INTERVIEW-GM aid gives Delphi options for labor talks-CEO

Reuters ^ | December 15, 2005 | David Bailey

[Iris7]

Delphi Corp.'s proposed wage and benefit cuts have not factored in aid from General Motors Corp., which now gives the bankrupt company alternatives in its union labor talks, chief executive Steve Miller said on Thursday.

The company's proposal has met stiff opposition from unions that represent nearly all of Delphi's 34,750 U.S. hourly workers and have formed a coalition to fight the terms, raising the possibility of a production-disrupting strike.

"The prospects of additional financial support from General Motors has really changed the nature (of the discussions)," Miller told Reuters in an interview at Delphi headquarters.

"The financial assistance will permit us to consider many alternatives for dealing with the labor issue," Miller said, adding that, "We are going to do this consensually, rather than in the courthouse, with participation from General Motors rather than stand alone."

(snip)

"(General Motor's involvement) changes the nature of what things we might be able to agree to and also changes the process, because we no longer need to do this publicly in the courthouse," Miller said.

While UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker said this week that he still believes a strike is more likely than not, he also said that the UAW had a very preliminary meeting with GM in the past two weeks about Delphi. There are no meetings scheduled between Delphi and the UAW, he said.

(snip)

Excerpted for educational and fair use only.

[Iris7]

As earlier discussed General Motors will have to cough up two or three billion dollars to the UAW now and many more billions later in order to avoid a strike costing several times more followed by bankruptcy. Kerk Kerkorian would use a Delphi strike to unseat Rick Wagoner. Enough said.

[Iris7]

The events at General Motors proceed in accordance with expectations.

Denial is the most important of human coping mechanisms psychologists say. Perhaps even psychologists are right on occasion.

[rdb3]

GM should just fold, and sell the individual brands.

Leave with two words for the UAW, "Get bent!"

[voletti]

Unless old auto dies and frees up the design, marketing and intellectual capital in the sector, how can the next generation of US automakers rise?

I too think, the management should hold out and take to the mattressess, in Godfather speak.

[apackof2]

Leave with two words for the UAW, "Get bent!"

I agree however what most people don't seem to understand it that the leadership of the UAW won't suffer, the membership will, a lot of whom, like myself, are conservatives and have voted AGAINST every contract

[MonroeDNA]

If the lawn mower guy still makes $65 an hour, I'll never buy a GM product again (other than old Corvettes).

I highly doubt the Japanese pay the lawn mower guy more than about $15 an hour.

[bert]

.....because he'll be running the show in three years....

Discussed where?

I think I missed the thread.

[SVTCobra03]

"As earlier discussed General Motors will have to cough up two or three billion dollars to the UAW now and many more billions later in order to avoid a strike costing several times more followed by bankruptcy. Kerk Kerkorian would use a Delphi strike to unseat Rick Wagoner. Enough said."

I would like to see Kerkorian fire GM's upper management and bring in some real car guys. Give us performance car buyers a new 450hp Camaro SS to compete with the Shelby GT500 and the Charger SRT-8.

[rdb3]

I understand. Did you have to join that union in order to be hired?

[Tarpon]

Which company is still building push-rod gasoline engines for use in most of their cars and trucks.

[Iris7]

"GM should just fold, and sell the individual brands."

That will happen soon.

[Iris7]

There are several groups of GM people who believe this situation is just a passing phase, that the obvious and ominous current reality is simply the same thing that happened in 1933.

A larger group believes that if they have to work for a living they might as well work somewhere else.

A pivotal group simply wants to make an end to "them", "them" being whoever is keeping them from true happiness. "They" means "management".

[Iris7]

I am in a similar situation.

It seems that good men can do nothing and that bad men insist on leaving only smoking rubble behind. My understanding of human nature has changed greatly while at GM.

[Iris7]

If you may have missed the previous thread it is

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1534124/posts

Pardon me but I don't understand your ".....because he'll be running the show in three years....". Perhaps you are refering to Kirk Kerkorian?

[Iris7]

What you say is true.

Personally I can not see an engineering or cost advantage to overhead cams in most applications for street use. In terms of engine performance overhead cams and correct head design can provide considerably more high rpm horsepower but most people people really want "more area under the horsepower curve" AKA "torque" rather than true high performance.

"Most people" are not "all people" and many, including Robert Lutz, the GM Vice Chairman, Global Product Development, believe high performance cars a necessary part of the product mix. The current Z06 is a Lutz product.

Myself, I don't think cars can go fast anyway. A "Fast" car means handling to match acceleration from 40 to 90 miles per hour in under two seconds.

A car like that can not be driven on wet roads with dry weather tires even by an expert of course. What I am saying is that streetable cars cannot be fast.

[Tarpon]

Overhead cam engines are more efficient. That's why they are used in most cars today. Like disc brakes, five and six speed auto transmissions, technology moves forward -- GM has stayed in the past.

There is no cost advantage to OHC engines, that is the mindset that has kept GM mired in the past -- And why they are very likely to go out of business.

[Iris7]

I certainly agree with you. My thought is the Holden Pontiac GTO (requires big engineering changes) with the twin cam V-16 1,000 horse power engine built for the Cadillac 16 project. Can be done. A niche vehicle only, about $60,000, because you really don't want rich daddies buying their darling sonny boy a car that will go through 200 mph with some authority.

I think the Saleen mustangs are well done but I think that the Highland Daytona Racing machines are a better deal for the money although they run $90,000 - ish. They are custom built to fit your measurements. (Don't worry, this is only a dream machine for me for ever, but what a sweet dream!) I just love a car with optional windshield wipers! Lexan windscreen is standard, glass is extra on the spec racer.

http://www.hdrcoupe.com/specrace.html




Perhaps you may prefer

roadster

[apackof2]

Did you have to join that union in order to be hired?

Yes, and every year I send in a form saying that the portion of my dues used for political purposes be refunded to me!

My money should never be used without my consent so I should never get it "refunded" to me

[gogeo]

Kerkorian isn't interested in running GM. He's interested in dismembering it.