posted 09-24-2007 09:01 AM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by MIKE GATLIN:
I can't imagine anyone is interested in a strike.

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no one in our plant is wanting a strike. You never recover what you loose.

Just heard on the news that health care is what the hold up is.

I have heard absolutely nothing on the talks........but this is not good(:

posted 09-24-2007 10:15 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by ALLEY CAT:
Tubby > maybe Corvette sales will catch up to production with a strike in place?

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...I have no interest in a C6, maybe another C1....and maybe a C7 if there is a substantial change

posted 09-24-2007 10:35 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by ALLEY CAT:

Toyota can build cars and trucks here, and make billions in profits,,,while GM cries.

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Its called legacy costs(pension, healthcare). GM paying massive benefits to 300,000+ retirees with a workforce of 70,000. Some quick math says this doesn't add up. Sure it is GM's fault that they didn't stand up to the union over the years, but what do you do now. Let it ride and there will be more layoffs or bankruptcy and everyone loses their jobs. Or deal with some pain for the long term viability of the company.

Legacy costs are not a factor for Toyota so they have a huge cost advantage. Legacy costs need to be severly curtailed or eliminated, salaries and wages brought in line with the rest of the market and a revamp of operations is imperative. The dealer network is cumbersome and inefficient and needs to be trimmed in half at least.

posted 09-24-2007 11:53 PM                  

quote:

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Originally posted by Wayne Finch:

Its called legacy costs(pension, healthcare). GM paying massive benefits to 300,000+ retirees with a workforce of 70,000. Some quick math says this doesn't add up. Sure it is GM's fault that they didn't stand up to the union over the years, but what do you do now. Let it ride and there will be more layoffs or bankruptcy and everyone loses their jobs. Or deal with some pain for the long term viability of the company.

Legacy costs are not a factor for Toyota so they have a huge cost advantage. Legacy costs need to be severly curtailed or eliminated, salaries and wages brought in line with the rest of the market and a revamp of operations is imperative. The dealer network is cumbersome and inefficient and needs to be trimmed in half at least.

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Wayne, could not agree with you more, BUT, union busting isn't the answer.

My dad was the local union president in the 50's. I do not agree with what the union is doing now, but as with any business, and yes that is all it is now they focus on the $$$$.

Both business and labor needs to look at what is going on and come up with a plan. Who would have thought since the start of the 30 and out that people would live so long, health care would increase by double digits each year and the demands from the goverment to make cars that people don't get hurt in, EVEN IF YOU DRIVE LIKE AN IDIOT.

I don't know the answer, I was raised 8 hours work for 8 hours pay and still think this is what the businesses expect. Too many people now think they deserve a pay check for showing up a few days a week.

I'm OK with lowering wages some, but the health care for current and retires should not continue to be taken away. This is the point that the GM workers are trying to make, but it could not have come at a worse time for a strike. They will never recover what they lose during the strike.

As`far as the cost for Toyota, WE ARE STUPID TO ALLOW THEM TO COME HERE, BUILD PLANTS, GIVE THEM TAX INCENTIVES and when the rebates end, they ask for more and take their profits back overseas.

Worker for Toyota make a good living, but they have a much younger work force, they offer nothing when you retire except the 401K if you used it, get hurt on the job, TOO BAD WE DON'T HAVE A JOB FOR YOU.

The company I worked for before going to Ford was owned partly by Toyota. They announced last month they were closing the factory and moving production to mexico. So much for those jobs, OH, their tax abatements ended. time to move on.

Oh Well, I hope the GM employees don't have too long of a strike.

posted 09-26-2007 07:40 AM                  

Without the UAW all of these years,,,,,,it would be $8.00 an hour X 40 = $320 a week with few benefits, if any.

posted 09-26-2007 09:51 AM                  

I suspect at some point in time, retirees will take a hit so that the current employees can survive.