Ok, So here is a more recent article and statement that makes more sense.

Hourly wages for UAW workers at GM factories are about equal to those paid by Toyota Motor Corp. at its older U.S. factories, according to the companies. GM says the average UAW laborer makes $29.78 per hour, while Toyota says it pays about $30 per hour. But the unionized factories have far higher benefit costs.
12-12-08

Full article:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/35955339.html

Good read....

 

Two things:

1. Congrats AJ!!!! Welcome back to the W4 club. Its been a long road for you I know.

2. I find it interesting that Ford outside of the USA is (or was until the world economy dumped) doing very well. They have multiple fuel efficient cars that are actually exciting and fun to drive. Look at the current Ford car line up. Are any of them fun to drive other than the Mustang? Other than the Focus, how are they for fuel efficiency? In the USA, Ford is a truck manufacturer, in Europe, they are a car manufacturer. I think Ford may be the best off of the Big three since it has its ex-USA cars as quick solutions to bringing the types of cars we need. Other than the Corvette, Viper, and a few other cars, I would not miss GM and Chrysler too much since I grew up with Fords. I would hate to see that many people laid off though.

As for fuel efficiency, I want more choices with diesel engines. When I lived in Europe, I hated having to drive gas cars and get up to 1/2 the mileage of a similar diesel powered car. Even though diesel fuel costs up to 25% more at the pump, most of them get 35-45% better fuel economy, so it does make sense to get one. I also like the torque you get from them.

 

Another thing that wasn't mentioned in the article, but was touched on, was WHY Congress wanted the wage cuts, and that (according to the Senator interview I saw) was that wage cuts could actually be timed through 2010 or 2011...AND the reason that the cuts wer necessary for Congress to approve the bailout.

What was said that both GM and Toyota, both sold the same amount of cars in '07, Toyota mad 18Billion, GM lost either 18 or 36 billion. Congress didn't see that giving GM a bailout of funds, was going to correct that problem, only delay it it a few more years.

As I recall, the union wouldn't budge...I think they (the Union) feels they are so powerful (as evident by the last 25 years of what they have received) they thought they could fight and stomp on Ciongress and get something without giving something up.

So sad, they are risking many workers jobs.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, IF GM goes under, what good is 30$ an hour salary, if there are no jobs?

 

The union better budge soon or they won't have anyone paying their salaries.

If they don't budge soon the car companies will go under and only foriegn companies will sell cars in the US.

I can see FORD working from outside the country and having plants here to get around the Union BS now. If they go belly up in the US. The pensions will go away and they can call themselves something else buying up all their own tools at pennies on the dollar.

I'm sure they have thought about that.

Don't get me wrong Unions were great when we didn't have strong employment / discrimination law. However, I think now worker abuse is really rare in this country.
Unions have now outdated themselves. They don't offer much to a worker now that I can tell. They surely can't keep people employed if there are no jobs.

If Unions were smart they would be trying to figure out how to create the automotive jobs in the US for the workers and figure out a value to give the car companies in the US. Maybe I'm naive but, after talking to my wife who pays Union pensions I think I have a good handle on this all.

Let hope they end this stupid plan and come up with a real restructure by the end of the month.

I'm still in the dark on how a foreign company can do business in the US without Union control. Doesn't sound like level playing ground. Hey, wait a sec .... maybe Congress had a hand in this?

 

Here is an article about how the foreign companies are making successful factories in the US.
How foreign car factories have transformed the American South. - By Daniel Gross - Slate Magazine

 

That is great news about your job situation AJ!. I am still looking for a better job, but the job market here in Fresno is not that great. Still the part time job I have is better than unemployment, so I should count my blessings.

That is a good article on why the import automakers are fairing well compared to the big three. Seems to me the unions need to go away, and Detroit needs to explore better ways to make their cars. If the Japanese and Germans can make their plants adaptable to any kind of car depending on what the customer wants, the big three should be able to do that too.

 

Now this is perspective I was looking for. I agree with someone's opinion that unions are outdated. Some beliefs and habits are hard to give up. But, there is a mold so the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented.

Just for sake of a vote, cause I don't remember if I stated earlier, but I'm for no bailout.
However, I do feel for the people, who by no deed of their own, will lose their jobs. But, it does seem inevitable. So, rip the bandaid off and be done with it.

Thanks for the input.

 

I think the current union system is outdated as the automotive industry, but I feel there is a place for unions. They need to evolve and work toward the future, not what worked 30 years ago. If both the unions and and the auto industry don't evolve, then I guess this will become the "Toyota Truck Enthusiasts" site. (Actually those Tundras with the big V8 are pretty impressive)

 

 

Merry Christmas Yall!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas everyone. It snowed 14 inches here last night. I am going to have a white Christmas!

 

Trade ya...! I think it rained about 14 inches here last night...having a soggy Christmas...!

 

Ya think it's Dan's fault for all the snow in Montana and rain here?

 

We got over 24" in 2- hours. Maybe too much of a good thing