AmericanVOR's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/227693/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/127376-car-czar-auto-companies-will-need-more-a-lot-more?source=feed#comment-436992 436992
I read a lot about the public perception of the autoworkers. Since the comments I read are often repeated, I can only surmise that a lot of people are very interested in talking about work dynamics and habits of the typical autoworker. So I decided to give some perspective from an employee’s view.

I am a body structures designer for GM and I use Unigraphics to do my job. I am currently working on three different programs. I am designing parts and creating design studies for four different engineers. I organize my work by timing of the due dates, and I strive to meet them. I also attend meetings when my parts are required for review.

I go to lunch around 11:00. This usually consists of me reaching from a brown bag and eating leftovers from the night before (if we happened to have time to cook between school conferences and other seemingly endless things that pop up as the weeks come into focus). Most times, I eat at my desk and read. Often, work does call during lunch and I return to designing or reviewing while I eat. That’s ok with me, and the only compensation I ask for shows up in my checking account twice a month.

I am paid for 8-hours, but I am not a clock watcher. I work what it takes to get the job done. When special projects arise that require a volunteer, I raise my hand.

I am 41 years old. I have a wife with major health issues. She has been hospitalized fifteen times since January 2008. It is not over yet*. I also have six-year-old triplets. We all attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Overall, we live rather modestly. Aside from some uniqueness, I think we represent the basic lifestyles of the most of my co-workers.

I also attend Central Michigan University in pursuit of my Bachelors degree in Vehicle Design Engineering. I have an Associate’s degree in Vehicle Design from a community college and a Designing Engineer certificate from Michigan Technological University. I have paid for most of my classes out of my own pocket. GM paid once I was hired, but I got myself there. Due to cutbacks, GM has relinquished the tuition reimbursement. I will still go to school.

I hope you understand that, when I read about lazy autoworkers, it hits a nerve with me. I am surrounded every day by men and women doing the same thing I am doing. We are fighting for our jobs and not a single one of us feels entitled to anything.

I am not UAW. However, the common opinions of the UAW is decades old. Yes, there are bad eggs in every job and there are still steps to take. However, if you have been following for the last five years, you know that the UAW at GM is barely a shell of its former self. And there are still metrics in place that will further the progress to being competitive with the foreign business model.

There are times when we’re slow, as is the nature of programs winding down and ramping up, that I feel guilty at the end of the day. I hate not being busy. I WANT to EARN my wages.

I don’t believe I am unique. I believe most everyone is like me. I want to right wrongs. I want to produce. I want to make people happy and, if I could find a way to change the perception of the company I work for, I would. I know we are making the best product we ever have, and I know it is world class. I know we have made great strides in quality, styling, and cost cutting. We are doing way more with much less and I feel GREAT PRIDE in being a part of GM.

It hasn’t been fun for the last 3-4 years, but I still love my job. I have survived headcount reductions, but they keep coming. I know what might be ahead for me. I accept it as well. I will lean on my faith, but I fear greatly the reality of what will happen to my family. Still, I would regret the worst happening without my voice being heard in support of my GM brothers and sisters. I cannot change my external environment, but I can choose how I react to it. This is my reaction.

GM was a major factor in creating the middle class. GM was there to help build war machines. GM has been there with vehicle aid after natural disasters. GM was there to help keep the economy going after 9/11. GM is not just a car company. It is an integral part of American history.

People have strong opinions about autoworkers, and I’m certain they are rooted in varying degrees of history and truth. However, I am here to tell you that today, I represent the general employee base here at GM. Nobody denies the fact that we have made some blunders. We lost our way in the eighties and we stumbled through the nineties. But this company is 100 years old. Along with Ford and Chrysler, our cars and trucks have been the lion's share of choices when it comes to parades, car shows, cruises, farming, construction, contractors, movies, children’s' automotive dreams, and adults' automotive passions. From our earliest models of class and elegance to wartime transformations, we've built history. From dependency on oil to breakthrough technologies in alternative fuels, we are building the present. With a competitive global business model in place, a workforce of passionate men and women, and seemingly endless opportunities to explore new technologies, I know we can build the future!

Peace be with you,

Dominic Gerace

*Update for: As of march 8th, 2009, my beautiful wife is no longer with us.]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:26:37 -0400
I read a lot about the public perception of the autoworkers. Since the comments I read are often repeated, I can only surmise that a lot of people are very interested in talking about work dynamics and habits of the typical autoworker. So I decided to give some perspective from an employee’s view.

I am a body structures designer for GM and I use Unigraphics to do my job. I am currently working on three different programs. I am designing parts and creating design studies for four different engineers. I organize my work by timing of the due dates, and I strive to meet them. I also attend meetings when my parts are required for review.

I go to lunch around 11:00. This usually consists of me reaching from a brown bag and eating leftovers from the night before (if we happened to have time to cook between school conferences and other seemingly endless things that pop up as the weeks come into focus). Most times, I eat at my desk and read. Often, work does call during lunch and I return to designing or reviewing while I eat. That’s ok with me, and the only compensation I ask for shows up in my checking account twice a month.

I am paid for 8-hours, but I am not a clock watcher. I work what it takes to get the job done. When special projects arise that require a volunteer, I raise my hand.

I am 41 years old. I have a wife with major health issues. She has been hospitalized fifteen times since January 2008. It is not over yet*. I also have six-year-old triplets. We all attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Overall, we live rather modestly. Aside from some uniqueness, I think we represent the basic lifestyles of the most of my co-workers.

I also attend Central Michigan University in pursuit of my Bachelors degree in Vehicle Design Engineering. I have an Associate’s degree in Vehicle Design from a community college and a Designing Engineer certificate from Michigan Technological University. I have paid for most of my classes out of my own pocket. GM paid once I was hired, but I got myself there. Due to cutbacks, GM has relinquished the tuition reimbursement. I will still go to school.

I hope you understand that, when I read about lazy autoworkers, it hits a nerve with me. I am surrounded every day by men and women doing the same thing I am doing. We are fighting for our jobs and not a single one of us feels entitled to anything.

I am not UAW. However, the common opinions of the UAW is decades old. Yes, there are bad eggs in every job and there are still steps to take. However, if you have been following for the last five years, you know that the UAW at GM is barely a shell of its former self. And there are still metrics in place that will further the progress to being competitive with the foreign business model.

There are times when we’re slow, as is the nature of programs winding down and ramping up, that I feel guilty at the end of the day. I hate not being busy. I WANT to EARN my wages.

I don’t believe I am unique. I believe most everyone is like me. I want to right wrongs. I want to produce. I want to make people happy and, if I could find a way to change the perception of the company I work for, I would. I know we are making the best product we ever have, and I know it is world class. I know we have made great strides in quality, styling, and cost cutting. We are doing way more with much less and I feel GREAT PRIDE in being a part of GM.

It hasn’t been fun for the last 3-4 years, but I still love my job. I have survived headcount reductions, but they keep coming. I know what might be ahead for me. I accept it as well. I will lean on my faith, but I fear greatly the reality of what will happen to my family. Still, I would regret the worst happening without my voice being heard in support of my GM brothers and sisters. I cannot change my external environment, but I can choose how I react to it. This is my reaction.

GM was a major factor in creating the middle class. GM was there to help build war machines. GM has been there with vehicle aid after natural disasters. GM was there to help keep the economy going after 9/11. GM is not just a car company. It is an integral part of American history.

People have strong opinions about autoworkers, and I’m certain they are rooted in varying degrees of history and truth. However, I am here to tell you that today, I represent the general employee base here at GM. Nobody denies the fact that we have made some blunders. We lost our way in the eighties and we stumbled through the nineties. But this company is 100 years old. Along with Ford and Chrysler, our cars and trucks have been the lion's share of choices when it comes to parades, car shows, cruises, farming, construction, contractors, movies, children’s' automotive dreams, and adults' automotive passions. From our earliest models of class and elegance to wartime transformations, we've built history. From dependency on oil to breakthrough technologies in alternative fuels, we are building the present. With a competitive global business model in place, a workforce of passionate men and women, and seemingly endless opportunities to explore new technologies, I know we can build the future!

Peace be with you,

Dominic Gerace

*Update for: As of march 8th, 2009, my beautiful wife is no longer with us.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/122470-is-a-car-produced-in-alabama-really-an-import?source=feed#comment-403424 403424
Then a guy from aother country decides he wants to have a florist too. Your local community government gives him money and land to build one. He builds a state-of-the-art facility and he's up and running. However, he still lives in his home country.

Then the same government that paid him to set up shop comes into your florist and tells you that you must start growing certain flowers and each flower has to give off a set amount of oxygen. Then they leave you to pay for this change and figure it out, even though the market for those flowers is very small.

Meanwhile, the other guy's business is booming. His home country pays health care, so the advantages of his operations there help him do business here. He chose not to pay retirement benefits to his employees, but your mom had already set a retirement deal fo rher workers years ago.

Your mom's florist has a hard time competing and beings to cut corners. Finally, she needs some help and asks the governemnt for a loan, This is the same government that gave the other guy incentivs to set up the shop that is putting her out. Still, the government, the media, and the public drag her through the mud and call her a beggar.

Once she was praised for providing jobs, good wages, retirement, health care, and upping the standard of living for all who lived around her florist. Now she is ridiculed for those same things. She is told to "do it like the foreign guy", but when she asks for money like he got, she's slammed.

Mom is cutting corners at home. No cable, no-name brand foods, heat set at 65, backing off sporting programs for her kids...

Then one day, your sister comes home with a ficus tree that she bought from the other guys florist. You explain to her how buying from mom's florist will help your household. She tells you that her friend from school works at the other florist, so its the same thing.]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:48:47 -0500
Then a guy from aother country decides he wants to have a florist too. Your local community government gives him money and land to build one. He builds a state-of-the-art facility and he's up and running. However, he still lives in his home country.

Then the same government that paid him to set up shop comes into your florist and tells you that you must start growing certain flowers and each flower has to give off a set amount of oxygen. Then they leave you to pay for this change and figure it out, even though the market for those flowers is very small.

Meanwhile, the other guy's business is booming. His home country pays health care, so the advantages of his operations there help him do business here. He chose not to pay retirement benefits to his employees, but your mom had already set a retirement deal fo rher workers years ago.

Your mom's florist has a hard time competing and beings to cut corners. Finally, she needs some help and asks the governemnt for a loan, This is the same government that gave the other guy incentivs to set up the shop that is putting her out. Still, the government, the media, and the public drag her through the mud and call her a beggar.

Once she was praised for providing jobs, good wages, retirement, health care, and upping the standard of living for all who lived around her florist. Now she is ridiculed for those same things. She is told to "do it like the foreign guy", but when she asks for money like he got, she's slammed.

Mom is cutting corners at home. No cable, no-name brand foods, heat set at 65, backing off sporting programs for her kids...

Then one day, your sister comes home with a ficus tree that she bought from the other guys florist. You explain to her how buying from mom's florist will help your household. She tells you that her friend from school works at the other florist, so its the same thing.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/116728-obama-insists-cars-improve-fuel-efficiency-by-40?source=feed#comment-367700 367700
Now that gas prices have dropped under $2.00 per gallon, the high mileage car sales are going down again. Hybrid car sales dropped 10% by the end of 2008.

CAFE will only force companies to make vehicles that nobody wants. High gas prices will force customers to want high mileage vehicles.]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:06:04 -0500
Now that gas prices have dropped under $2.00 per gallon, the high mileage car sales are going down again. Hybrid car sales dropped 10% by the end of 2008.

CAFE will only force companies to make vehicles that nobody wants. High gas prices will force customers to want high mileage vehicles.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114694-why-won-t-gm-just-go-away?source=feed#comment-355647 355647
Trying to write fast and trust Word spell checker :)]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:37:53 -0500
Trying to write fast and trust Word spell checker :)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114694-why-won-t-gm-just-go-away?source=feed#comment-355637 355637
And there was a "time" when we were at war with Japan. But we correct things and move on, right?

Today's American car and its world class quality is not a result of sabotoge and lazy workers. Besides, what corporation didn't have insubordination within its ranks at times? Go to alocal car show and see that the American car companies DO have a LOT to be proud of.

They don't write songs about Toyotas and Hondas.]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:29:28 -0500
And there was a "time" when we were at war with Japan. But we correct things and move on, right?

Today's American car and its world class quality is not a result of sabotoge and lazy workers. Besides, what corporation didn't have insubordination within its ranks at times? Go to alocal car show and see that the American car companies DO have a LOT to be proud of.

They don't write songs about Toyotas and Hondas.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114694-why-won-t-gm-just-go-away?source=feed#comment-355633 355633
Let’s say your mom saved her money, got a small business loan, and opened a small florist. She invests her time and money, grows flowers, and the business does good. She is able to give good wages to her employees, and that in turn allows them to spend in their communities. Your mom is able to support your family and grow the business, employing more people from neighboring communities. But she can't grow the business without good business first. That is what allows reinvestment. Years go by and many communities are benefactors as the florist pays local, and federal taxes, employs thousands of workers and requires services like carpet cleaning, building maintenance.. All of these services from local communities.

One day, another florist is built across the street. You find that the owner lives in Japan. And that owner was given money from his government to start his florist back home. Now that he wants to expand into the U.S., he is able to build right away because he didn't need to save up for reinvestment. Then you find out that he was given a huge tax break to build his florist here by our government (taxes your mom and employees paid). Not only that, but he has been given a couple of years to do business at a much lower tax rate than your mom currently pays.

His florist hires workers, but he pays them less and offers less benefits. But his flowers cost the same as yours. So with his subsidization from home, aid from the U.S., and lower operating costs than your mom, his florist becomes profitable very soon.

Now that he has these advantages, he is able to spend freely on R&D to build much better flowers. His flowers live longer, smell better, and begin to get a reputation for quality even though he has been in business not nearly as long as your mom.

Your mom wants to compete, but she promised her workers these benefits. And even though her business model built your surrounding communities, she is now being slammed in the media and on Seeking Alpha, and by her own congressmen who give billions to the other florists.

Your mom is told to "do it like them". So she asks for government help, like they do it, and she is slammed even more.

So your mom does it the old fashion way. She works hard and puts in a LOT of her own time and money and she finally has flowers as well as anybody’s in the world. Unfortunately, the perception is that her flowers are bad, and the foreign guy’s florist has the best flowers ever.

Now your mom is losing business even though her product is great. So she begins to cut costs. She lays off workers, starts buying generic coral for home and cancels cable TV. You, as her child, feel the pinch.

Then one day, your sister comes home with some flowers bought from the foreign florist. You explain to her the connection between your quality of life and mom's florist. Her answer is that a friend from school works there, so it's the same thing.

Meanwhile, the owner of the other florist's owner still lives in Japan. Always has, always will He reaps the lion's share of profit and brings it home while still enjoying home sublimation, government health care, and United States tax breaks whenever he wants to build here and start the cycle all over again.

At this point, even when all forists are losing money, it is still better to support the home team. It is a global economy, but we should still support the home team. Just like both basketball teams are on the court, but let's keep our shots going into the right basket. Why shoot for theirs?
]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:25:32 -0500
Let’s say your mom saved her money, got a small business loan, and opened a small florist. She invests her time and money, grows flowers, and the business does good. She is able to give good wages to her employees, and that in turn allows them to spend in their communities. Your mom is able to support your family and grow the business, employing more people from neighboring communities. But she can't grow the business without good business first. That is what allows reinvestment. Years go by and many communities are benefactors as the florist pays local, and federal taxes, employs thousands of workers and requires services like carpet cleaning, building maintenance.. All of these services from local communities.

One day, another florist is built across the street. You find that the owner lives in Japan. And that owner was given money from his government to start his florist back home. Now that he wants to expand into the U.S., he is able to build right away because he didn't need to save up for reinvestment. Then you find out that he was given a huge tax break to build his florist here by our government (taxes your mom and employees paid). Not only that, but he has been given a couple of years to do business at a much lower tax rate than your mom currently pays.

His florist hires workers, but he pays them less and offers less benefits. But his flowers cost the same as yours. So with his subsidization from home, aid from the U.S., and lower operating costs than your mom, his florist becomes profitable very soon.

Now that he has these advantages, he is able to spend freely on R&D to build much better flowers. His flowers live longer, smell better, and begin to get a reputation for quality even though he has been in business not nearly as long as your mom.

Your mom wants to compete, but she promised her workers these benefits. And even though her business model built your surrounding communities, she is now being slammed in the media and on Seeking Alpha, and by her own congressmen who give billions to the other florists.

Your mom is told to "do it like them". So she asks for government help, like they do it, and she is slammed even more.

So your mom does it the old fashion way. She works hard and puts in a LOT of her own time and money and she finally has flowers as well as anybody’s in the world. Unfortunately, the perception is that her flowers are bad, and the foreign guy’s florist has the best flowers ever.

Now your mom is losing business even though her product is great. So she begins to cut costs. She lays off workers, starts buying generic coral for home and cancels cable TV. You, as her child, feel the pinch.

Then one day, your sister comes home with some flowers bought from the foreign florist. You explain to her the connection between your quality of life and mom's florist. Her answer is that a friend from school works there, so it's the same thing.

Meanwhile, the owner of the other florist's owner still lives in Japan. Always has, always will He reaps the lion's share of profit and brings it home while still enjoying home sublimation, government health care, and United States tax breaks whenever he wants to build here and start the cycle all over again.

At this point, even when all forists are losing money, it is still better to support the home team. It is a global economy, but we should still support the home team. Just like both basketball teams are on the court, but let's keep our shots going into the right basket. Why shoot for theirs?
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114694-why-won-t-gm-just-go-away?source=feed#comment-355563 355563
Even IF all the UAW stories were true, even IF they did make $70 an hour, slept on the job, came to work drunk... then how could the quality of our American cars be on par or even better than the foreign makes (which they are)?

Do you realize that not only do we compete with the foreign companies, but we compete with their governments too? EVERY non-American car company is subsidized by their home government. Every one of them.

I have a better idea than just letting GM "go away" (along with the millions of auto-related workers whose sudden unempoyment would have a worse effect than any government loan), how about we get behind our home team and take back what is ours? Let's fight for our manufacturing jobs, let's rise up against foreign brands getting billions form our government to take market share and jobs from us.

Anyone can sit int heir underwear and bang out uneducated opinions on a keyboard. But who will really take a stand, roll up their sleevs, and take this country back?

GOD BLESS AMERICA!]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:38:49 -0500
Even IF all the UAW stories were true, even IF they did make $70 an hour, slept on the job, came to work drunk... then how could the quality of our American cars be on par or even better than the foreign makes (which they are)?

Do you realize that not only do we compete with the foreign companies, but we compete with their governments too? EVERY non-American car company is subsidized by their home government. Every one of them.

I have a better idea than just letting GM "go away" (along with the millions of auto-related workers whose sudden unempoyment would have a worse effect than any government loan), how about we get behind our home team and take back what is ours? Let's fight for our manufacturing jobs, let's rise up against foreign brands getting billions form our government to take market share and jobs from us.

Anyone can sit int heir underwear and bang out uneducated opinions on a keyboard. But who will really take a stand, roll up their sleevs, and take this country back?

GOD BLESS AMERICA!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113677-detroit-please-bring-back-the-stripped-car?source=feed#comment-348653 348653 Some issues with that is overall part content between levels, scheduling, and piece price.

For example, when power windows were new, it was extra to have them included, so the price reflected the content.

Today, the wire harness that runs through the car contains all the connections anyway. It would actually be more expensive to order different harnesses for each option level.

Then there are safety requirements that need to be satisfied. An impact beam inside a door will be designed with all available options in place, then used across the model line. The money involved in design, testing, and materials are already designed into the vehicle.

At that point, with the engineering and part content in place, it becomes a minimal expense to toss in the power window assembly which is bought in large quantities.

A manual windw would be a different assembly and would require its own design and engineering. If it is a low volume option, it would actually cost more than one might think to purchase.

This is just one example where, pricewise, it may make more sense to equip a car with options that we feel it could be cheaper without. Truth is, they might not be able to make a less equipped car all that much cheaper.

And if I wanted to sell cars, I could take an equipped model of a in the class of a competitor's and price it just a little higher than thiers and say, "Look how much more you get here for just another $30 a month in your payment."

Just saying...]]> Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:48:16 -0500 Some issues with that is overall part content between levels, scheduling, and piece price.

For example, when power windows were new, it was extra to have them included, so the price reflected the content.

Today, the wire harness that runs through the car contains all the connections anyway. It would actually be more expensive to order different harnesses for each option level.

Then there are safety requirements that need to be satisfied. An impact beam inside a door will be designed with all available options in place, then used across the model line. The money involved in design, testing, and materials are already designed into the vehicle.

At that point, with the engineering and part content in place, it becomes a minimal expense to toss in the power window assembly which is bought in large quantities.

A manual windw would be a different assembly and would require its own design and engineering. If it is a low volume option, it would actually cost more than one might think to purchase.

This is just one example where, pricewise, it may make more sense to equip a car with options that we feel it could be cheaper without. Truth is, they might not be able to make a less equipped car all that much cheaper.

And if I wanted to sell cars, I could take an equipped model of a in the class of a competitor's and price it just a little higher than thiers and say, "Look how much more you get here for just another $30 a month in your payment."

Just saying...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113677-detroit-please-bring-back-the-stripped-car?source=feed#comment-348606 348606
Ummmm... 1997?

The last production year for the Chevette was 1987.
]]> Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:24:35 -0500
Ummmm... 1997?

The last production year for the Chevette was 1987.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/109876-auto-industry-rescue-delays-the-inevitable?source=feed#comment-324657 324657
Can you name me any other industry where the home companies are given standards and regulations by their government, but no financial subsidization to execute their law, but then that same home government offers heavy tax breaks to foreign makes to set up shop here? Foreign makes that have health care sponsored by their home government? Foriegn makes that are also subsidized by their home government in their operations including the resource hungry R&D operations?

Can you name me another business that: is credited for raising the standard of living, creating the middle class, offered security to workers at retirement, provided health care, manufactured war machines for their country, gives heavily to the United Way through corporate and employee contributions, donated milions in cash and vehicles after national disasters and terrorists attacks, and was given accolades for helping jump start the economy after 911, and now that same company is treated like gum on a shoe by congressmen and millions of decade-old stereotype-spouting amature bloogers and uninformed professional journalists?

Can you name one other company that has been such an intregal part of American history, but is now the subject of hate and ridicule for simply trying to provide quality benefits while its market is structured for foreign brands to do business much more cheaply than the home team?

]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:12:45 -0500
Can you name me any other industry where the home companies are given standards and regulations by their government, but no financial subsidization to execute their law, but then that same home government offers heavy tax breaks to foreign makes to set up shop here? Foreign makes that have health care sponsored by their home government? Foriegn makes that are also subsidized by their home government in their operations including the resource hungry R&D operations?

Can you name me another business that: is credited for raising the standard of living, creating the middle class, offered security to workers at retirement, provided health care, manufactured war machines for their country, gives heavily to the United Way through corporate and employee contributions, donated milions in cash and vehicles after national disasters and terrorists attacks, and was given accolades for helping jump start the economy after 911, and now that same company is treated like gum on a shoe by congressmen and millions of decade-old stereotype-spouting amature bloogers and uninformed professional journalists?

Can you name one other company that has been such an intregal part of American history, but is now the subject of hate and ridicule for simply trying to provide quality benefits while its market is structured for foreign brands to do business much more cheaply than the home team?

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108093-has-general-motors-earned-a-bailout?source=feed#comment-315731 315731
"...it is hard to see a viable path forward. GM is basically paying $30/hr for labor more then the transplants... This is a significant cost advantage which will simply, at some point, push GM back to bankruptcy's door again..."

V.E.B.A. It has already been agreed upon and signed. It essentially eliminates the labor cost difference that people and media keep bringing up over and over and over and over and over...

That issue has been resovled and is a valuable metric in the plans for GM's resurgence.

" ...All of the Big 3 need to downsize their workforces, but they can't afford to do ..."

GM has cut its payroll drastically, by 45.8 percent in the U.S. alone since 2000. In fact, GM is far from the largest employer in the industry. With 252,000 employees worldwide, GM ranks fifth overall behind Volkswagen (373,400 employees,) Renault/Nissan (316,121 employees,) Toyota (316,121 employees) and Daimler (272,382 employees). Yet GM sold more vehicles worldwide last year than any other automaker.
]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:19:02 -0500
"...it is hard to see a viable path forward. GM is basically paying $30/hr for labor more then the transplants... This is a significant cost advantage which will simply, at some point, push GM back to bankruptcy's door again..."

V.E.B.A. It has already been agreed upon and signed. It essentially eliminates the labor cost difference that people and media keep bringing up over and over and over and over and over...

That issue has been resovled and is a valuable metric in the plans for GM's resurgence.

" ...All of the Big 3 need to downsize their workforces, but they can't afford to do ..."

GM has cut its payroll drastically, by 45.8 percent in the U.S. alone since 2000. In fact, GM is far from the largest employer in the industry. With 252,000 employees worldwide, GM ranks fifth overall behind Volkswagen (373,400 employees,) Renault/Nissan (316,121 employees,) Toyota (316,121 employees) and Daimler (272,382 employees). Yet GM sold more vehicles worldwide last year than any other automaker.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106896-automakers-bailout-arguments-pro-and-con?source=feed#comment-310491 310491
"GM cannot build cars that people want at a price people can afford. That is the bottom line."

FACTS:

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.

Although total U.S. vehicle sales are down almost 15% so far this year (through October), a number of GM cars and crossovers have enjoyed significant sales increases:

Chevy Malibu +39%
Pontiac Vibe +36%
Pontiac G6 + 4%
Cadillac CTS +15%
Saturn Aura +7%
GMC Acadia +2%
Buick Enclave +88%


]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:19:08 -0500
"GM cannot build cars that people want at a price people can afford. That is the bottom line."

FACTS:

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.

Although total U.S. vehicle sales are down almost 15% so far this year (through October), a number of GM cars and crossovers have enjoyed significant sales increases:

Chevy Malibu +39%
Pontiac Vibe +36%
Pontiac G6 + 4%
Cadillac CTS +15%
Saturn Aura +7%
GMC Acadia +2%
Buick Enclave +88%


]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/105660-reasons-to-bail-out-gm?source=feed#comment-309424 309424

On Nov 18 06:35 PM Bail out!!!! wrote:

> Now GM wants a bailout!! After handing out 30 million in bonus pay
> to the top dogs. You guys even named them and told us all how much
> they got, Did they receive 1 million or 1.8 million? And then layed
> off the worker ants! And now want tax payers money to bail out their
> business! I say it's time for a revolution in this country. Maybe
> someone should take a contract out on these top dogs and see if that
> million was worth that!! We know who they are, right?]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:04:43 -0500

On Nov 18 06:35 PM Bail out!!!! wrote:

> Now GM wants a bailout!! After handing out 30 million in bonus pay
> to the top dogs. You guys even named them and told us all how much
> they got, Did they receive 1 million or 1.8 million? And then layed
> off the worker ants! And now want tax payers money to bail out their
> business! I say it's time for a revolution in this country. Maybe
> someone should take a contract out on these top dogs and see if that
> million was worth that!! We know who they are, right?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106550-a-gm-collapse-would-signal-hope-for-robin-hood?source=feed#comment-309404 309404
You're kidding, right? I'm rich???
We are a one-income family and I have no cottage, boat, ATV's, snowmobiles, motorcycles... I'm really living it up!
I have 6-year-old triplets and a very sick wife. I work, parent, and still go to school at 41 years old. What 401K I did have has been cut in half.

I'm feeling real rich here. You want to know about the typical employee? Read on:

home.comcast.net/~Babies3/GM.htm]]> Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:34:48 -0500
You're kidding, right? I'm rich???
We are a one-income family and I have no cottage, boat, ATV's, snowmobiles, motorcycles... I'm really living it up!
I have 6-year-old triplets and a very sick wife. I work, parent, and still go to school at 41 years old. What 401K I did have has been cut in half.

I'm feeling real rich here. You want to know about the typical employee? Read on:

home.comcast.net/~Babies3/GM.htm]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308270 308270
3 million jobs lost? Better than loaning them a bridge to get to 2010?]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:53:31 -0500
3 million jobs lost? Better than loaning them a bridge to get to 2010?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308263 308263
]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:42 -0500
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308261 308261
Powers rated the Chevrolet Malibu the highest-quality midsize sedan. Both the Malibu and Ford Fusion scored better than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:16 -0500
Powers rated the Chevrolet Malibu the highest-quality midsize sedan. Both the Malibu and Ford Fusion scored better than the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308260 308260

re Dan S1 :

I'll respect that IN GENERAL as you feel "IN GENERAL" trumps direct facts.

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.
]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:49:08 -0500

re Dan S1 :

I'll respect that IN GENERAL as you feel "IN GENERAL" trumps direct facts.

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308255 308255

On Nov 17 04:31 PM longgee wrote:

> James West, you are damn right and that's what I want to say. I can
> say that GM/FORD cars is only can be sold in U.S but not the other
> part of the world. Because of it's high labor cost compare to Japan
> car maker ($78/hour VS 44/hour). The only reason why they still can
> make car is the protection policy of the U.S. government for import
> car.

I'll post this a thousand times if I have to!

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.
]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:45:25 -0500

On Nov 17 04:31 PM longgee wrote:

> James West, you are damn right and that's what I want to say. I can
> say that GM/FORD cars is only can be sold in U.S but not the other
> part of the world. Because of it's high labor cost compare to Japan
> car maker ($78/hour VS 44/hour). The only reason why they still can
> make car is the protection policy of the U.S. government for import
> car.

I'll post this a thousand times if I have to!

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106412-let-gm-fail?source=feed#comment-308249 308249
"...cars that nobody wants or can afford to buy"

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.

S0 would you say Toyota is also building cars that nobody wants to or can afford to buy?

And your attitude about a parking lot full of recreational vehicles REEKS of steroetype. You conveniently leave out the thousands of employees like me whose recreation is playing with my kids on the front lawn. ONE INCOME family here. I drive a van. No boat. No sports car. No motorcyle. No ATV. No snowmobile. No cottage. ANd I live in a 1600 sq ft house with a small yard in Warren Michigan.

Who the Hell gave you space to spew your LIES?

]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:42:04 -0500
"...cars that nobody wants or can afford to buy"

GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the United States last year and holds a U.S. lead over Toyota of about 560,000 so far this year. Globally, GM in 2007 remained the world's largest automaker, selling 9,369,524 vehicles worldwide -- about 3,000 more than Toyota.

S0 would you say Toyota is also building cars that nobody wants to or can afford to buy?

And your attitude about a parking lot full of recreational vehicles REEKS of steroetype. You conveniently leave out the thousands of employees like me whose recreation is playing with my kids on the front lawn. ONE INCOME family here. I drive a van. No boat. No sports car. No motorcyle. No ATV. No snowmobile. No cottage. ANd I live in a 1600 sq ft house with a small yard in Warren Michigan.

Who the Hell gave you space to spew your LIES?

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106366-lining-up-on-both-sides-of-auto-bailout?source=feed#comment-307948 307948 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:42:42 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/99020-ford-gm-on-the-chopping-block?source=feed#comment-277136 277136 How about our media get behind the American makes and write about the incredible quality strides made in the last five years, the multitude of choices in vehicles getting over 30 MPG, the world class panel fits, and the sharp rise in recalls by the Asian brands.

And how about writing about the trade laws that make Japan all but closed to American cars. And how about the fact that the Japanese government supports their auto industries in addition to OUR government giving THEM tax breaks.

Geez, we need another article like this like we need another bad market day! Whatever happened to the CAN DO attitude of the USA? ]]> Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:29:36 -0400 How about our media get behind the American makes and write about the incredible quality strides made in the last five years, the multitude of choices in vehicles getting over 30 MPG, the world class panel fits, and the sharp rise in recalls by the Asian brands.

And how about writing about the trade laws that make Japan all but closed to American cars. And how about the fact that the Japanese government supports their auto industries in addition to OUR government giving THEM tax breaks.

Geez, we need another article like this like we need another bad market day! Whatever happened to the CAN DO attitude of the USA? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/95709-future-of-auto-industry-up-for-grabs-with-gm-s-volt-debut?source=feed#comment-256497 256497 In other countries, it is the norm for their governments to support their industries, especially the auto industries.
So we have the foreign makes being supported by their AND our governments, yet we have to compete with that without the same support.
But wait, there's more! The government can step in and mandate the fuel efficiency standards, then walk away.
Imagine owning a business and having the government put a mandate on your product that will cost you billion to acheive, then offer no support, but yet still give tax incentives to your competition.
Add to that the uncapped opportunity for marketshare here for the forieng makes while the Chinese government mandates no foriegn make can have more than 49% marketshare. The Japanese market is all but closed to the American market.
And the American auto industry has been working like this for years. Now the shift in technology has turned into something all new, and not just an evolution. The American industry needs to change gears fast, and they will. They're just looking for a loan from our government to help that process go faster.]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:34:43 -0400 In other countries, it is the norm for their governments to support their industries, especially the auto industries.
So we have the foreign makes being supported by their AND our governments, yet we have to compete with that without the same support.
But wait, there's more! The government can step in and mandate the fuel efficiency standards, then walk away.
Imagine owning a business and having the government put a mandate on your product that will cost you billion to acheive, then offer no support, but yet still give tax incentives to your competition.
Add to that the uncapped opportunity for marketshare here for the forieng makes while the Chinese government mandates no foriegn make can have more than 49% marketshare. The Japanese market is all but closed to the American market.
And the American auto industry has been working like this for years. Now the shift in technology has turned into something all new, and not just an evolution. The American industry needs to change gears fast, and they will. They're just looking for a loan from our government to help that process go faster.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/85437-gm-slashes-benefits-one-bad-decision-after-another?source=feed#comment-207847 207847
"Now he intends to arbitrarily bankrupt thousands of America's finest elderly citizens. .."

And you call him:

"... a rotten apple, amongst American CEOs. "

But then you go on to say:

"If America wants to save itself, start by getting rid of Detroit's Big Three."

So you berate Rick for one thing, then suggest we cut everyone's throat? I have 5-year-ld triplets and I work my butt off here. I don't "give" my years to any company. They PAY me for my work. You suggest doing the same thing to us that you call Rick names for.

Must be easy to lash out with a keyboard as your sword and a monitor as your shield.

GM is still killing the Asain brands with their retirement benefits.


]]> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:15:28 -0400
"Now he intends to arbitrarily bankrupt thousands of America's finest elderly citizens. .."

And you call him:

"... a rotten apple, amongst American CEOs. "

But then you go on to say:

"If America wants to save itself, start by getting rid of Detroit's Big Three."

So you berate Rick for one thing, then suggest we cut everyone's throat? I have 5-year-ld triplets and I work my butt off here. I don't "give" my years to any company. They PAY me for my work. You suggest doing the same thing to us that you call Rick names for.

Must be easy to lash out with a keyboard as your sword and a monitor as your shield.

GM is still killing the Asain brands with their retirement benefits.


]]>