Is the UAW run by dolts?

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Well...I would not say that the UAW will put the big 3 under on it's own, Steve. The American people, as the consumer's that could potentially buy American cars, but increasingly buy foreign, will.

 

American cars would be priced lower if the UAW hadn't artificially raised wages.  Lower prices, more buyers.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by SteveBailey
American cars would be priced lower if the UAW hadn't artificially raised wages.  Lower prices, more buyers.

Alot of American cars are lower in price, but people will pay more for the quality of a Honda. I was looking at new and used mini vans. I can get a grand caravan or spend more money and get an odyssey. Wages have nothing to do with it, the quality of foreign cars will get people to spend more money for them.

[hubsonfire]

Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Incidentally Hub, Did you find out what caused it to conk out?

Yeah, nobody at the General Assembly plant was paid enough to be bothered to put fluids in it.

[sluggish]

Perhaps I'm a little too close to this to make an unbiased statement; Three generations before me were GM life long employees.  The US auto industry has been dead for over twenty years-it just doesn't know it yet.

Watch this very closely.  When GM finally finds a way to wiggle out of its contractual obligation to its retirees, it will set a precedent, which will void ALL contracts that promise future compensation.

$40 an hour?  There are no line workers earning $40 an hour.  My dad with 30 years at the V8 plant in Flint, Mi was earning $23 in 1998 driving a fork truck.  I'd doubt highly that the UAW has bargained an almost 100% pay increase in the last nine years (in fact in the last twenty years the UAW has done nothing but take concessions).  I believe that number was either pulled out of the air or an average of all hourly workers-from the guy who sweeps the floor to the C and C guy in the machine shop building tools.

I would highly recommend not signing any contract today that promises a portion or earnings in future compensation.

[VWE]

Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Well...I would not say that the UAW will put the big 3 under on it's own, Steve. The American people, as the consumer's that could potentially buy American cars, but increasingly buy foreign, will.

GM's share of the market has been shrinking, and that's simply because of competition from imports. For every American Auto manufactured, there are at least 2-3 competing foreign brands. Which, I might add, can sell in the U.S. without the stiff tarriff's and penalties which U.S. Manufacturers' face when they sell abroad. Oh, I know that the Big 3 have factories making cars in places like Mexico, where the average assembly line worker makes something like $5 a day, No health or retirement benefits, and no environmental constraints on how they operate, No real safety concerns...
I figure for what they spend on the UAW up here, they more than make up for in places like Mexico.

P.S. Hey VWE, where did you get the numbers' from in your original post? I did'nt see them in your news linky.

This is the link, but you have to be logged into Forbes to read it... I tried to bring it up while not being logged in and it won't show the article.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/06/13/ap3818877.html

[Shuffler]

The problem I have found with many US trucks..... foreign made parts. When something fails your out 1 or 2 months for a replacement. Pathetic!

I won't buy an import.... GM best start having parts made here in the US so they won't fail like the garbage from overseas.

[Shamus]

Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
Let me guess, you never served did you?

I figured that that would get some attention

Are you one of the "hooray for me I got mine, to hell with you" crowd?

The auto workers have the same expectations that the corporation is going to stand behind its promises to them, as you expect the government to stand by it's promises to you.

shamus

[AquaShrimp]

Auto workers arent particularly skilled, so why are they making such huge wages?  So why do I, as an American consumer, have to pay such high prices for American cars?  American cars arent exceedingly better than foreign designed cars.

So what do I think about the UAW strike?  Fuggem, feed'em fish heads.  I hope they all end up on welfare by the time this strike is over.

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by Sixpence
Alot of American cars are lower in price, but people will pay more for the quality of a Honda. I was looking at new and used mini vans. I can get a grand caravan or spend more money and get an odyssey. Wages have nothing to do with it, the quality of foreign cars will get people to spend more money for them.

geez, I guess it was too hard to follow.  The prices may be lower than some imports... I wasn't comparing that.  I was comparing current prices to what would be lower prices for the same unit.  

Wages do have something to do with it... they could keep the prices the same and spend more on quality control if wages were lower, for example.
Duh.

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
Auto workers arent particularly skilled, so why are they making such huge wages?  So why do I, as an American consumer, have to pay such high prices for American cars?  

UAW inflated wages.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

The answer to the question posed in the title of the thread is yes. They will not be satisfied until they kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Union executives are just as guilty as corporate management in killing the goose. And BOTH union management AND corporate management will walk off with plenty of money, only those who paid dues will suffer.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Sixpence
Alot of American cars are lower in price, but people will pay more for the quality of a Honda. I was looking at new and used mini vans. I can get a grand caravan or spend more money and get an odyssey. Wages have nothing to do with it, the quality of foreign cars will get people to spend more money for them.

They sacrificed quality for price.  If the wages weren't that high, they wouldn't have to sacrifice quality at all.

[sluggish]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
They sacrificed quality for price.  If the wages weren't that high, they wouldn't have to sacrifice quality at all.

The bottom line is to satisfy the share holders.  Shareholders are satisfied through profit.  You really think that any American auto manufacturer would put one dime more into a vehicle if it didn't have to?

It is foolish and naive to think that American automobiles would be cheaper if wages were lower.

(and yes I realize that quality + inovation + value = reputation + profitability, but I really don't think that American automotive execs do)

[BigGun]

I read quotes from top union guy saying that it wasn't about retiree health care, but was about preserving jobs.

[rabbidrabbit]

Originally posted by Shamus
I figured that that would get some attention

Are you one of the "hooray for me I got mine, to hell with you" crowd?

The auto workers have the same expectations that the corporation is going to stand behind its promises to them, as you expect the government to stand by it's promises to you.

shamus

No, I'm one of those do the right thing for the right reason crowd.  If you promise something then you should do it.  And yes, I'm rated at 100% according to the VA and know that service connected injuries are sometimes long lasting.  If you step up to the plate for your country and pay the price your country should step up to the plate to make good as best it can.  This has little to do with the auto industry beyond honoring an agreement.