GM Auto Strike (money, employees, American, America)

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by RedNC

I’m glad they are taking a stand for job security. I only wish every American in any industry had a voice to protest the outsourcing of jobs.

For a couple of decades the unions have become more and more irrelevant, but now companies are starting to use layoffs and outsourcing in alarming numbers. If something doesn’t happen to stop this there wont be any more jobs left in America.

I'm glad you mentioned that RedNC. It's perplexing though. We live in a "free market" economy (right?). So he nature of business is to maximize profits and minimize cost of delivering a product or a service. However from time to time, I hear the complaints about outsourcing, downsizing, etc (I'm not picking on you Red, just you brought up something I hear many people say).

On *average* the consumer makes decisions based on quality, price, etc. Given the same product the lower price product *on average* wins.

Anyway it seems many people want protection from outsourcing and other types of social type programs (so essentially more socialistic in nature, everyone can work etc.). On the surface it seems "counter-American"

The UAW, from what I see they can't get anymore water from that well- as I understand it Toyota and Honda are #1 and #2 auto manufacturers in the world and I know they don't have the pension issue which is what's killing GM (internally) externally they just can't compete.

It's just the rippling from an already-in-progress shift from the work for the mill/plant/company all your life to work many different jobs utilizing many different skills. However those that get caught in the transition aren't adapting fast enough.

[Philip T]

They are short money in the Health and Pension fund due to clipping it back in the 90's. Thank you Roger Smith (of Roger and Me fame).

The perfect counter would to be outsourcing of the entire US Health, Pharmco, and Health Insurance industry. Sell out our docs, nurses and pharmy industry and replace them with $15,000/yr outlanders, and import drugs. That would cut health care costs to the point no one would need the insurance.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Philip T

They are short money in the Health and Pension fund due to clipping it back in the 90's. Thank you Roger Smith (of Roger and Me fame).

The perfect counter would to be outsourcing of the entire US Health, Pharmco, and Health Insurance industry. Sell out our docs, nurses and pharmy industry and replace them with $15,000/yr outlanders, and import drugs. That would cut health care costs to the point no one would need the insurance.

Or outsource the execs who are clipping the $$$$ to start with

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by burdell

Or outsource the execs who are clipping the $$$$ to start with

Sure enough -- but that is more of an average US citizen problem to deal with.

But it also an "If" thing.

If and only if Joe and Jane Average American gets smart enough to chose to not work for US CorpRat execs and not buy their products -- we could flush that entire scum layer out of the economy.

[Blue Grass Fever]

I can't believe all the mis-information and misconceptions on this thread....

I hope the U.A.W. sticks to its guns and doesn't settle for anything. Too bad they all, from the three companies, didn't strike at once. Send this country into a nice little recession/depression.

Here's another angle for you folks to look at. A U.A.W. worker gets paid in six minute increments which equals about two dollars and some odd change. In most of the auto factories, a vehicle will roll down the line around 6 to 10 times in a six minute window. So you figure that each vehicle usually costs (on conservative estimates..) around 18,000 to 22,000 grand each. So eight vehicles at 20 grand equals 160,000. So for two dollars and some odd change every six minutes for working on some vehicles estimating around twenty grand isn't nothing. Who said U.A.W workers are overpaid????

GM, and the others, are crazy to think concessions among workers is going to get their budget straight.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

I can't believe all the mis-information and misconceptions on this thread....

I hope the U.A.W. sticks to its guns and doesn't settle for anything. Too bad they all, from the three companies, didn't strike at once. Send this country into a nice little recession/depression.

Here's another angle for you folks to look at. A U.A.W. worker gets paid in six minute increments which equals about two dollars and some odd change. In most of the auto factories, a vehicle will roll down the line around 6 to 10 times in a six minute window. So you figure that each vehicle usually costs (on conservative estimates..) around 18,000 to 22,000 grand each. So eight vehicles at 20 grand equals 160,000. So for two dollars and some odd change every six minutes for working on some vehicles estimating around twenty grand isn't nothing. Who said U.A.W workers are overpaid????

GM, and the others, are crazy to think concessions among workers is going to get their budget straight.

20 years ago; heck, even 10 years ago......an industrywide strike may have gotten peoples' attention.

Now; I am not so sure with over 50% of the new car/light truck market held by the import nameplates.

The Detroit Three.......I said Detroit for a reason; the are no longer the 'Big Three'------and are bleeding market share by the month.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

20 years ago; heck, even 10 years ago......an industrywide strike may have gotten peoples' attention.

Now; I am not so sure with over 50% of the new car/light truck market held by the import nameplates.

The Detroit Three.......I said Detroit for a reason; the are no longer the 'Big Three'------and are bleeding market share by the month.

The Detroit automakers are making money. Don't believe everything you read in the papers or the news.

They, the stockholders, plain and simple, want more money. Although there isn't anything wrong with that. Don't let the news alter/twist your perception.

[silas777]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

I can't believe all the mis-information and misconceptions on this thread....

I hope the U.A.W. sticks to its guns and doesn't settle for anything. Too bad they all, from the three companies, didn't strike at once. Send this country into a nice little recession/depression.

Here's another angle for you folks to look at. A U.A.W. worker gets paid in six minute increments which equals about two dollars and some odd change. In most of the auto factories, a vehicle will roll down the line around 6 to 10 times in a six minute window. So you figure that each vehicle usually costs (on conservative estimates..) around 18,000 to 22,000 grand each. So eight vehicles at 20 grand equals 160,000. So for two dollars and some odd change every six minutes for working on some vehicles estimating around twenty grand isn't nothing. Who said U.A.W workers are overpaid????

GM, and the others, are crazy to think concessions among workers is going to get their budget straight.

even If the vehicle sold for 200 grand each, the workers are doing the same job,why would they be entitled to more money?

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

The Detroit automakers are making money. Don't believe everything you read in the papers or the news.

They, the stockholders, plain and simple, want more money. Although there isn't anything wrong with that. Don't let the news alter/twist your perception.

I don't know about that- show me the money.

As I understand it, Toyota is the #1 auto seller in the world. A little company that came out of no where over the last 30 years.

The auto industry is no different than many other industries such as the airline industry that is facing competition globally and new economy (translated as "don't have pension/health care baggage").

[RedNC]

Originally Posted by Miker2069

I don't know about that- show me the money.

As I understand it, Toyota is the #1 auto seller in the world. A little company that came out of no where over the last 30 years.

The auto industry is no different than many other industries such as the airline industry that is facing competition globally and new economy (translated as "don't have pension/health care baggage").

Toyota was hardly a “little company” 30 years ago. They also have enjoyed many financial benefits from Japans government that the big 3 don’t get.