HEY!!
Honestly those prices were higher before "paying us off" as you say, and as stated before our wages are a very tiny portion of a vehicles cost! Prices did not and do not need to be raised to cover wages, they are being raised to keep profits up for shareholders. They are cutting back and making us find savings in the plants to cover moist of the union wage increases. We need to save 10% each department year over year or we are reprimanded for not meeting goals and then replaced with someone who will. They don't replace retirees or employees that left, fired. You just have to get it done anyways.
Prices were going to be what they are regardless of what the union got! Most people don't know much about it but that's O.K. that is to be expected. Do most know that in 2023 before the strike I only made $4.14 an hour more than I did when I started here in 2013. A decade and only $4.14 hr increase in wages? Now tell me how much prices went up with inflation over that same decade! Especially the last three years and tell me again about being a cry baby.