Posted on 11/15/2008 2:52:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Even as Detroit's Big Three teeter on collapse, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said Saturday that workers will not make any more concessions and that getting the automakers back on their feet means figuring out a way to turn around the slumping economy.
"The focus has to be on the economy as a whole as opposed to a UAW contract," Gettelfinger told reporters on a conference call, noting the labor costs now make up 8 percent to 10 percent of the cost of a vehicle. "We have made dramatic, dramatic changes and the UAW was applauded for that," he said.
Instead, Gettelfinger blamed the problems the auto industry is suffering from on things beyond its control _ the housing slump, the credit crunch that has made financing a vehicle tough and the 1.2 million jobs that have been lost in the past year. "We're here not because of what the auto industry has done," he said. "We're here because of what has happened to the economy."
Gettelfinger also called on Congress to act quickly on a bailout plan for the auto industry, saying action is necessary before President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January. He said if one automaker were to file for bankruptcy, the others may follow. He said the automakers would find it difficult to restructure under bankruptcy laws and instead could end up out of business. "Would you buy a car from a bankrupt automaker?" he asked.
(Excerpt) Read more at napavalleyregister.com ...
We left the big 3 years ago and are doing very well with our reliable Lexus and Honda Ridgeline.
$crew the union thugs.
So what is the reasoning behind bailing out the auto industry? You just got through saying that it is the fault of the economy!
So when are Honda and Toyota filing for bankruptcy?
"It's the cars, stupid!"
Well, now you know. My Dad taught me that in about 1955. 'Course he had the benefit of selling propane to autoworkers and suppliers in the Flint, MI area. He only had an 8th grade formal education, but knew more than many an MBA about business.
As a steward, you would have had information about lots of the bargaining that goes on with contracts.
FYI- There are still people sitting on their porches in South Bend, Indiana waiting for Studebaker to open up again.
The union leeches would just come here and try to implement their socialism. They are always parasites looking for a good host.
More than enough. But concessions are made. maybe in your narrow world, collapse is better than concession.
<<Unless they cut their pay, change the work rules, reduce the legacy healthcare benefits<<
You are very close to the mark. Though legacy costs gets a lot of media I don’t think it is the ruptured artery in their operations. It stands out as the low hanging fruit, easy to demonize and receives a lot less resistance to change than other options.
Pay scales and work rules (contract language) are not as easily tackled. Ridiculous details and examples abound but in general, management has in a sense, nurtured and raised these employes to act and perform the way they do. To expect something for nothing. To be above criticism when wrong and constantly want more.
It will be hard to “keep ‘em down on the farm....”
Some very bad habits are very deeply ingrained.
UAW Pres Warns of Big 3 Chapter 7 Liquidation
CNBC | November 15, 2008
Posted on 11/15/2008 3:11:50 PM PST by pleikumud
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2132796/posts
Last I checked GM, Ford and Chrysler employed 578,000 people. If all three went out of business, Toyota, Honda, etc. would expand to meet the demand which would mean re-employing some of the unemployed auto workers and most of the suppliers. Therefore, the 3 or 4 million number that is thrown around is pure bunk.
>>Some enterprising company would buy them up and lay the facts down. The employees would show up to work then next day and accept whatever the new management offered.
<<
Don’t think it works that way unfortunately. You buy the co., you buy the union, contract and all. I may be wrong, have been before but am pretty sure that it all or nothing.
Now, with buy out and relocate, it may well be very different. If not, you end up with the same poor work ethic and bad attitudes, all at company expense.
“Where did you get that figure? (72)”
That’s the published average hourly wage including the benifits, which is just about half of the wage cost of the car companies in the siuth.
**Enjoy your new careers at Wal-Mart—if you’re lucky to get hired.**
That won’t happen either... I have a Union CARD (thru no CHOICE of my own)... WALMART wouldn’t even hire me as a GREETER!
Yep, you can pretty much forget it, if you don't "habla español"
>>So when are Honda and Toyota filing for bankruptcy?
<<
Ding. We have a winner.
I’m curious. I have never had any dealings with unions.
What did the auto manufacturers get from the UAW? Certainly not cheap labor.
Ha Ha Ha, good one....they got the right to hire overpaid,
under-performing employees, for a ridiculous hourly rate.
Oh, and not have the power to fire anyone, with out extended litigation.
They should not build ANYTHING in Michigan.
no pro-union states.
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