working at ford

Will the U.S. Fight the German Car Invasion?

Better check your info. VW lead all automakers in recalls by percentage in 2007 and had some trouble in 2008.


On Jan 06 08:45 PM billddrummer wrote:

> To oilcan,
>
> Didn't Michael Douglas say that in "Wall Street"?
>
> But aside from that, MB may have lost its luster after absorbing,
> then disposing of, Chrysler. Several billion dollars were lost which
> could have been used to improve quality and maintain engineering
> prowess.
>
> Come to think of it, wasn't that the original purpose of the initial
> loan money the US government allocated to the auto industry? To
> provide funds for new product R & D to improve fuel economy?

>
>
> Let's not look at the past, when the car makers used their own money
> for R & D. To suggest a loan for R & D to the GM of 1955
> would have been scoffed at.
>
> But when competition gets more intense, it seems that these companies
> run to the government for protection. Now, I'm not saying that there
> isn't government assistance in other countries for its capital-intensive
> industries. But the idea of government 'participating' (meddling)
> in the capital budget plans of GM and Ford suggests that the companies
> themselves aren't up to the task.
>
> As Americans, we expect self-reliance from industries as well as
> individuals. The state of the US auto industry has humbled the country,
> and by extension, its people.
>
> And far from shying away from competition, we should be welcoming
> it. Competition makes everyone better. Having the US government
> place its thumb on the scale makes it harder for other nations to
> compete. But in the process, they will make the necessary adjustments
> to become more competitive as time goes on.
>
> It looks less and less likely that the US industries insulated by
> the government will make the same progress.
>
> I for one welcome additional entrants into the auto manufacturing
> marketplace. Excess capacity aside, those companies that make cars
> people want to buy will survive. Those companies that don't, won't.

>
>
> I tend to think BMW and VW will survive. They are the most profitable
> auto companies in the world, and make some of the best products,
> with worldwide appeal.
>
> Bring on the Germans!

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

The gods of toyo had the second highest recall in 07 the leader of the pack was VW


On Nov 15 12:34 AM yet another steve wrote:

> Toyota's $48 is hardly minimum wage.
>
> Now.... who makes better cars? Yeah, that's the problem.
>
> Higher costs and inferior products... an important part of capitalism
> is letting the uncompetitive die. Or force them to be competitive
> to survive.
>
> Unions? Well they have to be competitive too. If a union makes a
> company uncompetitive it and its members go down with the company.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Making a living wage allows me and my family to spend our wages at the businesses in our community. During the Great Depression all of our grandparents suffered through the hardest times this country had seen since the civil war. Today's society is soft and generally unskilled. To many people count on other to due the dirty work. By the way I think best buy is a great store and I find the people there are very helpful with the techno gadgets. But that just my point. If this economy is not fixed the we are all screwed. The gadget will be the first to go ( just ask your boss if sales are good). Walmart was one of only a few retailer who saw sale go up in oct. Low prices always is a great marketing tool and people need the food to cook since the cannot afford to eat out(sorry food service industry). I wish the best for my country and all its diverse population. Greed is a sin and envy is close by plese pray that if therei s a god he will save us all from damnation and the horrors of trying to live through the greater depression.

On Nov 10 06:22 PM fergus wrote:

> working at ford wrote:
>
> "Thirty and working at best buy. My guess is he had made more than
> one mistake in his life"
>
> Wow.
>
> Tell me, Mr. assembly-line-worker, what is it that you do that makes
> your job so much more valuable or prestigious than someone working
> at Best Buy? Not everyone is lucky enough to get a union job that
> pays $30/hour to do absolutely nothing. YOU are what is wrong with
> the system.
>
> I guess we'll find out how well your bolt screwing abilities translate
> to the outside if Ford goes under, and neither I nor the employees
> of Best Buy will feel any sympathy.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

I have to go to work now see ya later

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Please stop thinking. It has gotten you nowhere. my guess is that if you could get a job that pays well you would take it. Your though process has left out that it was the union who set the pay scales and benny's that you now enjoy. Yes even the government benny's such as medicare and social security are as a result of the union setting the standard. How about work place safety and work rules that keep us out of the sweat shops.


On Nov 10 11:09 AM eternitus wrote:

> My thoughts exactly. Unlike with the financials, where one large
> company's failure, if left unchecked, can bring down the whole system,
> completely destroy all our access to credit, and ruin our lives for
> a generation, GM's failure will simply eliminate a poorly-run, noncompetitive
> company that overpays its employees. Even healthy companies with
> good management are destroyed in a financial panic as confidence
> evaporates... not true with the auto industry.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

In my fifteen plus years at Ford, the union has been the most reasonable voice in the plant. Give backs are common place and not always during a contract year. But, you have to offer something to get something and the local management has forgotten this. The know it all's have handicapped our plant and the workers have given up on trying to help out. This not the way it was just a few years back when everything was great and quality was JOB ONE. Now who's to blame. Not the workers who show up everyday and tries to make a good product and feed his family.

On Nov 10 11:05 AM John Pseudonym wrote:

> 1. All wages in bankrupt companies should be cut; hence the term
> bankrupt and no money, as in on the way to zero pay...
>
> 2. I am not anti-union. I believe unions can be a good thing. Workers
> should organize to get their fair share of the profits. But that
> payment should not be written in stone.
>
> If the company becomes unprofitable, then the unions should step
> up and do what's necessary to save the golden goose; NOT COOK IT!
>
>
> CEO pay is broken and this is another thing the unions should tackle.
> Insist CEO pay is no more than 10x the average worker pay and falls
> at the same percentage as the workers pay in tough times.
>
> What I've described above is not the UAW and that's the problem!

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Thirty and working at best buy. My guess is he had made more than one mistake in his life


On Nov 10 11:01 AM epeon wrote:

> As far as the big 3 paying $70/hr who cares? They simply put it
> into the price of the car and the consumer has to pay for it. Except,
> oooppps, the consumer isn't paying for it are they?
>
> The root of the problem is that the big 3 are not making vehicles
> that the consumer is willing to pay for. Some of this is price,
> but a lot of it is quality. I had a disucssion with a salseman at
> best buy and it went like this:
>
> "So, what kind of car do you have?" I asked.
>
> He said, "I own a Honda civic."
>
> "You don't own a domestic?"
>
> "I have a 2001 mercury cougar. I loan it to my brother. I couldn't
> keep it on the road, it kept breaking down."
>
> "Is your Honda good?"
>
> "Oh yeah, the Honda is perfect."
>
> "So you wouldn't consider a domestic?"
>
> "No, their just nightmares. My Honda is solid, so when it is time
> to buy another car I'll just get a Honda."
>
> "I'm told that the domestics are better, now"
>
> He shrugged his shoulder, "Maybe, but why take the chance? The Honda's
> are good."
>
> and, by the way, this kid is about 30. He basically will never even
> consider a domestic. Basically, the big 3 have soured their customer
> base. They aren't coming back. That is the real problem.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Big steel and other polluters left because the could not meet EPA standards at a cost that was profitable. If your are so inspired, then take trip to Mexico and see all the pollution. China had to shut down for months before the games so that everyone who is living in a bubble would not see the smog in the air. People a dieing of cancer and other bad thing everyday but the media cannot report it. If you like your milk tainted and your toys cover with lead paint then do away with the EPA rules and let the smog role out of the stacks like it does in the rest of the world.


On Nov 10 10:35 AM shadrach wrote:

>
> I'm all ears as to the reason then. Big steel left this country
> in large part due to unions. I don't disagree that it is pathetic
> companies are paying CEO's the salaries and bonuses they are but
> wages for manual labor jobs are simply out of touch with reality.
>
>
>
> On Nov 10 10:30 AM Tomas04 wrote:

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

If you think that posting 225 times is work try changing your tire on you car 225 times a day. Then you will only begin to understand what it takes to build cars and trucks for your soft butt.


On Nov 10 10:15 AM Tomas04 wrote:

> John
>
> Do you want your pay cut in half? When CEO's of most companies make
> $10's of millions, you have a problem with someone making $65k a
> year?

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Toyota pay comp wages as the union shops. They know if they don't want a union then the must give there employees union wages to compete for workers. Toyo has had some trouble in the new plant in Texas. Worker turnover has been tremendous. They have had to raise the bennys and pay to get worker to stay or move from other plants. The lesson to be learned here is that if you want to blame someone go look in the mirror. Otherwise be glad you have what your have and hope thing work out so you can keep it.


On Nov 10 10:07 AM Foster J Fezziwig III wrote:

> Why is this being cast as a choice between union busting and exorbitant
> manufacturing salaries.
>
> We all know (or should know) that unions have done immeasurable good
> for the country. But does that mean that everything they do is good?
> Does that mean there can be no imbalance on the other side?
>
> Further, do you think Toyota is exploiting its workers? If yes, where
> are the calls for boycott? If no, how can Detroit be expected to
> compete in a market with such divergent labor costs?
>
> These are the questions, not whether CEOs are overpaid a-holes. (The
> answer to this has been well-established already.)

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Let your company fail and see how you will pay the bills. Failing is not good for anyone. If kids fail at school they lose. If your favorite team fails the fans lose. If the biggest companies in the world fails the whole world loses


On Nov 10 09:45 AM gkahn wrote:

> Let the first one fail, and the UAW will not see fit to make the
> necessary concesions for survival. This is utter graft. A backwards
> segment of the auto industry held together by taking money from the
> government with political threats. This is exactly the kind of problem
> that plagues our nation and our politics.

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

Who do you work for and what do they pay? If it was not for the unions setting the bar you would be making min wages and have no benny's. I think the real dose of reality is coming for all who want to play the blame game. The unions are good for everyone. If you do not like health ins. and pensions then move to China. Just don't drink the milk. Toyo and Honda are losing money a record rates and they will not keep US opps if this econ does not improve(see DHL). The US based companies are trying there best to ride it out. If it was not for the credit freeze up they would be able to borrow from the banks. Hell the banks can't even borrow money. How do you think your company is going to make it if there is no money to borrow.


On Nov 10 09:39 AM Midas1 wrote:

> Fox News reported this weekend that GM is seeking multibillions to
> fund their retirees' HEALTHCARE costs. BS!!!! No one is giving
> me a free ride on healthcare. I DO NOT WANT MY TAX DOLLARS PAYING
> FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN PRODUCT INGENUITY!! Taxpayers fund Medicare--now
> we're supposed to give GM retirees the "cadillac" of healthcare?
> No way. Let them fail. This money should not go to padding pockets
> of overpaid employees whom the union would only allow a simple job
> task and no cross training. GM is never going to match the quality
> of Toyota or Honda as long as the focus is on what more they can
> do to pacify the stupid UAW. It's time to dump the UAW and infuse
> a dose of common sense into the domestics!!

Should We Really Bail Out the Big Three Automakers with $73.20 Per Hour Labor?

The hourly rate is less than 30 per and benny cost about 10 grand a year. If these companies go away there is no reason for any employer to pay above min wage. How many new cars and tv's can you buy an min wage. Mc d's pays almost twice min wage to be able to keep there unskilled workforce loyal. Get off your high horse and realize that all the benny's you now have are as a result of the unions. Not to mention workplace safety rule and labor laws that prevent abuses that are in the sweat shops of asia. I don't think many of the complainers would last long in a true free market.