Freep's Phelan Blasts Chrysler Vacation Plan
Detroit Free Press columnist Mark Phelan proves that even those in the mainstream media can handle a little bit of automotive truth-telling. His recent column hammers Chryslers decision to shut down factories for two weeks this summer. Actually, Phelan's beef is not with the plan itself, but its implementation. His main point? People spend all year planning their vacations; forcing employees to change all of their plans is not good for a company as fragile as Chrysler. "Forgetting that other folks have family obligations and less vacation time than you is what Type A executives do," argues Phalen. "The problem is that it has to be somebody's job to tell the boss when he's about to step in something that will stick to his shoe and smell bad." Apparently, skimping on consideration bears bitter fruit down the road. "The company should do everything it can to minimize confusion and communicate its message clearly. Sending a mass e-mail telling everybody to go home for a couple of weeks only fuels doubt and speculation," says Phalen. He definitely has a point there, re: TTAC's rumor report that Chrysler will file when everyone's on hols.
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My deceased parents were UAW workers when I was a kid, and they had summer shutdowns for vacation. Seems like a fairly normal thing. John
Call me cynical also, but these are UAW plants. I doubt any vacation plans will be interrupted. Those with no vacation time left will get a week (or is it two?) without pay. I feel for the front line supervisor who has to plan production around this soup-sandwich scheduling from the Lords Above. Of course, there may be no production after this 'vacation'.
This shut down may spur Chrysler-Cerberus to keep shutting down a little longer with the intent to reduce in stock vehicles!
The summer shutdown is standard Detroit fare. Ford and GM do the exact same thing. Salaried workers have to take 1 week off (paid) around the 4th of July.