Posted on 03/19/2007 11:10:20 AM PDT by WileyPink
United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger says his union is still interested in helping to organize workers at Toyota's U.S. facilities, despite having been unsuccessful so far.
In fact, he said he wants to help the world's No. 2 automaker "continue to be a success."
Uh, oh! It's no wonder that Toyota isn't exactly jumping for joy at the prospects. They've done just fine without the UAW, and probably don't need the UAW to come to its "rescue."
Consider what has befallen General Motors, Ford and Chrysler the past few years. The UAW has certainly helped them continue to be successful, hasn't it?
And thanks to the union, GM has given its workers more than $73 billion in benefits over the past 10 years, according to a Newsweek article. Which in turn means has meant $1,200 of every car GM sells goes toward health care costs. In contrast, Toyota's health care costs are about $200 per car.
(Excerpt) Read more at djournal.com ...
Better bearings and bearing grease (though that doesn't hold true for either when bought from China).
Better engine oil; better transmission fluid.
Better spark plugs.
Vastly better engine control systems (e.g. air/fuel computers).
Better seals/gaskets and tolerances (fewer leaks).
Better welding (e.g. robotic welds). Better paint (e.g. robotic painting).
Better corrosion protection today than back then. Try finding a 1970 Fiat in Florida!
So wheel hubs, transmissions, engines, bodies, and paint will last longer now versus decades older cars.
Windshield "glass" might be better now, too. Not sure on that one.
Now that is funny!
They wouldn't. Never said they would.
That's not only unfair, but dangerous. You need at least two, if not three people @ $50K/year, each, to do that work, "safely".
You didn't list a source and I'm not sure about "Most cars with American nameplates...", but for Toyota's; Ten (10) open or proposed U.S. Plants, Four (4) Canadian, and One (1) Mexican. Note: These listed are the North American Plants
http://www.toyoland.com/toyota/plants.html
And, if they're made in the U.S...doesn't that make them American cars and American jobs?
"The only difference between Japanese cars and American cars is the Jap cars are sold for a cheaper price"
Really? So you tell me, what Japanese car is cheaper than the comparable American model? Is a Civic or Corolla cheaper than a Cobalt, Ion, Neon, or Focus? Is an Accord cheaper than a G6 or 300C? I could go on with examples, but my experience is the exact opposite, that in almost every case American cars are cheaper than comparable Japanese models. Especially if you consider the prices that are typically actually paid - Toyotas and Hondas rarely see for any significant disount from MSRP, while American cars are regularly available for many thousands under it.
I suspect you're just as wrong about Japanese quality being a myth. The Japanese haven't sold millions of cars and reached the position they have in this market just by accident. They started off with a terrible reputation for quality, but by the late 80s were well known for producing reliable, dependable cars with decent quality interiors, and were selling for a premium.
Now I don't care who you are---that's funny!
Very interesting stories. However, my personal experience is that some of the Japanese cars actually sell for more because they've managed to promote that "quality" reputation. Perhaps this has changed. Quite a few years back I purchased a GM Prizm which is a Toyota inside and out without the Toyota label (except on the motor). It sold for less than the Toyota Corolla because... well it was a GM (although it wasn't really). As I said, that was a few years back. Maybe now you can get the Honda's and Toyota's for cheaper than the comparable "American" brands. However, I recently purchased a Ford Sport Trac. I believe the Honda Ridgeliner (which wasn't to my tastes) is a bit more expensive.
lol...Dittos
Fixed it.
This has to qualify for the funniest headline of the year!!!
The local Ford dealer here has 2007 Focuses with manual transmissions and A/C for $8,988.
The local Honda dealer here has 2007 Civics with the same equipment for $15,000.
The Civic is a nicer car, and if you're looking at a manual, you don't have to worry about the automatic transmission failing like has happened on so many Hondas recently (second gear clutch in Civics).
But is it $6000 nicer???????
I mean, the Focus is very reliable and comes with a 5 yr/100k powertrain warranty.
Really, $6000?!?!?!?!
(And, no I'm not a union mole. I actually represent management in labor disputes).
Regardless, Mississippi is an "At Will" state and a "Right to Work" state. I know, I was fired from a job because I didn't "ask permission" to get married! The State of Mississippi has the right to fire you for, "...any reason, good reason, bad reason, or no reason." The unions have caused nothing but trouble and the NLRA protects no one except the unions.
Heh heh heh ;-}
A MS employer who discriminated against a union-sympathizing employee in hiring would be laughed out of federal court (or the NLRB) if that employer raised the 'defense' of 'at-will' employment under state law. This would be akin to an employer raising the 'defense' of at-will employment in a federal Title VII discrimination suit (e.g., "MS law gives me [the employer] the right to fire my employees for any reason or no reason at all, so I can fire them on the basis of their race!"). I'm sure you know that argument is a non-starter.
Also, the NLRA doesn't just protect unions. It protects employees in the exercise of the rights to form, join or resist unions as well as the right to engage in certain concerted protected activities. So an employer can easily violate the NLRA even though no union is present in his/her workplace.
http://www.nlrb.gov/Workplace_Rights/i_am_new_to_this_website/what_are_my_rights.aspx
Now, I'll agree with you if you say that the NLRA gives unions too much protection. But it is incorrect to say that the NLRA only protects unions.
BTW, what kind of jerk employer fires its employees for not "asking permission" to get married?
Yuh, right, since the UAW has made American automakers SO successful over the last 50 years!
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