Posted on 04/15/2006 5:38:00 AM PDT by wallcrawlr
Stop insourcing now!
It'll be nice when the Camry is running in Nextel Cup Racing next season. A lot of American workers help build that car.
Thanks unions!
The bizarro world to the goons at the UAW.
"the greatest downsizing in Detroit's history
Thanks unions!'
Always wondered if the Unions have supported Republicans instead of Democrats, would it still be the same?
They probably won't have to. They offer a 401(k) plan instead of a "guaranteed" pension, which means their employees will be on their own the day they retire.
This, quite frankly, is how it always should have been for the Big Three. The difference between the fortunes of Toyota and General Motors is really nothing more than the difference between "defined contribution" and "defined benefit" pensions.
Sneaky foreigners giving Americans good jobs. Bastards!!
Well, hate to say it, but another reason for Toyota's success is they make quality products and produce cars that are reliable.
My folks just bought a new "American" car... they've only had it for 3 months and it's been in the shop twice (each time for more than 3 days.)
We, on the other hand, drive 10 year old Toyotas (which we've had since they were new) and I can't remember the last time our cars were in the shop (knock on wood, LOL.)
I had a conversation with a union electrician at the project I'm assigned to. He was bitching about how many 'brothers' were losing their job at Ford and GM. I mentioned that the Chrysler plants seem unaffected from the current retrenching, and that he ought to consider deeper research into American content and labor of the so-called 'foriegn' companies that are building cars at American plants.
The conversation ended abruptly about then and every time I see this guy in the construction site, usually trying to avoid his foreman as he shirks his job, he heads out the other way to avoid me.
Tool.
The United Auto Workers have been a pro-socialist organization since they were founded.
Been driving a Sonata for three years. Best damn car I've ever owned or leased. Now for some GM products that I've had in the past...
Unions have destroyed (as you point out) GM and Ford.
...meanwhile, back here in San Antonio...
We're adding nearly 5000 jobs as Toyota builds a new production facility for pickups. This NON-UNION plant (thank God) will hire thousands of people at higher wages, result in thousands of jobs at suppliers and contribute tons of money to our community. In addition, the tax revenues for this will fund considerable infrastructure and school improvements on our city's south side -- long the poorest section of the city.
A union malingerer? What are the odds?
Maybe the unions will learn a thing or two.
On the other hand, my family won't be buying any more Toyota cars. My mom took her Camry to the dealer for some minor stuff. They tried to get her to authorize $3500 worth of repairs. I took the car to my mechanic, and he fixed it for $150, most of the claimed problems were bogus. I then had a 2nd garage that I trust check it out, and it was fine.
Scummy dealer was just trying to shake down an elderly woman, and that's not the first time I've encountered shady Toyota dealers. We'll stick with Honda or Nissan. Toyota can kiss my a$$.
Let me guess, he blames Bush??
Read the story again. "In stark contrast, the Toyota factory provides thousands of jobs with paychecks of $60,000 and more a year, company-paid health, dental and vision insurance, a pension plan and a 401(k) and on and on." In short Toyota gives their non-union employees the same kind of compensation that the UAW got their employees. Toyota doesn't have thousands of retirees to support like the big three have, or all those workers in job banks. But 20 or 30 years from now they might.
You can say that the Unions killed the big three and there is no doubt that worker costs per car are a big handicap. But the Unions don't decide what kind of cars to make or what future products to offer. Management does that. When the whole country wanted big honking gas-guzzling SUVs then management were the heroes and the companies made money in spite of the Union contracts. Now that the market has changed they're three or four years too slow on bringing new products into the pipeline. Can't blame the UAW for that.
I would never take a car to a dealer for work unless it was warranty work or a recall. It's been my experience that dealer repairs are a huge rip-off. You are much better off finding a small, independent service garage. Word of mouth is always the best way to find one.
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