Do any of the people who have placed quotes in this thread actually know the hourly wages of GM union employees? Do any of you know for a fact what the cost is per employee for their benefit package? Do any of you know what the actual labor costs are for assembling a car, or for that matter what the labor cost is to make those parts? I will stand my ground and say there is a whole hell of a lot more to the equation than union wages and benefits. My friends who work in GM factories have taken concessions time and time again. Their retirement benefits have been reduced, and stand to be reduced again. Their numbers have been reduced by half through automation and out sourcing. So when you look for who to blame for the big threes current condition don't let your hatred for unions and what they stand for blind you to all the facts. Don't let your jealousy for their wages that they fought for blind you of the corporate greed. I will not be drawn into a argument over this subject. If you wish to discuss it intelligently so be it.
Only what I've been told by friends and co-workers who either have worked in that industry or have friends that do.
That said, cost per employee for benefits is likely high. It is in every business where bene's are paid. It's one of the costs of doing business that plagues most businesses!
Then again, the actual cost per employee could be reduced, even temporarily by a reduction in some of the extemporaneous benes that the unions have demanded.
I have friends that retired from the big 3. They make more in retirement that I did as a full time LEO!
I don't begrudge them that, but explain the rationale? Then again, I have friends from NYPD and such that also made more in retirement that I did working. I know, cost of living, yada yada yada.....they live in FLORIDA!
Apparently though, more than a couple here
DO know the actual hourly rate of a union assembly line worker:thumbsup:
As well, the actual cost of assembling one of these cars is based on the cost and benefit package of the employee doing so. Goes right back to how much is paid per hour, etc. Reduce the hourly and you get a reduction in assembly cost:thumbsup:
Making parts? No, I don't work in that field; however, when it costs multi-millions for "R & D" and "tooling" somethings wrong:shrug01:
Again, it goes back to reason.
Their numbers have been reduced by half through automation and out sourcing. So when you look for who to blame for the big threes current condition don't let your hatred for unions and what they stand for blind you to all the facts. Don't let your jealousy for their wages that they fought for blind you of the corporate greed. I will not be drawn into a argument over this subject. If you wish to discuss it intelligently so be it
I'm sorry they've had thier numbers reduced. Unfortunately, that's progress. Without that automation, the end product would be even
more expensive to produce,
take longer to reach the market and likely have
even more flaws in it simply due to human error. Change is inevitable. The industry has to be able to accomodate it. I'm sure that at least some of those people whose jobs were reduced to a machine, were trained in running that maching (they don't run themselves) and are still employed at the same or better salaries than before, doing substantially less work.
Besides, where were the unions kicking and screaming when the big 3 wanted to automate or outsource? Why not a big "the sky is falling" plea then? Haven't heard a word over the years from them.
I hate outsourcing. But until
our government does something to put a tournequet on that wound, it will continue to be a problem:thumbsdown:
In tough economic times, concessions have to be made. Government will eventually figure this out or we'll all be learning and speaking Chineese one day!:lmao:
Finally, I have no "hatred" toward unions or the employees.
But as a rationale, I'd like to think "reasonably intelligent" and well versed individual who has seen what the unions are capable of, I think they have, at least for now, and unless or until the government and/or private corporations prove themselves unworthy or unwilling, outlived thier usefulness.
Employee salaries? I'm not jealous nor angry over them. I'm all for a living wage and above if you can get it. But again, look at the job, the risk, the training, education and/or skill needed to do the job and compare it to, lets say a teacher, a cop/fireman or soldier.
All either require advanced education/training and all (including the teachers today) take extrme risks on an almost daily basis, all for chicken scratch with minor exceptions for some cities and counties:thumbsdown:
Explain that to me please?
"fighting" for your pay and benefits, regardless of the occupation, is justified. Greed IMO, is not.
Rational thought and common sense simply
must prevail in these times if we really want a tomorrow for our kids and grandkids:nonod:
You're move sir:thumbsup:
Hows that for discussing it intelligently?
find other contracts)
