Having worked in a Union this is my personal view.
I have seen people that wont go the extra mile unless they get paid for it. They become complacent because they hide behind the union. Common sense goes out the window because its not in their job description. They are unwilling to compromise and milk every penny they can. Some may call me an idiot for saying this but that has been my experience. Bottom line is GM can t afford to pay the contracts they are paying and will continue to be a losing company until they bring salaries/med benefits/benefits and retirement costs from top to bottom in line with the profit margins.
Whatever happened to Volvo's team building program, where 4 or 5 workers together built entire vehicles, not just each of 1600 (exaggerating I'm sure) workers each with their own little task of 15-60 seconds per unit. Yes, the Henry Ford assembly line vision where a worker only has to know their job and nothing else was fantastic at one time, but I would rather see maybe an entire interior installed, and hooked up, by a team of 2 and not two for dash, 2 for front seats, 2 for back 2 for carpets, 2 for heaedliner - you follow? So instead of one worker installing just LF fenders you get 2, one per side, assemblying the entire exterior. They take more pride i teh finished product because they participated more. I pity the union laborer whose only task is filling a bin with lug nuts so that the robot can auto load itself and install and auto-torque the wheels. When the excitement, thrill, and pride disappear all that's left is pay.
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When more than one friend wants to ride shotgun
Pontiac 1926-2010
"We hardly knew 'ya"
Confusion say: "If it ain't broke...give government a crack at it."
The main job for the company is to get as much as possible for their shareholders.
This is true when it is a publicly traded company. We are a privately own company, about 175 employees. It is no fun dealing with the union, as said in a later post, you have some employees, not all, that hide behind the union and are the ones that say they are not treated equal or far. But when you have some employees that go the extra mile to do things for the company, management, aka me, likes to do the same for them, but it can come back and bite me in the ass and has several times. I will continue to take care our employees and do the extra for the ones who do the same for us, let the union file their complaints and be the ones that look bad.
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2006 VIN 507, Sly, Fully Loaded, Standard Radio, no smoker package
I saw a report from China regarding Buicks. Buicks equate to luxury and quality and are highly coveted in China.......you have "made it" in China when you drive a Buick!
China is a growth market for luxury cars and a buyer of USA debt. They are not real happy with how our debt market is right now, but the President of USA/GM can keep them a little happy by continuing to make Buicks. Chinese don't care one hoot about Pontiac!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kwtoxman
I saw one analyst (for GM?) say that most pontiac's sold are to fleets (car rental companies) compared to the other brands including buick. And fleet sales have very little profit.
I saw a report from China regarding Buicks. Buicks equate to luxury and quality and are highly coveted in China.......you have "made it" in China when you drive a Buick!
Interestingly, this came about in the late 20s or early 30s because the Chinese masses saw the Emperor being driven around in a Buick.
Agree with this point. GM did this to themselves. Whether it was bad leadership, poor decisions, or the union and contract mismanagement. GM is to blame.
However....
Ummm... if you are employed and currently working.... The GUB-mint is stepping on your wallet because this is YOUR money they are giving to GM in the form of bailouts....
I agree, however in this case, though GM is totaly wrong, I would rather the money go to bail GM then AIG again!
I agree, however in this case, though GM is totaly wrong, I would rather the money go to bail GM then AIG again!
GM is NOT totally wrong!
There are plenty of mistakes made and the biggest one is us the taxpayers allowing government to control industry to the point of NATIONALIZING not just big business but the SBO as well.
AIG IS underwriting some part of something you have an interest in, so think of that.
I have heard enough about this patriotic/idiotic thing to do
Anyone who expects a bondholder to take $2 of a $6 debit as repayment is a wealth re-distributing commie pinko
I saw a report from China regarding Buicks. Buicks equate to luxury and quality and are highly coveted in China.......you have "made it" in China when you drive a Buick!
China is a growth market for luxury cars and a buyer of USA debt. They are not real happy with how our debt market is right now, but the President of USA/GM can keep them a little happy by continuing to make Buicks. Chinese don't care one hoot about Pontiac!
So Pontiac does not have to be offered in China, what's wrong with Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, India, Ireland, Scotland, France??????? BTW, watched Amazing Race last night and did not see one single Buick on the streets of Beijing. They do have some cool electric bikes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cortez
Jim Waldron is my local dealer (just bought a Coupe from him). As the video shows he's got a plan to buy Pontiac.
Very interesting, but the problem I see is that for whatever reason GM does not wish to sell Pontiac or they would have offered it along with HUMMER, Saab, and Saturn.. Maybe they are afraid of the competition. And they better hurry if tehy expect to pull it off since next Monday all underperforming Pontiac (and other) dealers get their pink slips from GM. There will be some POntiac dealers that won't be around on Pontiac's final day.
__________________
When more than one friend wants to ride shotgun
Pontiac 1926-2010
"We hardly knew 'ya"
Confusion say: "If it ain't broke...give government a crack at it."
It took a while but I think I have read everything on this topic.. wow. I must say that while some complain about "idotic SUV/Truck buyers" for helping this problem I must say enough research hasn't been done by who says that. While that market is falling, depending on which source you read the truck/suv market still holds 18-23% in the U.S. and the last time I checked it's hard to find a really nice fullsize/SUV real cheap. Most people who buy them, use them as such, which is why still command some income for manufactures. The broad spectrum of pricing from base to loaded is huge on these autos which gives them room to play "good deal" "bad deal" with consumers.
I also read alot about the Buick thing. Buick brings in more profit than Pontiac does, and is targeted at the baby boomer crowd, but sales have been going to younger unexpected buyers then GM orginally thought. Now don't get me wrong, I hate to see Pontiac go, but the Solstice wasn't made to make GM money, it was made to bring new faces and people into the showrooms. With GMC, Buick and Pontiac at one dealership you have alot to look at, not just a solstice. The solstice is practial to few, not many. Most solstice owners have an alternative vehicle to drive. Saving Buick makes way more sense. Plus the new LaCross is nice and seems to have gotten nice reviews..(of course just visuals at this point) The Zeta is still there from GM to use for Buick as well.
This is all part of the clip. Regardless of how it all happend Unions, Government, etc. the brands leaving should leave to make a viable business case. Fiat is now looking at some of Opel for Europe..That's alot of platforms for GM which the Kappa is just not one to rescue. Performance brand vs Mid luxury brand.. Right now mid luxury makes more sense
While they're shaving everything to save cash right now, you cannot cut your way to success. Sometime in the next several years GM has to position a brand with several models at the younger crowd. Part of their success over the decades was the ability to provide a vehicle cradle to grave - there was a model for buyers of all ages and stages of life. They certainly don't need as many models and brands as they've tried to have in the last few years, but they need to have a few somethings positioned for the younger buyers. If they don't, the younger buyers will wind up in Scions, Honda Civics, or the cutesy VWs. While they're not totally lost to competitors once they've bought into a brand, it does become increasingly difficult over time. Given the time it takes to roll out a new model, this means they'll have to start very soon lest they miss a good chunk of the Gen Ys.
A big mistake GM is making is abandoning proven engine technology to achieve fleet wide fuel economy.
example 2.0L ECOTEC TURBO in a 2,000 lb car!
Did they learn anything from this platform? Obviously not and are they applying this technology across the brands in an efficient manner?
We can have big honking SUV's without the hunker with weight reduction and some forced induction when needed, but jacking energy prices and taxes up is not the way to do it and neither is oppressive government mandate.
Government support and encouragement through economic incentives is one answer, not OBAMA mandate.
So, when't the last time Toyota had a sports car? The MR2? That Corolla Sport sure doesn't cut it.
When's the last time they had a GOOD LOOKING sports car? The Supra?
Since they already have a relationship with GM, seems a no-brainer to snap up Mecca on the cheap, then use the hydro-formed body panel tech to design a new skin for the car.
Voila, a turbo sports car on Toyota lots with minimum development time or cost.
Problem is though, Toyota is hurting so bad right now, sports cars are the last thing they are thinking about. Didn't I read somewhere yesterday that they just got passed in US sales by Hyundai/Kia last month?
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