Comments on: Hargrove’s Hard Line

By: SherbornSean

SherbornSean — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:15:27 +0000

Buzz is gonna have to take a haricut, or else his whole head will get chopped off.

I feel bad for Mikey

By: troonbop

troonbop — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:48:52 +0000

“why don’t they take over the plants on a lease and build the cars under contract.”

Ha! I remember an interviewer posing that question to a CAW representative back when Chrysler was up for sale. It was necessary to revive the CAW gentleman with smelling salts. He’s recovering, but they say he’ll never be the same. He just sits quietly by the radiator, gazing out the window at the passing seasons.
BTW, re the dental plan; a lot of employers offer dental insurance, but it isn’t part of the national health plan.

By: mel23

mel23 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:42:20 +0000

Canadian health care is not as great a savings as commonly thought. Prescription drugs, dental, eye glasses, private hospital rooms and more are not covered. It still costs the company a great deal of money.

Of those listed, drug costs are the most expensive in the US, and we know they are much less in Ca. I lived in Canada for several years, and my strong impression was that dental care was part of the national health plan. I remember my dentist taking pity on me since I didn’t have ‘insurance’. But again, we (nearly everyone here) just don’t know what the numbers are.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:50:49 +0000

Here is an idea. If the CAW is so much better at making cars, why don’t they take over the plants on a lease and build the cars under contract. You know, compete in the market like EVERYONE ELSE.

If they can do it better, they get a raise, if not, too bad.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:07:43 +0000

Your going to get jobs by being the most expensive in the world?

By: 6G74

6G74 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:08:24 +0000

Of course both MBAs no doubt realize the $80/hr includes all benefits, and it’s an average wage (antiquated union rules include lots dealing with seniority).

I’d like to know how Toyota is dealing with this. Ford and Chrysler haven’t said much, and GM’s posturing has so far amounted to shots across the CAW bow. As in: not much.

I suppose we’ll see come Judgment Day.

By: AKM

AKM — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:50:32 +0000

Sajeev: true that. Although said jobs will probably disappear soon, and no wonder why.

By: Sajeev Mehta

Sajeev Mehta — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:23:05 +0000

AKM: another 30 year old MBA here, and I agree with you.

Me thinks we need to find new jobs. :)

By: justjim

justjim — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:59:17 +0000

Just keep it up Buzz Baby… Soon you’ll be be a Union of One.

By: AKM

AKM — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:54:44 +0000

$80 an hour?? Sheeesh. I don’t make that much as a 30-year old MBA!

By: mel23

mel23 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:44:30 +0000

It would be informative to have a few facts on this whole thing. How many CAW person hours are involved in building a car thus how much CAW cost is in a car? Since Canada has universal health care, how much does the employer (GM) save per car in this regard, not only while they’re employed but after they retire too? Of course the employer would like people to work for less, but since the decision seems to be, at least sometimes, whether to build in the US or Canada, having some info would be enlightening.

Also very important of course is currency. The $CA is very high now compared to the past, so what can be predicted about this?

By: Sherman Lin

Sherman Lin — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:26:55 +0000

“We’re not going to try to buy jobs by being the cheapest workers in the world,”

Strange I don’t remember the CAW being asked to lower their wages down to the level of China.

By: GS650G

GS650G — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:21:25 +0000

And the band played on.

This represents a special kind of entitlement mentality.