GM was in a pickle due to GM corporate. Union labor is a minute cost in the building of a vehicle. Who ever heard of a company throwing out brand new equipment, tools, spare parts and supplies when changing over from one product to another? A few years ago, GM was throwing away millions alone in tools that were perfectly servicable and people would gladly use them. Instead they had security guards monitor the employees to be sure they were throwing all the tools (for example, hundreds of brand new in the box 18V DeWalt cordless drills), welders, drill presses, etc. in scrap gondolas to be destroyed. Or how about GM buying up smaller companies for hundreds of millions and selling them a few years down the road for tens of millions (and losing money in the venture every year since they bought it). The list goes on.
Corporate waste is much greater than union costs in GM and I imagine it's the same in Ford, Chrysler and many other large companies. If the union had their preference, I doubt they would want to be a part owner of GM. They would rather have the money that GM bargained in the 2007 labor contract that would fund the retirement benefit package (VEBA) that the union agreed to take on (it was GM's responsibility before).
BJT I have no doubt that what you are saying about GM CORP is true. As to what organization would operate in such a wastefull manner....look no farther than the Gov. They are now in the drivers seat, great. Examples of this kind of nonsence are LEGION in Gov run programs IE the military. Here is one tiny example of union waste. GM was forced by the union to keep paying full wages and benefits to workers that had been working on the delco end even after they where not making the parts. These guys showed up to work everyday,went to the break room and spent their time reading newspapers or staring at walls. This went on for years!!!!!!!!
My money says you are a union man. My dad was too. Unions had their place at one time but they have grown into something else. I have been in unions at different times throughout my working life and could go on for quite a long time here about the insanity of union work. Of the unions I have worked in they all had one thing in common, produtivity was not high on the list of priorities. As a skinny 130 lb. laborer at the age of 20 I was told by a 250lb + co worker to stop carrying two pieces of plywood at one time, YOU ARE PUTTING A BROTHER OUT OF WORK!!! This was a threat with the alternative clear, an ass wupping later in the parking lot. They were paying me a lot of money and foolish me thought I was expected to work for it. Or how about the time the diving company I worked for went out to California to do a job because the local companys did not have the capability to perform the work at that time, mixed gas diving to 250' to make a emergency repair of a dam gate in Lake Sonoma. When we got there a group of men had gathered on the road by the boat launch, they did not look happy. A big fancy car showed up with a union boss who produced papers for us to sign. Our company had paid the union for us to join, with the ransom paid and the stroke of a pen we were all good union men. The real union guys were not happy
This was a day light operation working off a flexy float barge. We set up and went to work diving with out any problems. The next day bright and early we are back at it. As the first diver of the day was approching the end of his bottomtime the hot water machine started acting up. He now had lost hot water with an in water deco obligation of almost 100 min before he would be able to come up and get in the chamber to finish his deco.
It got to the point he was in real trouble, thanking us for fixing the unit as he was warm now, the unit was still not fixed. We got him up and in the can and he had to spend extra time in the chamber because of the ordeal. What does this have to do with the union...........the scores of holes that had somehow showed up overnight in the brand new suction hose. They were like ice pick holes. Hard to see causing the pump to such air when a load was put on and loose prime.
I could go on for hours. I was raised to believe unions were good, my working experiencehowever has shown otherwise. Workers deserve a good wage and a safe work place. The employer deserves a days work for the money he pays.......the balance has been lost long ago.
I do not need or want a pimp to get my work for me or strong arm those who might be in competition for my spot. I was raised a little different than that by an old union man. Yes I have an attitude about unions:dontknow:
It is just speculation that the government is intentionally trying to hurt Toyota. How many people would you like to see hurt or killed due to Toyota's bad brakes, sticking accelerator (both confirmed issues) or steering glitch? There is a thought that a Spyder steering glitch may have caused the death of a few Spyder riders and some here have been shouting that the government should make BRP take them off the road...
No body says Toyotas problems should not be looked into. Maybe they are not pushing harder on them than they would Ford, just looks that way to me. The Gov has its fingers where they should not be and shouts conflict of interest.
As I recall, Toyata had their pieces of crap (cars rusting out prematurely) back in the 70's too.
My buddy had an old Toyota PU that rusted like crazy. It looked like hell but was still running like a champ when he got rid of it at 350,000+, with no major repairs. The Japanese forced the US car maker to make a better product. Surely you don't think it was the unions:roflblack:
I agree that the government shouldn't be in the car business. However, I don't know that them standing by and watching hundreds of thousands of people lose their jobs in one felled swoop was a good option either.
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As to the loss of jobs.
You can pay now or you can pay later..more. We are only putting things off and I fear the country will pay a much higher price.
RAL
When I broke down and bought a Toyota I dicovered the Ford we traded in was made in Mexico City, the Toyota was made in the USA. The point is I do not owe a company anything just because it is "domestic". I prefere to buy US goods and do buy what I can. I am willing to pay more for products made here but I will not buy overpriced crap. (no comments from disgruntled Spyder owners):sour:
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