I don't want to argue about unions but I do want to know more about this,
and I have a couple of questions.
Does it really add $1200 to the "cost" to produce an "American" car
if it goes through one of the "Big Three" automobile companies over the cost
to build the same car by one of the non-unionized companies ?
I find that very difficult to believe.
Does it cost an additional $120 per hour more and take ten hours more to build one ?
Where can I find some trustworthy information on this ?
In the USA and other scientific countries, a billion is a thousand million.
$4 billion is $4,000,000,000.
Lets see, $4 billion divided by $1200 gives me 33,333,333.
That is thirty three million, three hundred thirty three thousand, three hundred and thirty three,
approximately... That would be a lot ( of something ) in my book.
I know Honda gets some of its parts from suppliers around my area of Ohio.
Plastic taillight lenses from a local company that, to compete with Pacific Rim
companies, can only pay the employees $8.50 an hour. Sure, it is a job, but the
whole family has to work there just to get by.
Would it be better if the big three did the same to everyone ?
Is it your "fault" if you ask for a raise and they give it to you ? Say 50 cents an hour ?
What if they give you the 50 cents an hour increase, and then give the General Manager
a three million dollar bonus ? If they go under, you sure screwed yourself ?
Inquiring minds want to know. Please give some more info.
Thanks in advance,
Tom S
The real sad part of this story is that thousands of union workers will be out of a job if the car companies go under. And all the while they will be blaming management, not admitting or even realizing that THEY THEMSELVES are just as much to blame with their attitude to stick it to the Company,...... just make sure you don't mess with the union's high wages, excellent benefits and restrictive work rules!! It only adds $1200 plus to the cost of an American car vs. the cost of a "Japanese car".
It doesn't take many $1200 to make $4 billion in profit. I think there is enough blame to go around!!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 4:43 PM
Subject: [FWDLK] Fw: (no subject)
You have probably all seen this one before but the recent messages seem to be running along this subject.
John
A Modern Parable.
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.
On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.
The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.
Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.
They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 people rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pension program was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultant savings were channeled into morale-boosting programs and teamwork posters.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off one rower, halted development of a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses.
The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to even finish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptable performance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.
Sadly, the End.
Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money paying American wages.
TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US. The last quarter's results:
TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.
Ford folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting bonuses...
IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY
|
*************************************************************
To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to
http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1
*************************************************************
To unsubscribe or set your subscription options, please go to
http://lists.psu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=l-forwardlook&A=1
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network