Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
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
|
Replying to: dallasdude1 (Dec 10, 2008 6:37 pm) My wife and I use smart phones ourselves, at this point, I couldn't imagine giving up my laptop and only using a smart phone. I'll use my smartphone when on the road, but certainly not when I have my laptop handy. For one, I don't live in an area that has 3G wireless access so web access is slow to almost unusable depending where I'm located. 2nd lots of software that I use and many businesses use can't be run on a Iphone or other smart phones. If all you do is get RSS news feeds, minor web browsing, and access email, then a smart phone will probably do everything you need. Still lots of websites that are not mobile friendly. Last, while I can type pretty fast on my smartphone, it would be frustrating to have typed this entire post on it. My thumbs would be sore.
|
|
|
Replying to: kipk (Dec 11, 2008 8:13 am) The Japanese were non-existent; VW was simply 'not a real car that americans would buy in any numbers'; and the only other competitors were the French and English cars which need not even be discussed. So, the math worked. The model WAS sustainable..... until the 1970's. By that time the mentality was so ingrained that GM couldn't change it. They tried but major strikes by the UAW made them decide to knuckle under...... the rest is history. |
|
|
Replying to: lokki (Dec 11, 2008 9:46 am) A look back at the 1998 strike will clear up some questions about GM, UAW worker featherbedding. DAVID BRADLEY, J.P. Morgan: Let me step back for a minute and just talk about the issue of export of jobs. From what—from my perspective I don’t see export of jobs as really being an issue in the strike. The strike originated at the stamping plant in Flint, and stampings virtually are never made overseas and shipped back to the U.S.. It looks as if the Delphi East strike is really a sympathy strike supporting that strike. But it’s really about its productivity and competitiveness. Because of that, Flint has been the hotbed of union radicalism for many, many years. Over the years many very arcane work rules have worked their way into the GM factories, making them extremely inefficient. Take for example the stamping plant at Flint. There are 3,000 workers— ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: I’m going to interrupt you just one second. Explain what a stamping plant does. DAVID BRADLEY: A stamping plant has large metal presses to stamp out sheet metal that goes on to form the body of a car, so that one press will make a hood, another press will make a door, and so forth. So returning to the point I was making, the stamping is never done overseas. It’s always done contiguous to the plant in question, as close as possible to the plant in question. But what we have here is a plant with 3,000 workers doing the work that probably 1500 or maybe even 1200 workers could do. At the Ford plant down the road a similar size facility would be using 1500 workers. That’s largely because of featherbedding and arcane work rules. We have a plant where workers on average work four hours a day and get paid for eight hours a day. And, remember, $44 an hour is the total low-end cost for the eight hours, so we’re looking at $88 an hour if we consider they’re only working four hours. ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: How do they work four hours a day and get paid for eight? How does that work? DAVID BRADLEY: Well, I think the union has a negotiated a deal whereby the number of hits per hour that the presses make or hits per minute is only five when it’s actually—the press can run at ten. So then they speed the press up to ten, and they finish early and get to go home. That’s essentially the story at Flint. General Motors, because of it’s relatively uncompetitive on costs, compared to the other auto makers, needs to do something to fix its cost structure. It’s going to start in places like this Flint plant that are working at only half of the rate they ought to be working, and it’s trying to get the workers there to agree to a change in work rules that will allow them to speed up the line and allow—make people put in an eight-hour day. Because of the resistance there, certainly there will be some job losses at the end of the day, and it’s unfortunate, but we’re not talking about jobs going to Mexico here. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june98/gm_6-19.html
|
|
|
Replying to: lokki (Dec 11, 2008 9:46 am) Also remember that Ford, Chrysler and AMC workers were represented by the UAW, so the companies were all paying the same labor rates and saddled with the same work rules. If anything, the UAW contracts benefited GM (and, to a lesser extent, Ford), because it could spread those costs over more vehicles than its competitors could. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 11, 2008 10:31 am) Why take the anger out of GM alone. The featherbedding UAW workers from them (that plant is closed now I assume) should be helping the company recover from their injury; let them take a cut in their retirement costs, checks and healthcare. Reduce the huge legacy costs that GM has compared to the other B3 and especially compared to the nonunionized plants where workers are employed part time in some cases so they'er easily dumped, er I mean laid off.
|
|
Thanks for the post...now you know why I don't do Chapter 11s... ... But, knowing that companies like Delta and others DID use Ch 11 to void various contracts, I believe that it CAN be done, assuming that a judge approves it... Also realize that even the judge only has so much power, depending on the cash flow of the bankrupt company...if they turn around and file Ch 7 (or convert the 11 to a 7) and liquidate, there really isn't much a judge can do to force them to pay anybody, except to take their assets, sell them, and distribute the funds as the judge sees fit... You just cannot create money where none exists, except if you own the printing press like the Fed...
|
|
|
Replying to: imidazol97 (Dec 11, 2008 11:17 am) |
|
|
It appears that the courts have the power to do so, but don't do so often. Here are a couple on articles on the point Delphi -Judge tried to get the parties to work a deal http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/10/business/10delphi.html United Airlines - The Judge did intervene - at least in pay cut for workers http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmusa/is_200502/ai_n13277327 |
|
|
Replying to: marsha7 (Dec 10, 2008 6:39 pm) As far as the relief of debt question, if a bankrupt auto co. is relieved of it's debt to a supplier that is shared by other auto companies, and that supplier is dragged under as well, how do you see that affecting the industry as a whole?? |
|
|
If ever there has beena time that our Senators are failing us, it is now! I would agree none of us know all there is to know about the reasons the auto makers are in the circumstances they are in. I do know ALL auto makers are having a very hard time, not just the US auto makers. If banks don't loan money, it makes no difference how inexpensive the vehicle is or how much of a discount the car has, it won't sell if no one will finance it! The people who are are the core of all this financial mess, the blame belongs at the feet of dishonest loan brokers who lied to get loans for people who could not afford a house loan. Greed is the very reason behind all of this crap. The oil companies have their share of the blame as well. As just ordinary everyday typical working people we are headed for a Titanic crash if something is not done real soon. Perhaps, this might become far deeper then the depression of 1931. I do not know if the adults of today have what it takes to live without credit cards, and electronic games, eating out, and having "fun". We have been duped into thinking happiness is what really counts. I am afraid a lot of us are about to become very unhappy, and learn what is to skimp and reuse something until it wares out, and yes save up until we have the money to buy what we want. Wow, kinda like the Waltons on TV. These are just my thoughts. farout
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Automotive News & Views United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
