets screwed up.

If they do that then go back to operating heavy machinery what happens? Maybe someone loses and arm or their life.

[geardaddy]

19. No, I totally agree there.

I'm just surprised by the adding of smoking to the list of no-nos on their break.

[Generic Other]

33. Looks like they are smoking pot...

So drugs not tobacco.

[jmowreader]

55. Smoking WEED on their break, sir

Mercedes Benz automobiles are some of the finest cars you can buy, and they are assembled by workers whose union contracts grant them two beer breaks a day. The workers go to the break room, drink their beer, eat their wurst und brot, return to work refreshed and continue making cars. As are BMWs and Volkswagens.

I think the real difference is, Mercedes pays its workers adequately and charges a fair price for its cars. Chrysler does everything it can to make cars as cheaply as they can so they can sell them to people who'll buy car A over car B because car B is five dollars more expensive, and one of the things they do is squeeze the workers for every nickel they can. Hence, Mercedes' workers are not getting wasted on the job to try to forget their problems.

[geardaddy]

57. Sorry, I couldn't see the video

and no place in the OP did it say they were smoking weed.

If it was weed, then that's troubling on break.

[Aerows]

58. Europeans

and many in Latin American countries have completely different attitudes towards alcohol than we have in the US. They also drink in moderation more than we do in the US. They think nothing of having wine or beer with lunch, because most of the time, they aren't drinking to get loaded, it's just cultural.

[HockeyMom]

10. I've gone to Christmas Lunch Parties

Corporate America. Yes, unlimited drinks. Business Executives take out clients for lunch and they have cocktails with their meals, and EXPENSE their lunch bills. Ok, this was in Manhattan and nobody was driving.

Smoking? What were they smoking? lol Plain ole legal cigarettes, when did that become illegal (same with the drinking)?

Behavior police. I once caught flack at work (school) for going out (signed out) to get a Big Mac for lunch. Ooooo, not healthy and promotes obesity. Yes, I was actually told that. However, the AP then thought about what she was saying (I am 100 lbs), and said, "Have an extra Big Mac for me."

Faux is for idiots anyway.

[Generic Other]

34. I agree about Fox

Just wanted to let DUers see them in the act, the length they will go spying on us for news stories.

[bullwinkle428]

11. How many Wall Street banksters are doing lines during their own lunch breaks?

[Generic Other]

35. Do they wait for lunch?

Or is that when they get in to work?

[SharonRB]

15. This is happening again?

Even after what happened last year? Idiots! Hopefully Chrysler will fire them like they did with the first group.

[Union Scribe]

17. And I'm sure Fox's timing (right before UAW negotiations) is totally coincidental

What a pack of fucking hatchet men. That "reporter" just wants to be on all the conservative talk shows (again).

[Xithras]

18. I had a beer with my lunch just yesterday.

So what?

So long as they're sober when they get back to work, why is it anyone business what they're doing during their own free time, off of their employers property?

[Romulox]

24. HIDDEN CAMERA ALEEEERT!!!!!11!!!!!!

You must be fired. For the good of AMERICA! :shrug:

[Generic Other]

36. Is it a violation of company policy?

I suppose it needs to be spelled out in the employee handbook then.

[Xithras]

43. Would you support that in a company policy?

Do you believe that employers have a right to dictate the behavior of their employees when they are NOT at work or on company property?

So long as I don't try to drink it at my desk, and I don't come back to work drunk, how is it my employers business?

And yes, for what it's worth, my employer does prohibit the consumption of alcohol during work hours. Luckily, I'm not paid for lunch, so it's not a work hour.

[Generic Other]

49. I don't think they should tell employees what to do at lunch

but then I don't think they should drug test them either.

[librechik]

20. therefore, Unions are bad for America.

Right?

[Generic Other]

37. Not my conclusion!

I was more wondering how these spycam reproters differ from Murdoch's tools in UK tapping phonelines.

[Tallulah]

21. I'd love to have one of their jobs

The car they worked on ? Not so much.

[Iggo]

22. I'd like to see some enterprising videographer follow FOX employees on their lunch hours.

That might be fun.

[Generic Other]

38. Don't you think it would be boring?

Shopping, manicure, dentist for veneers, gym, electrolocist, editorial meeting, therapist. Blech.

[Iggo]

47. I just wanna see their choice of refreshments.

Know'm say'n?

[Generic Other]

50. How much was that wine that Paul Ryan swilled?

$350 a bottle. He could only afford two at that price.

[Romulox]

23. Ummm, so what? LOTS of people drink at lunch.

:shrug:

[krabigirl]

27. Who cares? I sure don't.

[DainBramaged]

28. Anytime shit from FAUX shows up here I hide the threads

click

[EC]

29. The Chrysler workers here in Kenosha

(plant now closed) always did this. That's where they ate their lunches and the bars around the plant had some of the best diner food around...so they had a few beers too. As long as I can remember this was common (I'm in my 60's)so big deal...I'll bet the non-union executives are having their 2 martini lunches too, are they being followed and filmed?

[Generic Other]

39. Is it against company policy?

Is it considered the same as "drinking on the job"?

I just assumed you were expected to be sober at work. What you are suggesting is that this has never been the case.

On the other hand, if you drink two beers, you are not over the legal limit to drive, so perhaps this applies to work as well?

I must admit, two beers makes me get a bit wobbly. I would not be much of an employee if I consumed them before my shift.

[EC]

45. No, it is not drinking on the job.

They are on their own time. If they got drunk, yeah then they would have gotten written up and sent home for the day.

On edit: Then You wouldn't drink with your lunch because it would make you wobbly, but these guys and ladies did this daily and didn't get even buzzed on a couple beers with lunch.

[B Calm]

32. Chrysler managers drink all the time while flying around in company jets. So what's

the big deal?

[Generic Other]

41. I can't even refute this argument!

:beer:

[MODem75]

64. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Equal treatment. If they get to drink during their breaks then so should the little guys.

[B Calm]

65. The way I look at it is, management sets the example and they're damn good teachers!

[B Calm]

66. I forgot to mention they are also TAX FREE company jets

[smokey nj]

42. Are you sure it's not a James O'Keefe-type set-up?

I watched it and you have to take the "reporter's" word for it that they are Chrysler employees. How do we know that the story went down the way he described? Because he said so?

[Generic Other]

51. It certainly reminded me of James O'Keefe

And the News Corp in UK. No investigation too low as long as it doesn't expose the real criminals in America.

[tammywammy]

44. They caught people from Lockheed Martin Aero in Ft Worth drinking during lunch not too long ago

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/investigative/05042011Lockheed-Martin-Workers-Caught-Boozing-It-Up-On-Break

[Generic Other]

52. So it's a form of vendetta against workers...

Good old Murdoch. Hope he ends up in jail and penniless before the Brits are through with him!

[RandomKoolzip]

46. And every man on Wall Street does Scarface-sized piles of cocaine

before fucking everyone's lives up.

[cherokeeprogressive]

53. It's not surprising and it's certainly not new.

I was 19 when I worked for General Motors at the now long gone South Gate plant in the early 80's. On my lunch break, I joined 10-15 other guys and gals in the parking lot right across the street and had at least 2 beers and a few tokes of some good weed. I can remember management people walking by and me freaking out only to be shhhushed by those partying around me because it was no big deal.

Absolutely not surprising or new.

[Generic Other]

54. And you weren't the featured local news story on FOX news!

They really hate blue collar workers, don't they?

[jmowreader]

56. This is a union slam, folks

Since they're getting fucked up in the UAW hall's parking lot, obviously the Union thinks it's a good idea to build engines when you're bombed--engines that are going in the car that'll carry Your Precious Children to school!

[Hubert Flottz]

59. The CEOs do it all the time

[BiggJawn]

60. They did this 30 years ago in the factory I worked at.

It wasn't a result of Union membership, it was just plain old stupid Human Nature.
A "3 martini lunch" for po folk, if you wish.

[baldguy]

61. I remember working at the plant in my youth.

During lunch the bar next door lined up glasses of beer 4 & 5 deep on the bar top.

The plant is lone gone, but the bar is still there.

[MrSlayer]

62. Blue collar guys having beer at lunch? Shocking I tell you.

This country was built by guys having a few cold ones at lunch. How about the white collar "three martini" lunches? Fuck Fox.

[MODem75]

63. umm. it's private property, Why the hell was Faux there?

Kick the bastards off the property so they can go back to their 3 martini lunches.