Chrysler Workers React to Firings

"I just hope and pray for their families," said Chrysler employee Eric Williams.

The Chrysler workers who spoke with FOX 2 were not at all surprised that more than a few of their fellow workers were fired.

"It's about what we expected. It's about what I expected," said Chrysler employee Aubry Orr.

"We don't condone (any) of this stuff," Williams said. "You got to watch what you do."

"Of course, we don't condone that, but it's what we thought we may have (seen) and that's not what we're about," Orr said.

However, will their firing be the final word or will those former employees put up a fight?

"That's the question that we're not sure about, but we're basically putting it into the hands as far as with the leadership," said Williams.

"I'm sure it's not over and the bargaining unit and international representatives ... will handle it and I'm sure do the best that they can and come up with the best resolution," said Orr.

Arthur Schwartz is an instructor in the Industrial Relations program at Wayne State University, but his resume certainly does not end there.

"I retired on January first as general director of Labor Relations for General Motors," said Schwartz.

He has a long history when it comes to labor law. So, we asked the expert to speculate on what will likely happen next.

"Being discharged from an automotive job is a big deal. It's one of the best jobs in America, and to be discharged is something nobody wants to go through. So, obviously, they're going to grieve it. They're going to try and get the job back. I'm sure they're kind of hoping they'll wind up with the same penalty that the other people got. ’Alright, I made a mistake. I lose a little pay. Please let me come back to work,'" Schwartz said.

We asked him about the likelihood of that happening. He answered, "I can't tell ... It's awfully visible. Chrysler's probably not going to want these people back after what they've done."

"It's unlikely Chrysler's going to want to settle this because it's very public," he added. "They feel it's a dischargeable offense and very well might be, but there's a process and that's what a labor contract's all about. People have an appeal and they have the UAW to represent them and they will probably make use of that. Whether it makes any difference or not, we'll see."

After that video, what could they possibly say to save their jobs?

"A lot of times in the discharge, it's a first offense. That's just too harsh and was procedure followed? That tends to be what happens in these grievance things," said Schwartz.

"We know that there are a lot of people out here (that are) saying, ’Hey, maybe that could have been us,'" Orr said. "We just want everybody to step up and do better, and if we got to be the scapegoat for people to do better, so be it. We're going to do better down at Jefferson."