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Automotive News & Views United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)
16738 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 10:07 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: fintail (Aug 10, 2008 6:56 am) Its just silly that you would compare the employee owners of BMW to those of Cadillac. Do you suppose that any of the folks who build Lear Jets own one? If you were to go to Europe you would see MB as taxis. The cost there isn't the same as here. It has to do with the exchange rates. Then too you have to look at the public transportation, The fact that America is the number one consumer nation, and most Europeans keep their material good for longer than say an American. the point is that there are cultural differences. Few if any Toyota workers in Japan own a Toyota. Their culture spends most of its disposable income on travel and clothes. Germans too go more on holiday (their version of vacation) than we do as a nation. So what is your point? Yes that is a quote for the big dog at BMW as to the motives for moving. At 12.50 an hour many may wonder if thats the only reason. And yes the employees at Circuit City were well rewarded, as that company decided that newer employees don't cost as much. The older employee has earned merit increases, is more likely to get sick, and more than likely has a family with kids who need a college education. This is the type of reward system the future has for American worker, unless we stand-up and say enough is enough. Boycott all those who disrespect labor.
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Replying to: fintail (Aug 10, 2008 7:06 am)
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Aug 10, 2008 1:46 pm)  I have spent ample time in Europe, including Germany. They are experiencing a similar invasion of cheap goods made with glorified slave labor, just as we are. Their shops have much of the same junk. They do often have many superior home-grown choices, especially when it comes to household goods, but the effort for cheap at all costs is there too. |
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Aug 10, 2008 1:29 pm)  . Two years ago I bought a 4 year old E55 AMG with 27K miles on it for 1/3 of original price. Someone lost 50 grand in 4 years and 27K miles. The smart buyer of Caddys or Euro lux buys it used. Those MB taxis are spec'd to a level not seen in NA in 30 years - they are strippers. That's why they are cheap. Cars sent to NA are considered loaded by Euro standards, even in base trim for this market. The low spec Euro version of a highline car sold in NA would not appeal to the average buyer of the given make here. That 4cyl E-class with a cloth interior, manual climate control, and a base stereo would not win the buyer of those cars as they sit today. My "point" is that it is silly to say UAW workers are able to buy Caddys and Euro workers are not able to buy their products, as the products are not directly comparable. You don't need to pick me apart, in general I agree with your mindset about labor and the rewarding of workers. |
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Aug 10, 2008 4:48 am) I was a son of a UAW-GM/Delphi, employee and my parents did not own the kind of items so many of you talk about. sure their are UAW family's where both parents were fortunate enough to work for GM, but the norm was not what you describe. When I was very young my mother did not work and took care of us kids. We didn't have the 2nd home and all the toys you talk about until the mid-late 80's when mom, landed a job at GE, making decent money. She lost her job at GE, because Neutron Jack, shut the doors even though they were making millions a year in profit at the plant. Yeah, their are UAW employees who work butt loads of overtime and can achieve material things, extra property, over the course of time. Yeah, some live beyond their means like gagrice, talked about in a earlier post. The UAW-GM, employee new hire will never achieve or acquire the standard of living of my father, grandfather, had thus all the hyperbole of UAW, workers owning Cadillac's on $18-19 bucks an hour well is fantasy land. I made $60K a year when I lived in Texas, didn't have a mortgage payment for 3 years but as you know my ex wife to be cleaned me out. When I thought I had money, I still didn't consider myself rich enough to go buy a new STS, and at that time I was mad at GM, for the way I was treated by one of their dealerships and went bought the Acura TL. Speaking of the Acura TL, that 2009 has received a worse nose job than Michael Jackson !!!  -Rocky
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Aug 10, 2008 5:13 am)  -Rocky
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Replying to: rockylee (Aug 10, 2008 4:38 pm) I would think for someone that believes that Made in America is the best would be in favor of a US built anything over a German or Japanese built vehicle. Personally the only BMW that ever turned me on was the 850. I think I like the X5. I am waiting for the diesel version to make its debut. Let me ask a question. Do you think a car built in the USA whether Union or Non-Union is better for America than one built in any foreign country? I was always proud as a Union member that our contribution to our craft kept the wages at a decent level. I never believed that I could not be replaced by a non union tech that could do as well. I was determined throughout my 46 years to be the best and make money for my employer. I don't get the feeling that the rank and file UAW member feels that way. If they did there would not have been those strikes against the two factories this Spring that were making the only GM vehicles that were selling. I had a bit of sympathy for their situation until they pulled that stunt. I think you have a very distorted picture of many of the EU countries you believe to be utopia. In the late 1980s I had a German girlfriend in Hawaii. She was a tour guide for Germans and traveled the World. She wanted to get married and become a US citizen. She was fed up with giving over half of her pay to the German government. I was tempted as she was a lovely girl. I have several friends that have lived & live in Costa Rica, another utopia until you dig deep. I have no idea what the future holds for the US and the rest of the World. I know we are so much a part of the World community that there is no going back to being isolated. You need to come to grips with competing against the World labor market. That is your future, my kids future and your kids future. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 10, 2008 5:32 am) I also believe in the 2nd amendement but believe stronger background checks are needed. If the people had a equal voice at the table our government would be a lot better. Right now we are selling our souls to China, and Corporate America, is the only one whom will stand to benefit. We might be able to buy some non-union made shoddy Chinese, made product at Walley World, now but the question is at what expense ??? Unions like the UAW, Teamsters, IUE-CWA, IBEW, etc, have contributed to the standard of living some of ya'll have enjoyed. My generation will be the 1st generation that didn't have it better than its parents overall because of many contributing factors that can be blamed on both political party's.  -Rocky |
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 10, 2008 6:22 am) Ummmm gagrice, 20% of their population has some money pal, how bout the 80% living in a grass hut with extended family, eating snakes and rice if they are lucky enough to receive rain ???? Do a little research on the way the majority of people who live in China, REALLY LIVE and get back to me !!!!  Average factory Chinese factory worker makes $0.42 an hour and works 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. They still sell kids to corporations for slave labor and chain them to machines. Watch a little Lou Dobbs, and you can witness leaked video of the inside of those sweat shops !!! It's slavery !!!  Union people in China, are given a noose and a trap door !!! Environmental issues I find a laughable idea. Do you have any idea what can block a factory being built in the USA? Let me tell you what happened to a friend here in San Diego. He owns 4 acres of commercial property on the main street of his town. An aggressive environmental type made a rare discovery on his 4 acres while illegally trespassing. It was home to the Fairy Shrimp. Look them up. His property can not be built on, PERIOD. It sits with a for sale sign on it the last 5 years. No one wants a piece of land you cannot build on. And he is stuck with the big taxes and the state does not want it as it is in the middle of town. He cannot even plant grass and make it into a park. No wonder so many businesses have moved out of this whacked out country. One would think the state of california, would just buy the land and make it into a park. If I was he I'd say either buy it or I'm going to bull-doze the fairy shrimp under. There has to be something the guy can do. Has he hired a lawyer ??? I agree that is whacked out and will agree California, has some screwed up laws despite I being a native son of the state !!! I do agree that tariffs should be equalized. No one including Obama will do away with NAFTA. It is not neighborly... You just better hope that GM comes up with some decent cars for the UAW to build. I think Obama, has no choice but to fix NAFTA, his promise to the unions. Obama, otherwise will look like a liar !!! That is one of the main reasons why Hillary, didn't run away with this election because of her husbands passage of NAFTA, the biggest blunder in democrat politics !!! The UAW, will build the Volt, but will it be enough ??? I'm not sure if Ihave confidence in GM, management anymore !!!! -Rocky |
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Replying to: steve_ (Aug 10, 2008 6:39 am)  -Rocky |
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