Beginning Of The End

Its a shame to see people lose there jobs. Auto workers make a lot of money Iam sure that is part of the problem.
 
Thank the unions for this. They used to help, now I'm not so sure. It makes workers lazy and they demand too much ~~~~. It's just too costly for companies who aren't selling cars to pay wages/benefits/pensions/etc...

Goodyear is on strike too. We can't hardly get any tires at work. God forbid they have to pay for benefits, oh no.
 
Ford

Here we go........blame the Union...............forget grossly over paid exectives getting huge bonuses when the company does well or poor.

Designers and engineers create boring cars the public does not want.

Yeah, blame the employees who build them.
 
Im thinking they are trying to keep up with the Japan.
To me they keep inventing the BOX and Im sorry I dont want to sit in a box. Everything is looking like a volkswagon. Ok im anti SUV but what ever happend to arrow dynamics? Ok the Ford GT but who can afford that. I guess safety and insurance companies are killing off any cars with low to the ground styling. What ever happend to the concept cars of the future we saw at the auto shows years ago? Im not sure who is the blame for the decline but if we dont take stock in our own country soon we are looking at very rich and very poor people in this country. There is something to the saying> buy American
 
I too am disheartened to see this...

The American car companies are in a worse bind than they were in the late 70's where they got special loans from the Gov't in order to sustain the industries. Otherwise, the influx of unemployment would have bankrupted local and state welfare agencies.

At that time in history, the competition came from the Japanese auto manufacturers, not because they were building a significantly superior product, but that they were building products that people wanted and needed. I remember my dad saying something along these lines at one point in 1982 after he picked up a Datsun 210: "I don't care that I cannot read any of the warning labels under the hood. I paid half as much money for this car as I did for that piece of shight Ford Fairmont, and this car doesn't spend any time in the shop. If this car goes and craps out in 2 or 3 years, I can go and buy another one cause' that's how cheap they are".

Gasoline was expensive at that time (Arab oil Crunch) and many of the American cars were not nearly as efficient as the foreign competition. My Dad could maybe get 20mpg from the Ford but could easily get 30+Mpg from the Datsun. That's a no brainer. We see that again with the Japanese manufacturers offering hybrids and the Americans are *just* starting to offer the technolgy now.


This time of course, it's the other way around. The Japanese cars are the established players and it's the American cars that seem to constantly be playing "catch up". The Japanese cars may be a little more expensive but they seem worth it because people generally have low complaints. And American car companies now have to deal with the cheapies from Korea, which are also improving in quality.

Here's the other thing that pisses me off about the rash of import buying in this country. The overseas manufacturers sell their cars in this country and they have even opened plants in this country to circumvent trade tariffs, yet you don't see our product selling in their country or us operating a plant there as well? Why is that? There are a variety of reasons, ranging from tax incentives, environmental restrictions, marketability etc. But if you ask me it boils down to national pride. If you were to go to downtown Tokyo and ask someone if they would shop for an equivilent American automobile, they would probably laugh at you citing the superior quality of Japanese engineered and manufactured vehicles.

Americans lost their pride in purchasing American or purchasing Union long ago. That is why Toyota, Honda and Nissan are now household names.

I forsee Ford and GM following suit with Chrysler and increasingly making mergers with the overseas companies. Lots of execs will come up with the mantra "if you can't beat em' join em" and maybe this will be a way that they can preserve some jobs. I can also see Unions becoming increasingly weakend in future negotiations which will lead to picketting, strikes and perhaps more plant closures.
 
Well my job went the way of the dodo yesterday. Meeting at 2:00 pm.

Meeting details:

"For reasons beyond my control, we are closing the shop for good, I'm sorry about this and I argued with the district and regional managers about it but they wouldn't budge. Go ahead and gather up your things, make arrangements to get your tools home, and good luck."

Yeah so now I'm without a job. ~~~~ corporate ~~~~~~~~.

You can't blame it all on the unions, but look at how CHEAP you can build a Kia compared to a Ford or GM.

Sure the CEO's even if they fail get a nice parting settlement which is more than I will ever make in my life, and that I believe is BS. They should say you tried, you failed, hit the road. The unemployment office opens at 8:00 am Monday, I suggest you get in line.

Anyhow the unions are sort of a necessary evil. They keep the employers from being cheap and stingy on benefits, in return they can hurt the employer by striking and not getting work done, letting people ~~~~ off and not show up to work for a week or so and not lose their jobs, demand pay raises across the board for members.....

So when trying to compete with sweat shop style car companies, how can an American company win? We are going to be depending on everything to be imported. But all of the jobs are getting exported..... See the problem. In 15 years we will have little domestic jobs and everything we buy will be imported from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, etc....

The world is going to hell in a hand basket, wake up and smell the coffee. Invest for your families future and learn to become self sufficient financially. That's the only hope we will have.
 
Goodyears Steel Workers Union strike was just settled. They now have to pay billions more in healthcare, pensions, etc....

And my franchised Goodyear shop, being one in a smaller city, is an easy way to cut costs to fund this settlement with the unions. So ~~~~ us and our jobs and our bills and our benefits...... The unions win, and guys like me who bust our ~~~ 6 days a week 50+ hours to keep peoples rides on the road for flat rate, just get the ax because we are expendable. My shop isn't the only one, they are shutting down a bunch of smaller shops suddenly as the end of the 2006 business year.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
That sucks Scott that you have to lose your job, so someone else can keep theirs. I think a lot of employees expect too much from their bosses, like health insurance. I mean, whatever happened to being responsible and taking care of your own needs? Now America has gotten to the point that they expect their employers to supply them with everything. No wonder things cost so much these days. :( :mad:
 
just imagine if you were union you would still have a job. non union and union both have the pros and cons. its your choice.

this whole situation has more to do with Fords product line and what they are offering to potential customers, than it does the union employees. if ford was offering cars everyone wanted at a (reasonable price) and they were doin good financially we wouldnt be discussing union non union.

this is not the union employees fault for trying to make a good living.
 
Sure the CEO's even if they fail get a nice parting settlement which is more than I will ever make in my life, and that I believe is BS.
US Air is doing the same thing.....

That is the biggest problem with "Corporate America"

Some idiots that probably never earned an honest days pay gets huge bonuses at the expense of all the "worker bees"....:mad:

What are these CEOs going to do when they have ALL the money with no more "worker bees".....:confused:

If just a few of these dumb azzes would take their bonuses or golden parachutes and re-invest it back into their company, it would sure help.....
 
If I had an option to join a union I would because it would have provided some job security. Basically the plants had unions but the shops are just managed by a store manager and everyone else is there on their own free will.

I didn't even have healthcare options at my job because I was low man on the totem pole. The guys who did have benefits were about to undergo a premium increase in 07 but now they won't have to worry about that.

I would have gladly paid a weekly or monthly dues payment in return for benefits and job security, and a pay raise.
 
I wish I could be in a real union. Iam self employed. I had to join the teamsters owners operators union. $250 to join, $30 a month and I get nothing but a card. I also have to carry workers comp. insurance. Theres a real carch 22. I have to have it by law. $1200 a year, but since I am self employed I cant collect if I am hurt.:mad:
 
yes you can Tim...

I wish I could be in a real union. Iam self employed. I had to join the teamsters owners operators union. $250 to join, $30 a month and I get nothing but a card. I also have to carry workers comp. insurance. Theres a real carch 22. I have to have it by law. $1200 a year, but since I am self employed I cant collect if I am hurt.:mad:

Ask your agent to add you to the policy. That is what I did up here, that way if I get hurt working on one of my toys I can claim the bills.
Now as for unions,... They built this great place we call home, the USA.. The unions are what gave everyone a real pay check to feed their family with.
Now as for the "Top brASS" show me one that is worth millions in bonus's??? The guy on the top has always grabbed his share, and that of the workers in the shop as well. Get rid of all the "DEAD WOOD" on the top and lets see if we can still keep going....
There is one more thing that goes into this mess. You all know the saying, "Have it your way"... Well the guys at Burger King that made that workare showing everyone what is wrong with the "Big Three". Go to an import dealer and you can get almost anything you want in any color or style.. Now go to the big three and try that, you grt ZIP..... only what they want to build...
Try to get a fusion with a V6 and a stick, or how about a escape with a 5 speed with a V6. or a 5 speed with a "awd" anything....
These are just a few examples of what is no longer out there for us to buy...
Now go to the imports and get the same type of car with the things that you can't get from the big three...
These are just some of the reasons that there is trouble in this country...Don't blame the unions, they are there for the safty of the workers.
If you want to look to Washington D.C. for some of the blame, that would be a great idea as well...............Rich
 
How about jacking up the tariff's on imported goods (not just cars) would give american companies better chances of survival on the store shelves.

As for the import cars getting around the taxes by building the cars here, well.... I know it creates some American jobs, but in the big picture it's not helping us.

Pretty soon we'll all be working for Wal-mart because americans want everything so cheap. Why buy an American product that's $10.00 when you get a Korean one for $3.00 and if it fails, just buy another cheap one.
 
Scott if you still have my number give me a call. If not let me know and I can send it to you. Still lots of jobs around here for people that want to really work.:D
 
One thing thats killing american car companys is the fact that there economy cars are poorly built pieces of sh** at a time when gas costs 2.50$ a gallon! why buy an escort or a chevy cavalier when they fall apart at 150k or less when you can buy a honda and put 400k on it before anything major goes wrong?? most honda's and toyota's run till the point that the car falls apart and the engine is still good! Aparently american car company's have a niche when it comes to reliability and performance and that is RWD v8 powered vehicles.. Mainly trucks.. when the japanese start selling 3/4 ton and 1 ton full size trucks, that is when we will really be in trouble.. I love american muscle cars and american pickups but when it comes to cheaply and realiably getting from point a to point b give me a honda or a toyota anyday.. My work beater is an 92 accord with 280k on it, i put 450+ miles a week on that sucker and have never had to do anything to it outside of oil changes and tune-ups other than brakes and tires! Look at a honda and a comparable model of american car sometime and compare... 1 the honda has more power 2 its built better and has a much nicer/more comfertable interior 3 It will last longer and get better fuel economy.. There are imports that are cheap junk ie: kia, misubishi,mazda, suzuki, hundai.... but honda, toyota(which alot of are built in america by americans) nissan, subaru, VW all good cars... When you can go buy a cheap american car that has that kind of longevity, quality and performance and reputation then that will be when our car companies start getting out of the hole.. Why buy a new domestic economy car when you can drop $3000 on a used import that will give you more trouble free service than the 4 times as expensive new car???
 
Suzuki? I bought mine new in 1995. It still get me to work everyday. When I replace it I may buy an American car IF I can find one that in cheap and will last with no problems.:D The Question is what car?
 
Subaru, all the way.....:D

I got a 98 Outback with 120,000 miles for $4,300.00 that already had all the major maintenance items done......

It is good to go for another 100,000 miles before any major maintenace needs to be done.....
 
Scott, sorry to hear about your job. Im right outside of Chicago in contruction and lets just say there is no work to be had. I went to my local lumber yard and it was like a morge. I asked where everyone was and they told me that they had layed off about a 2/3 of there staff because of this slow down. I doing what ever I can infact sunday I was hanging drywall just to rub two coins together. Now im not to sure what is going on but if we have another year like last im going to be working at walmart for minum wages. The news tell a differnt story and I just don`t see it. I don`t know what the problems are but I just hope our country dose not fall on its face.
 
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