GM Goes on strike

[The70RT]

GM workers went on strike today. If the econonmy isn't bad enough already Anyone here work for GM?

[TUFCAT]

Let's not get started on the union topic.....   It could get ugly.  Maybe this thread will last more than 3 hours.     Suffiice to say, I hope both sides make compromises where needed.  With wages, benefits, legacy costs, medical, etc., GM spends $70 per hour/per worker to make a vehicle   BTW, have you noticed (....on a positive note),  their new cars are getting better and better looking every year 

[Silver R/T]

They're getting uglier and uglier imo, including their trucks. Only car I would consider would probably be a Vette

[Khyron]

wholoohooooo! The Challenger will beat the Camaro to the production line now!








well, someone had to be an ass and say it. Seriously though, hope it gets settles soon.

[chargerman68]

getting in before the

[70charger_boy]

    meow

[deputycrawford]

I live here in Toledo. I have many friends that work at the Toledo Jeep plant. They all seem to think Chrysler is not up for striking. They just went private and wouldn't want to do any damage to their future that is already in the air. We should be OK. I don't think there's any real trouble brewing.

[TUFCAT]

   meow

Now that's FUNNY!!!  Meow back at 'ya 70charger boy 

[70charger_boy]

   meow

Now that's FUNNY!!!  Meow back at 'ya 70charger boy 

  I have been known to lock some threads, but I'll be quiet on this one. 

[blackcharger]

They're getting uglier and uglier imo, including their trucks. Only car I would consider would probably be a Vette

glad you like it. that's about one of the uglist of them all. and way overpriced.

[TeeWJay426]

I heard on the radio this morning that they have a two month backlog of unsold vehicles.... the supply won't be affected until they are sold! Hopefully it doesn't last too long- won't be good for anybody if it does.

[TUFCAT]

I heard on the radio this morning that they have a two month backlog of unsold vehicles.... the supply won't be affected until they are sold! Hopefully it doesn't last too long- won't be good for anybody if it does.

A sixty day supply of new vehicles is normal and considered pretty standard. As far as lost production, (according to media reports) GM will lose 11,000 vehicles per day and 3 MILLION dollars per week in lost revenue. If the strike continues longer, it will affect Candaian production as well,  from a shortage of engines, transmissions, etc to build these units. If this happens, GM will lose 18,000 per day in North American production alone.

The longest UAW strike with GM in 1970 lasted 69 days. 

[pettyfan43]

I hope the UAW and those workers who think they can't live without them are happy. All they are doing is giving GM one more reason to consider moving their job to Mexico or overseas.

Which is better, taking a little less of a benefit to secure your job, or filing for unemployment because you're su bullheaded you can't see the whole American car market is in BAD shape?

This is NO time for grandstanding. They better see the real truth before they are all asking "You want fries or onion rings with that combo?"

[The70RT]

The trickle down effect will take it's toll on lots of manufactures. Goodyear will be one. They make pass & lt. truck tires here in Topeka and will only be able to stockpile tires for a little while before their lay off will began. This is about the worst time for a major strike with everything else going to hell in a handbasket.

[TUFCAT]

Without coming across as sounding political here....the local news (in Detroit) was interviewing many of the folks on the pickett line. Surprisingly (good that is) most of them want to get back to work, and hope the strike ends very soon. The consensus is they can't afford to be without pay, and its bad for the economy - SHOCKING!!! This would have never been the case 5-10 years ago.  It seems from most of the strikers interviewed, they have more loyalty to GM, and (less than expected loyalty) to the UAW....bottom line is: they want, and need their jobs. Go figure. 

P.S., I don't mean to offend loyal UAW members, or get the thread locked.   

[hutch]

Lets give the Unions what they want so cars cost 50K to drive one off the lot.  I have worked at my share of union shops and they suck. Its only a matter of time till America makes nothing anymore because we can produce it at a cost people will pay to buy it.  Health care is fucked up and no one wants to fix it. they only want to tax people to pay for a fucked up system.  I say pay OT to people who want to work OT, fire people who dont want to work or cant work.  Its simple.  If a place cant afford to give you breaks and time off and the type of health care you want then find a new job.  It sucks but why on earth distroy something for everyone and an entire nation just because you and a band of people have them by the balls.

The issue of making cars people will buy is not 100% of the issue.  GM cant make a good car people can afford because of Unions.  You cant get a great car like we did in the 60's at a low price because of two things.  Goverment safty standards and Unions. 

[41husk]

I think a strike affects the entire community, employees don't go out and make any purchases not absolutly needed.  I know when the teachers went on strike here 6 years ago, one local restaurant went out of buissness.  The owner said he had mostly teachers and not only did they not come in for the 6 weeks of the strike, but months after buissness was still not back to normal.

[70charger_boy]

I heard on the radio this morning that they have a two month backlog of unsold vehicles.... the supply won't be affected until they are sold! Hopefully it doesn't last too long- won't be good for anybody if it does.

A sixty day supply of new vehicles is normal and considered pretty standard. As far as lost production, (according to media reports) GM will lose 11,000 vehicles per day and 3 MILLION dollars per week in lost revenue. If the strike continues longer, it will affect Candaian production as well,  from a shortage of engines, transmissions, etc to build these units. If this happens, GM will lose 18,000 per day in North American production alone.

The longest UAW strike with GM in 1970 lasted 69 days. 

According to CNN GM is loosing 100 million dollars a day

[MichaelRW]

I recall the GM strike of 1970 since I lived in Lansing, Michigan back then. There were newspaper articles that showed the gains the workers finally got was less than what they lost by being on strike.    It just mades no sense back then and even less now. Like it or not, the American manufacturers must compete in a a world market but with hourly labor rates of $25 per hour (mostly due to retirement benefit costs) more than the Japanese it is difficult for them to compete.

[Our 68 Obsession]

I haul cars for Allied Systems in Ontario. My dispatcher told me today  that both car lines at the Oshawa plant will be down this afternoon. Trucks tommorrow. Hopefully they came come to a resolution quickly, it effects alot of people, and as of tommorrow, most likely me

[41husk]

Yep! and the people like you that are effected, don't get strike pay or any bonus after they get back to make up for lost wages.  Will you get unemployment?

[dukeboy_318]

even though Im a mopar fan by birth, I will say that I hope they get it worked out soon. just for the fact that its an american company and I dont want to see any of the big three fail and get bought out by a japanese car maker

[John_Kunkel]

I have no predicted need for such a product as Caterpillar produces but if I did I would buy from Caterpillar solely because they told the unions to "shove it" and didn't knuckle under to their terms.

[red72chrgr]

My step-daughter is a dispatcher for a trucking co. in Ohio. She called today and said they layed her off and were probably looking at laying a lot more people off. GM is there main acct. Thank goodness she's not married or have kids.

[runningman]

Chrysler employee here, most of this stuff cracks me up.   The companies complain about people being in the jobs bank but continue to open plants in Mexico, the bank was made just for that purpose.......to motivate companies to keep product here.  Most of the extra costs are due to retirees.......tons of them.   I believe Toyota just started having people retire in the last few years.  I pay 50% copays for office visits for my family which I don't mind but is alot more than all my friends are paying.  We don't make much more per hour than the foreign companies are paying in this country......maybe a dollar or so.  The sticking point from what I understand is job security, not pay cuts or taking on more of the health care and what not.  I figure it is only fair, if the companies want us to take these cuts and we do......fine......gotta have something in return though to make sure they don't send all the work overseas.