Comments on: Local UAW strike avoided at GM transmission plant

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:58:00 +0000

Thanks ‘autonut’. Having a Harvard degree doesn’t guarantee the ability to lead any company. I honestly think I could do a good job. I’ll read Freakonomics. You will see me leading some company soon.

By: autonut

autonut — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:25:33 +0000

Impulsive, “say-on-pay” is actually working to a degree in free economy society. The candidates to manage corporations are usually well trained and educated, except at Ford. Perhaps another exception is Lutz, bit Wagoner does have Harvard MBA and it is a sure sign of intelligence or past intelligence. Management does have to solve very complex multidimensional problems and some of those problems have no solutions. Boards of directors recognize that. The problem occurs when CEO can appoint “his/her” board and then democratic control within corporation don’t work. We do have a number of activists investors or sharks, depending on your point of view, who shake boards and CEOs. From what I read of Obama’s statements he does not have grasp of economy or economics. If you like some really good education on economics I strongly recommend “Freakonomics” – an easy read and informative. Was actually required reading at Stern school of economics in NYU.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:22:59 +0000

I commend Obama for speaking about a “say-on-pay” view for compensating failing leaders and management.

‘AMGoff’, the same view should be held towards unaccountable management … they rape the company orders of magnitude worse.

By: AMGoff

AMGoff — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:48:36 +0000

Again… **** the UAW. I’ve never seen a group of people so hell-bent on rather having nothing than something. The fact remains they’re entirely overpaid for what they do and shouldn’t continue to be paid more than the average manufacturing/factory worker simply because they always have been. UAW members needs to get this misconceived sense of entitlement out of their heads – they’re not entitled to anything, especially in the current economy. Some may say they’re “only” paid $28/hr… but that’s not including the ridiculous amount of benefits they also get. Still… even if they were “only” paid $28/hr without benefits that would still be high. They’re all in the same tax bracket as me… which means that the least any of them clear (those who are single with no dependents and no house) is around $42K a year… NET! Honestly… I give all of the major kudos for getting away with such a high salary for so many years, but I won’t cry a single tear for anyone once they’re salary better reflects they job they do. If you won’t be able to continue the lifestyle which you’re accustomed… then you’ll have to change your lifestyle – or get a second job.

It all really doesn’t matter because eventually Detroit is going to give the big “up yours” to the UAW sometime in the near future… Frankly, I think Chrysler will be the ones to do it first being they hold the unique position of being privately owned. Either way.. once one does it, the rest will follow.

GM just needs to grow some balls and not even bother showing up to the negotiating table… tell them – “Take it or leave it,” because there are many others out there who gladly would. And once they strike… fire them all. It would be far more beneficial for GM to just shut down for 6-8 months, start a massive hiring campaign, and hire all-new non-union employees. Then… if they’re feeling generous, they’ll offer all the old employees their jobs back on a one on one basis.

I have no sympathy for those who are committed to screwing themselves.

By: murderedout

murderedout — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:40:19 +0000

Most of the people on here who are bashing Unions including HHR, drive American cars made by Unions. You can’t get more ironic then that!

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:55:35 +0000

‘autonut’, Lutz doesn’t deserve what he gets, that’s the bigger problem.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:54:46 +0000

‘horsey’, I repeat, I had the most difficult job on the line and I still believe I was overpaid. I used to go home and ice my hand every night because it was swollen so don’t cry to me about pain and suffering. Two summers or no summers, I have watched many work on many lines and the majority have it so easy it’s laughable. Sorry to break it to you but you are paid too much, IP line, chassis line, trim line … it don’t matter. Suck it up. If you think your job is too difficult, let the union step in and effect some change. That’s probably the only reason a union should exist nowadays.

By: autonut

autonut — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:30:54 +0000

Random Jerk, the difference in wage should br proportional to the product assembly workers produce: in Big Mac case it is a $5 hamburger and in auto assembly it is $25-$50K auto.
My guess GM called trouble when they constituted full pay salaries for their dysfunctional mismanagement team. When contracts were negotiated I am sure they pointed out that management team is making only 50% of multi million salary. Now they are not: people want their salaries restored as well. I cant blame them. If Lutz deserves 3-5 mil package the grease monkey does deserve his 60K-80K.

By: Random Jerk

Random Jerk — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:12:46 +0000

Whats harder? Putting pickles on Big Macs or torquing bolts with an impact wrench? They are both happen on a highly engineered assembly lines designed to make the process as easy as possible. The Big Mac guy makes minimum wage, the impact wrench guy makes $30 an hour. Why is that?

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:45:29 +0000

if you look at GMs past along with Ford and Chrysler you will see that not only do they make ****ty cars they are unethical as well
Remember you are telling on yourself everytime you post some gay **** Hemi You seem to know a lot about that lifestyle

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:49:27 +0000

Matter of fact they do pay but save on the deductables by raising them and by healthcare i meant “legacy cost”

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:48:17 +0000

2 summers Impulsive WOW, your the first person in American history to claim being overpaid, do the sitty jobs like IP line then get back to me, and Mayer its in a package and the local contracts have beeen expired for a long time.

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:35:07 +0000

Only reason I asked about what you pay, 400SS, is that I have “heard” (radio and the like) that UAW healthcare is virtually paid in full by the employers, whereas most of the rest of us who are not government workers have to deduct from our checks to pick up a good chunk of the premium, and each year when the company gets its raise in premiums the bulk of that is passed to the employees. So if healthcare is a major problem for the Big 3 and the UAW members aren’t feeling it yet then you are far better off than 98% of the rest of the private workforce in the USA, but yet you strike.

By the way, your colleagues are going to strike shut a Malibu factory next per the article below. GM is becoming more global now in its line-up than ever for a few good reasons, one of which is that they can shut you down and not feel it.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080418/gm_plant_strikes.html?.v=4

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:26:36 +0000

‘horsey’, I hope you weren’t referring directly to me re: working for that wage … I DID work at the Oakville assembly plant as a student a decade ago during two separate summers, making $1000/week, working the hardest job on the chassis line. If I didn’t like it I could leave as there were many waiting in line to make that kind of money. Granted, the job sucked HUGE but there were guys there doing jobs in their sleep making more than I was as a student.

I maintain that is too much for that kind of work. But I also maintain that management also needs to be reigned in as well. Breeding animosity amongst workers, no matter the position, is unhealthy for all.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:22:56 +0000

To tell you the truth Mayer I dont have a clue, but im sure i pay in the form of higer deductibles, and co-pays, something does come out once a month i dont know the exact amount.

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:02:11 +0000

Look dude, why is it these illegals can go into the emergency and I pay their bill! Man, I can’t even clear my mind enough to comment on healthcare, I know I pay my share.

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:58:21 +0000

400SS, how much do you pay for your healthcare from your check each month? i mean as a deduction from your gross.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:54:15 +0000

Its been well documented that the Big 2.25 problems are from the other big oil…….healthcare.

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:52:04 +0000

I agree 100% ^^^ The CEO’s need to be held accountable as well. If they have a lousy year, they don’t need a 10 million $ bonus.

By: Kenny W

Kenny W — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:48:05 +0000

The European unions are struggling as well, just like the Canadian unions, just like the airplane unions, just like the steel unions…should I continue? Unions everyone are experiencing the same thing, they’re relics of the past and need to become obsolete.

Products are a large part of succeeding, but so is being able to create a profit. If you’re paying your employees more than they’re worth then all the great product in the world won’t give you a decent profit margin. Unless you’re DeBeers/Big Oil and can create a false value to your product or have a monopoly.

By: 61Vette

61Vette — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:21:03 +0000

Ahhh, there we have it. 1115 doesn’t just dislike everything GM, he HATES everything GM. Kinda puts his rants into perspective, sadly enough. Good to know he/she has a clear head when debating things such as quality and design.

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:20:10 +0000

1115 can’t respond now. He’s on his knees in the men’s restroom in one of the stall’s. Why’s the guy in the stall next to him facing towards him? Is that a hole in the wall……

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:17:59 +0000

Now we know that 1115’s daddy got axed by GM in the 80’s forcing him to become a burger flipper and trade down to a crappy honda because that is all he could afford, and now today that daddy got promoted to working the french fry vats on the graveyard shift at Sonic 1115 is here proclaiming his white trailer trash ghetto pride by promoting honda everywhere to get revenge for his daddy’s incompetence at everything except molesting his son.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:16:47 +0000

A guy told me that CHEVROLET was so big that it was a Fortune 500 company, how do you **** that up.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:15:07 +0000

^Hows that anti-union march coming.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:06:35 +0000

I hope GM keeping a list of all these strikes and threats, so that the next time a plant is begging for a vehicle to be made there, GM can say “ooohh, soorry, we seem to remember you didn’t really appreciate the work we gave you last time you begged…they appreciate us more in Mexico, China, and India. Better luck next time!” That would be classic. Greedy inbreds.

By: tripleonefive

tripleonefive — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:05:00 +0000

Cutting American jobs was done by GM in the 80’s when they were profitable They closed the plant in Detroit and moved it to Mexico
Poeple forget how evil GM is

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:04:27 +0000

Maybe the unemployment office is the place to work. Sounds like they have good job security there. Can I invest my 401K in it?

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:04:04 +0000

Kenny W, dont give me that **** Europe has unions too, supply and demand my ass, make a better product not excuses.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:02:18 +0000

What most fail to realize is the Unemployment Office is full of people of all types of education, you wonder when its gonna stop.

By: Kenny W

Kenny W — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:01:43 +0000

It’s a case of supply & demand. If there is someone out there willing to do your job for less on a large scale then you have no right to get pissed at the company for either A) taking the labor elsewhere or B) asking you to take a pay cut. GM & friends can’t do option B though because the UAW has crazy rules that makes it hard for them to fire people. The vast majority of Americans work at an At Will company, so if they (said company) is doing badly they fire you with little to no warning. Working in the IT industry I see it happen all the time. If/When GM does badly they can’t simply let people go, over the years this has taken a heavy toll on the company. I understand what the UAW is trying to do in protecting their members, but simply put the time for unions has passed. We live in a global economy and unions are a very micro-economic mindset.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:00:07 +0000

Maybe president Clinton/Obama will address that Mayer.

By: 400horseSS

400horseSS — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:59:14 +0000

Sending jobs overseas has put us in the recession were in now, it just built up over the last 5 years, everyday we hear about outsourcing, like CITI today.

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:57:38 +0000

I’ll go for that, Hemi. Stop paying foreign aid out the ass, cut welfare, and up the min wage to $14. Fair trade.

By: HemiRoadRunner

HemiRoadRunner — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:56:09 +0000

That’s right. But we send ALOT of money to countries that provide us with absolutely NOTHING other than more demands to give them more of our tax money.