John Deere strike imminent?

[ISUCyclones2015]

In the post above, I mentioned that things are changing. I need to give a shout-out to the school district I live in. They have been very progressive in bringing back vocational arts, and the district actually has a technical high school.

The kids get an opportunity to take short electives in early high school years to gauge interest in the courses taught at the technical high school.

The link below gives an idea of the courses taught

Programs of Study - Ben Barber Innovation Academy

Programs of Study - Ben Barber Innovation Academy

bbcta.mansfieldisd.org

I know I've been somewhat of a **** in this thread when it comes to vocational teachings. But my school was setup similar and that's why I'm passionate about it.

We had electives available in 9th and 10th grade that were loosely associated with the Technical High School tracks. I did stuff computer programming, home economics, and industrial science which really was just woodshop.

The issue I found was teachers would push for the other electives much harder especially in my "advanced" classes. They pushed for things like foreign language, AP History, Band, choir, or different tiers of biology. Because they "looked better" on a college application. I said **** that and took the fun classes instead.

I was cooking up French Onion Soup and Baguettes while my friends were learning the different French conjugations. Guess who remembers which skills 13 years later?

I then had to fight almost actively against my teachers to go to the Trade High School half the day during my Junior and Senior years. They thought it was a huge mistake because they knew I wanted to eventually go to college. But I am totally glad I did. I treated it almost like a freshman year and just wanted to see if I'd even like the field that I was thinking I would get a degree in (IT). If I didn't like it then I didn't waste thousands of dollars switching majors at university.

I even got an internship for my senior year and after going to regular high school for 3 hours I drove to work instead of the trade school and got paid like $16 an hour as part of the help desk at the local health department. Making $400 a week as a 16/17 year old was ******* primo. That has paid dividends beyond belief.

I even used go to my old high school yearly (pre covid) to help promote this trade school. A common thing I hear about the trade school is that it is a "dropout" school. So I shifted a bit to get people to sign up even for the sake of trying out a field they're interested in just see if they even like it. It's helped some but I wish my school would push the availability more.

Anyway yea these are the programs they offer at the place I went to and it's all funded by 4 local school districts and any student from those 4 can go for free. That building trades one is actually really cool. They build a house each year and auction it off or donate it to a charity auction.

HS Programs | Portage Lakes Career Center

High School Programs High School Programs Automation & Electronics Learn More Automotive Technology Learn More Building Trades Learn More Cosmetology Learn More Culinary Arts Learn More Cyber Academy Learn More Dental Assisting Learn More Design, Communication & Marketing Learn More Electrical...

plcc.edu

 

[CYEATHAWK]

So you're blaming the dude for not discovering his skills until he became an adult? You can lament all you want but why are we blaming the children in the room for doing what they're told?

If we are going to play the blame game..... politicians, teachers unions and/or school boards come to mind. Whether they are boomers isn't relevant. Ask my in-laws or metro parents, they didn't want DSM Tech closed years ago. The parents in the rural school I went to didn't want trade classes eliminated. But they were. And parents had very little say. It's kind of interesting when you look back at the birth of the DMACC type schools and how that coincided with the death of trade classes in high school.

 

[RLD4ISU]

That same group completely sold out all future workers with the 1997 contract when they took most of those post retirement benefits away.

I personally know some union members that did what they could to fight that. They did not believe it was the right thing to do.

 

[clone136]

Pro Union. Pro Made in America. Pro Cyclone. Lets Go!

 

[Macloney]

Those 800 bodies used to be 2500. But yea automation won't be 100% and **** those 1700.

Over 5 million jobs were lost in manufacturing since 2000 and 88% was due to automation.

Manufacturing is just the beginning too. Cashiers are next. Travel agents are gonna lose 11% of their jobs in the next few years due to automation.

But yea turning a wrench for a liveable is always gonna be around...

These companies all choose to replace people with machines. Sometimes to improve repeatability and quality and always to increase profits.

 

[stuclone]

It's sad but true. I've talked with plenty of sales and service individuals in the logistics world and they say if you don't put in an order for a new truck or trailer now that you won't get one next year.

It's too bad we are reliant on China for all the chips and electronic parts. Things would be so much easier if it was all mechanical or manufactured in the US.

End of rant.

If everything was manufactured in the US, you would not like the price point of new cars and products...

 

[Dr.bannedman]

If everything was manufactured in the US, you would not like the price point of new cars and products...

maybe ceos dont make 90000000000X workers?

 

[Sousaclone]

If everything was manufactured in the US, you would not like the price point of new cars and products...

Yeah, while corporate profits are a huge factor in outsourcing, consumer demand and the desire for the lowest price possible are a huge driver in why stuff gets outsourced continually. Just go look at the Southwest Flight Cancellation thread. Lot of people saying that the only thing they care about is price.

 

[Clonehomer]

Yeah, while corporate profits are a huge factor in outsourcing, consumer demand and the desire for the lowest price possible are a huge driver in why stuff gets outsourced continually. Just go look at the Southwest Flight Cancellation thread. Lot of people saying that the only thing they care about is price.

Which is why I've always said the price increase if we source locally line is BS. Prices are set at what the market will pay, not the price to produce. To make stuff in the US would hit the investors more than the consumers. That's why it won't happen.

 

[BryceC]

Which is why I've always said the price increase if we source locally line is BS. Prices are set at what the market will pay, not the price to produce. To make stuff in the US would hit the investors more than the consumers. That's why it won't happen.

You're right. Although it wouldn't just hit the investors. The margin on each product sold isn't exactly huge - if everything was sourced locally that margin would collapse and we'd all be driving a Kia in 5 years.

 

[jbhtexas]

If we are going to play the blame game..... politicians, teachers unions and/or school boards come to mind. Whether they are boomers isn't relevant. Ask my in-laws or metro parents, they didn't want DSM Tech closed years ago. The parents in the rural school I went to didn't want trade classes eliminated. But they were. And parents had very little say. It's kind of interesting when you look back at the birth of the DMACC type schools and how that coincided with the death of trade classes in high school.

And when fed-up parents start speaking out, the DOJ and FBI are called in to restore "order". The bear has definitely been poked...

 

[cyfan21]

If everything was manufactured in the US, you would not like the price point of new cars and products...

Fine by me. I only buy used vehicles anyways.

 

[Drew0311]

maybe ceos dont make 90000000000X workers?

Why would anyone want to be a CEO if they didn't make a bunch of money. The whole point of striving to get in that position is money. Try paying someone a little more than the normal employees and see if they take that job. It's bizarre to me that some people strive to be the best and people think they should not be rewarded. I would want nothing to do with being a CEO of a huge company.

 

[JM4CY]

Why would anyone want to be a CEO if they didn't make a bunch of money. The whole point of striving to get in that position is money. Try paying someone a little more than the normal employees and see if they take that job. It's bizarre to me that some people strive to be the best and people think they should not be rewarded. I would want nothing to do with being a CEO of a huge company.

But then how do you pay for all your mistresses attending to your needs down in Key West?

 

[bozclone]

It would be interesting to know the details of the Deere Labor contract. I worked for Ford for 17 years. I would expect that the wages and benefits are similar at Deere. It is tough, because a lot of these employees likely have benefits most of us can only dream of and they don't want to give them up, but that really isn't the standard in the US anymore. The fact that the UAW negotiators agreed to a contract and the members voted it down by 90%-10% is pretty alarming. I was employed at a plant that employed 3500 people. It closed after similar negotiations. In the end the company agreed to all the union demands, but then they slowly killed the plant by not putting any new business in the plant. It all went to Mexico.

 

[BCClone]

But then how do you pay for all your mistresses attending to your needs down in Key West?

I got to get me one of those jobs then

 

[simply1]

Fine by me. I only buy used vehicles anyways.

Yeah, wouldn’t impact used car market at all.

 

[2forISU]

yep. People my parents age could work on the line and retire comfortably early. It’s not that way now.

Cause they had a pension and JD paid for your healthcare after retirement.

 

[I@ST1]

Fine by me. I only buy used vehicles anyways.

And only with cash.

 

[bozclone]

If everything was manufactured in the US, you would not like the price point of new cars and products...

China isn't as cheep as it was. Transportation issues and costs are a big issue right now. This along with the chip shortage is killing the auto industry.