Toyota Now Considering Steering Recall

[RAL]

RAL, I work in a union facility but I'm not a "union man". I too agree with your negative examples of union labor / leadership. I am appalled by the bad union workers and how they are protected by our union. However, those people are probably less than 5 - 10% of our total workforce. I do take exception to people saying that 100% of the union is bad when, in reality, most of the people work hard, do a good job and are a benefit to the company.

The example you cited about Delco workers is something that the company originally wanted as much as the union wanted it. Instead of hiring a bunch of new workers for the cyclical nature of the business back then, they decided to try and keep the people who were trained and able to work in those conditions (not everyone can or wants to do assembly line work). It has outlived it's purpose though and it was finally stopped last year.

I also think it screams of "the blind leading the blind" to have the government involved in deciding on a companies inefficiencies and wasteful spending. They gave out $700 billion just last year and don't know where it all went or if it was used properly.... :dontknow:

I agree with you on most of your points except for the initial statement that the unions are the biggest problem with the state of GM, Chrysler or the country. Like Firefly said, unions have propped up many other industries wages. I believe if unions were gone, you would see companies racing to see how low they could get the wages. Then we'd be relying on the government and their minimum wage laws to keep the majority of Americans at or just above the poverty level.

2009 Health and Human Services poverty guideline, $10,830 for one person. Minimum wage ($7.25 / hr.) times 39 hours per week (so a company can skirt any other obligations afforded full-time employees) times 52 weeks is $14,703. Definitely not the standard I want anyone to settle for.

I know there are many good hard working union members and I am sorry as to my post not pointing that out. As to who is most responsible..I am sure there is enough feeding at both ends of the trough to cause great harm.
I find it interesting that the US Toyota worker actually makes more than the union auto worker and yet they easily compete and arguably make a superior product. I believe it has to do with pride and having to produce to keep your job.
As far as the companys moving overseas to cheaper labor forces I find it disturbing but very understandable. A business exists to make a profit, no profit you're done. Would you as an employer put up with a labor force that is always aggressively pushing for more and more while forcing you to keep some mediocre employees or would you jump at the chance to use a cheaper force that is not always taking you back to the table?
I think the unions need to change a bit if they are to survive. The company needs to be able to fire the dead wood without going though a gauntlet of insanity. I realize that the protection offered the members is not without merit but why protect the lazy.
I am not without sympathy for the good workers but am angered by the bailout and the unions profitting from it. The Blue oval turned it down and one of their trucks sits in my driveway and likely always will.
I apologize for some of my harsher comments but I am greatly disturbed by the state of things. I have lived a good life with many opportunities laid at my feet as a young man. It saddens and shames me to be part of the generation that will leave a world of less opportunity to my grandchildren. I do feel the unions are resposible for a large share of it and on that point we will have to agree to disagree.


RAL

 

[Smylinacha]

Yeah.... "Moving Forward"...... Erratically

It's going to be a great time to buy a toyota soon:doorag: