The Color Orange

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Grizz, Ford can't afford to play favorites these days. They're bleeding so badly financially that they have to be cash-driven in every decision they make... good or bad.

Yeah, it's a shame really. How many people are they laying off? Last I heard, the plan was somewhere around 60,000 between them and GM.

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

Yeah, it's a shame really. How many people are they laying off? Last I heard, the plan was somewhere around 60,000 between them and GM.

I read last year that every GM car has about $1,600 in fixed cost to cover their retired employees health care insurance!

[RandallNeighbour]

I also heard that Mercedes is breaking it off with Chrysler. Don't know if that's urban legend or the truth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

American car companies better do something radical and do it soon if they want to retain automobile manufacturing in any form.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

I also heard that Mercedes is breaking it off with Chrysler. Don't know if that's urban legend or the truth, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

American car companies better do something radical and do it soon if they want to retain automobile manufacturing in any form.

Hmm, my brother-in-law works for Chrysler Europe - I hope they don't split, that will hit him and my sister pretty hard. That relationship has been very good for Chrysler

Yeah, I heard the same thing about the rediculous overhead costs. I want to place the blame on our lovely unions, but I really don't have any information to support my position.

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

I want to place the blame on our lovely unions, but I really don't have any information to support my position.

You wouldn't have to look far to find the evidence to place blame for this mess squarely on the shoulders of the unions. As much as I'd like to feel sorry for the American auto worker, I can't. Did they really think that the American car makers were going to be able to support this pyramid forever? The factory workers weren't crying when they went out on strike after strike, always looking for more, more, more and holding the industry hostage. A few weeks ago one of the big evening news shows had a good story about the whole mess. They said the average auto worker's salary is six digits, counting O.T. but not benefits. Now we're supposed to feel sorry for them while they cry on TV about losing their jobs and acting like the world owes them something? The truth of the matter is that their greed drove the American Auto Makers into the ground and the unions were holding the reins. How long did the unions think the automakers could stay one up on the Asian manufacturers while supporting those salaries, benefits and retirement packages?

[pecivil]

thats just it, they didn't think, just grab the $$$ and run

if any of them were smart, they have been saving for this rainy day you know was coming.

what is really sad is it is leading to the failure of the companies

and failed companies can't pay for retirees health insurance, can they?

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by pecivil

thats just it, they didn't think, just grab the $$$ and run

if any of them were smart, they have been saving for this rainy day you know was coming.

what is really sad is it is leading to the failure of the companies

and failed companies can't pay for retirees health insurance, can they?

Theoretically, those funds should be in a fund somewhere and protected.

[thomschoon]

Originally Posted by Grizzly

You wouldn't have to look far to find the evidence to place blame for this mess squarely on the shoulders of the unions.

Interesting, but the management still had to agree to the contract and the average auto worker in Japan makes about the same as an old line US worker so maybe the real issue is productivity. In fact if you think about it a bit why is it that Toyota, Honda, Kia & Hyndai can build plants in the USA and still make money, must be that productivity/management and building something that people want to puchase can make the difference.


Just my 2 cents and I am not a bleeding heart as I have moved several factories to low cost countries and will do so when it makes cent$.

[BuffaloBoxster]

Toyota in particular pay very well and trat their employees like gold just to keep the UAW out of their North American operations.