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Automotive News & Views United Automobile Workers of America (UAW)
16701 messages, Last post on Nov 20, 2009 at 3:39 AM
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Dec 14, 2008 7:31 am) Some interesting stuff how the decline of the UK automotive industry from 1945-2005 is paralleling lots of stuff going on here. 1945-2005 During the war all production was concentrated on war materials. After 1945 Britain became the world's largest automobile exporter, providing 52% of the world's exported vehicles in 1950. In 1953 Morris merged with Austin to form the British Motor Corporation (BMC), becoming the UK's largest producer. BMC specialized in small, economy sedans and sports cars, with 4 cylinder engines. By the late 1950s, West German automobile manufacturers were benefiting from the Economic miracle and rapidly gained market share, followed soon by the French and Italian producers, and the UK lost most of its continental market through neglect and stagnation. At the end of the 1950s, the Rootes group acquired Singer. In 1966 BMC merged with Jaguar Cars and Pressed Steel to form British Motor Holdings, which then merged, in 1968, with the Leyland Motor Corporation, which had by then acquired the Rover Company and the Triumph Motor Company, to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) as Europe's fourth largest automaker.[9] Chrysler UK finished acquiring the Rootes group in 1967, a process it had started in 1964. By 1970 Japanese firms identified the British market as the first major European market to attack because of the relative weakness of the domestic car industry.[10] Stiff competition from Japanese and German cars, a reputation for shoddy workmanship and a breakdown in labor relations brought the British companies to near bankruptcy by 1975. The UK government effectively nationalized the bankrupt BLMC in 1975, rationalising the company into British Leyland, which produced 40% of the cars sold in Britain. The government provided £11 billion (in terms of 2008 £, or $16.5 billion in 2008 $) in bailouts. Wildcat strikes consumed more than 32 million worker-hours in 1977. Management cut employment in half, from 200,000 to 105,000 to cut expenses. In 1977 Chrysler sold its European interests to Peugeot, with Chrysler UK being renamed Peugeot Talbot. After a decline in the UK market's significance for multinational automakers, Japanese manufacturers hoping to get around EEC trade restrictions established manufacturing plants in the UK. Nissan, Toyota and Honda all manufacture passenger cars in UK factories, primarily for car markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. After a series of divestitures, British Leyland was renamed the Rover Group, which was eventually acquired by BMW, then split up into various divisions that were sold separately. MG Rover finally went bankrupt in 2005, ending the era of mass production by UK-owned automobile manufacturers. The remnants were bought by the Chinese government-owned manufacturers, SAIC and NAC, which later merged. Former British Leyland car brands include Jaguar and Land Rover, now owned by Tata Motors, MINI, owned by BMW and MG owned by SAIC/NAC. Only 22,000 workers remain employed at successor firms.
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Replying to: dieselone (Dec 14, 2008 7:55 am) I wasn't trying to champion the intellectual class, but rather trying to point out that each has God given gifts. Son number two has his gifts too. Fact is they are more visible and he is living the life of the super star/idol which this society worships. The GQ/Madison Ave looks, sports/basketball abilities, and others which I'm not able or have yet to see. The subtle nuances I do see, such as the manner females do a double take are obvious. I'm not a pushy sports parent, but I sired that prime time display/entertainment, and my ego gets massaged, but I keep that in check. Many have come by to say that he could be a starter in many colleges and or offer scholarships. The trick is getting into a Division 1 school. All that being said we then too must acknowledge that being human entails flaws as well. Many folks are quick to point out these flaws and or lack of character, rather than looking for the positive. A smart man/woman would do some behavior modification, positive reenforcement, and or something subtle to encourage the positive or discourage the negative traits/behavior. We all can change things if we set our minds to it. Employers can create an atmosphere that respects others for their differences and brings people together to innovate. My employer stresses that I should never forget whom I work for. I work for that soldier out in harms way. Hence, we have common ground and I'll go above and beyond their expectations. Refuse to envy others and or pass judgment on coworkers. Its been a blessing to work with others who nurture one another's ideas, all the while respecting differences. Belittling anyone is just another way to massage ones own ego and counter productive.
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Dec 14, 2008 8:51 am) All that being said we then too must acknowledge that being human entails flaws as well. Many folks are quick to point out these flaws and or lack of character, rather than looking for the positive. A smart man/woman would do some behavior modification, positive reenforcement, and or something subtle to encourage the positive or discourage the negative traits/behavior. We all can change things if we set our minds to it. Employers can create an atmosphere that respects others for their differences and brings people together to innovate. My employer stresses that I should never forget whom I work for. I work for that soldier out in harms way. Hence, we have common ground and I'll go above and beyond their expectations. Refuse to envy others and or pass judgment on coworkers. Its been a blessing to work with others who nurture one another's ideas, all the while respecting differences. Belittling anyone is just another way to massage ones own ego and counter productive. Great post. |
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Replying to: mikefm58 (Dec 14, 2008 8:23 am) I'm not opposed to change and or the evolution of things to come. However, not in such a rapid manner that doesn't allow the transition to go more smoothly. One can look at manufacturing moving south to avoid unions/high wages, only to become unionized again. The rust belt did not shut down. Do you think that China has aspirations of becoming the manufacturing country of the world? How long will it take China to dominate the auto industry? |
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 14, 2008 8:18 am) Unfortunately financial intelligence is not universal either. That is a problem across all levels of income and educations. To many scenarios like that plaguing our economy. About 6 years ago I was selling boats as job between jobs and I remember trying to finance people with 6 figure incomes that didn't have the credit left to charge a pack of gum. Many of these were business owners, doctors and lawyers. I remember a surgeon knocking down $35k/mo that was trying to finance a $200k boat. He was in debt up to his eyeballs and I couldn't get him financed. This type of scenario was common, I spent more time trying to get banks to finance loans than I did trying to sell features of boat, which I enjoyed, not calling low life bankers. Many times I just wanted to say, you have no business buying anything, much less a boat, but that wouldn't help me pay my bills. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Dec 14, 2008 8:18 am) Come on Gary. They pick one case. A black man at that. If he make top scale $28 and hour. Thats less than $60,000 a year. So therefore he must still be working overtime, just not as much. I'm starting to believe they like to sensationalize news in order to sell newspapers. There are lots of folks out there who live beyond reason. To say that the UAW workers are the only ones or that all UAW workers mismanage their money is just not true. I know many who have up-wards of a million in their 401K plans. I personally wrote a hardship letter for a UAW member with five children. So that his family could get a five bedroom home and move from their 1300 square foot (paid off) home. He had over a half a million and wanted to use $200,000 of his 401K money to give his family more room. So some UAW workers live an frugal lifestyle. This is the very reason privatization of social security is a bad idea. While many could and would do well, some would self destroy.
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Dec 14, 2008 9:34 am) Today, he is unemployed, living in my girlfriend's mother's house, his fancy house in CT has been foreclosed, he's in massive credit card debt, his wife is leaving him, his kids won't talk to him, his E-Class Mercedes was repossessed, he has to take the bus or get a ride in my hooptie, is dirt poor and living on our charity, and our patience with him is wearing thinner than an apple peel. |
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Replying to: dallasdude1 (Dec 14, 2008 9:34 am) On the flip side, I remember an article about several years ago, maybe like 10, about a black fork lift driver for Ford that was in his 70's making $100k with the o/t he worked. I think it may have either been in WSJ or Detroit Free Press, I can't remember. He drove a 10 year old Escort, put all of his kids through college and donated nearly $1million to some black college, even though he himself didn't graduate from high school. It was a great article. Here, this is not the original article I remember, but it describes this very generous and I think incredible person. forklift driver I'm starting to believe they like to sensationalize news in order to sell newspapers. No doubt about that |
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"A 50% reduction in the Big Three's domestic operations, for instance, would result in 2.5 million people losing their jobs, according to the Center for Automotive Research"... On its face, this may be true, but at the rate folks are deserting the Big 3 (for quality, UAW or management, I don't care why) for what they believe to be the "better" imports, those same jobs will be lost any way... On the flip side, all that does is try and justify giving the money to the Big 3 simply to maintain the FACADE of a manufacturing company, who will continue to make a product that no one wants to buy...so, as millions of cars line up on dealers lots that no one wants, how soon before we simply tow the new cars to a landfill (the City of Detroit might as well be used, it has been a toxic waste dump since 1980 when I was there) and let them continue to keep the lines running so people look like they are working?????????????? It has to end sometime...they need to file Ch 11 and dump the UAW...the cost of their cars will probably drop by 25% overnight, and with all the illegals making the cars, they at least have a work ethic, and could be trained to make a better product in about a week... The "entitlement" attitude of the average auto worker would put the average sports hero to shame...they think they can do no wrong, when they are about to be jettisoned to find out they will do nothing anymore... If ever a lump labor force needed elimination, it is the UAW... The auto industry will survive just fine, but the union must go...it is kinda like a cruise ship...just get rid of the people drilling the holes in the hull, and the remainder of the ship will do just fine...the UAW is the "hole driller"... |
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