GM OFFERS 74,000 WORKERS INCENTIVES TO LEAVE!!!!

[edpontiac91]

Hello, WTF is going on in this country. Just looked at an article on YAHOO and GM wants to get rid of its ENTIRE U.S. work force and REPLACE them with MUCH lower paid NEW employees. If a person with over 10 years is willing to cut ALL ties with the company, they could receive $140,000 in a lump sum. Others will get between $42,000 to $68,000 if they choose to still continue getting their benefits and pensions. So with all the rising costs of living going UP, the MAJOR car companies are looking to greatly reduce the rate their hourly paid workers make. I understand this is "JUST BUSINESS", but it sucks for most of us because it sets the tone for most OTHER companies, and only the boarder crossers will get the benefit because they're used to working for next to nothing!

[Knipps]

did you also happen to see this one?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Ym0&refer=news

[Untamed]

It does suck, but the inevitable conclusion to an inability to control costs / generate revenue, is Chapter 11, and eventually Chapter 7 (total shutdown of the business). GM has issues to work out with their cost control activities. I'm neither advocating nor condeming what you're reporting here, just reminding folks that cost control is a very real thing every company and employee must face - some are easier to swallow than others.

I don't have an alternative to continue the discussion, however a mass layoff of "non essential personell" may not be that far away for GM.

[SteveR]

Coming soon, a stamp placed on every US car: "Made in China"


In other US auto news, Cerberus said that by the end of this year, they will have laid off 1/3 of the ENTIRE Chrysler company. I don't see three US automakers for much longer.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by Knipps

did you also happen to see this one?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...Ym0&refer=news

"The results indicate Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner is delivering on his pledge to rely more on overseas sales while cutting expenses at home."

Exactly. The value of the dollar combined with the quickly shrinking economy and now consumer fears of a recession make for a bad situation. Ford is doing the same thing and trying to strengthen its European market which is already strong. The dollar is so weak right now, that there are stores in New York that now accept the Euro as payment. Thats right, paying for things with the Euro.. in America.

[EchoMirage]

Originally Posted by SteveR

The dollar is so weak right now, that there are stores in New York that now accept the Euro as payment. Thats right, paying for things with the Euro.. in America.

i heard.....thats ****ing disgusting. the cost of living is so high (gasoline), people are demanding higher hourly pay...which costs the company more. but, for whatever stupid reason, people arent buying enough US cars. hence, what is the comp. (GM, ford, etc) to do? if gas was back to 1.50 a gallon we wouldnt be in this mess.

[JL8Jeff]

Pensions are killing all the big US companies and also running up our taxes because of gov't workers getting such big benefits. This country has to learn how to unload these pensions and people need to learn to build their own retirement savings. You can't expect a company to stay in business when they're paying more in benefits than the company makes in profits. But with gov't, they just raise our taxes to pay for the retirement benefits. My company does a partial match on our 401K and that's nice. But my retirement will be because of what I save, not what the company pays me.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by EchoMirage

i heard.....thats ****ing disgusting. the cost of living is so high (gasoline), people are demanding higher hourly pay...which costs the company more. but, for whatever stupid reason, people arent buying enough US cars. hence, what is the comp. (GM, ford, etc) to do? if gas was back to 1.50 a gallon we wouldnt be in this mess.

So lower gas prices would save this situation?

Wow....

How about ridiculous UAW demands and contracts. GM also has screwed up big time too.

[CJDZ24_Z28]

Originally Posted by Frosty

So lower gas prices would save this situation?

Wow....

How about ridiculous UAW demands and contracts. GM also has screwed up big time too.

UAW demands ridiculous? How about getting some non-union untrained scabs to build cars for them

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by CJDZ24_Z28

UAW demands ridiculous? How about getting some non-union untrained scabs to build cars for them

Works for Toyota...

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by CJDZ24_Z28

UAW demands ridiculous? How about getting some non-union untrained scabs to build cars for them

Some of the salaries of noob factory workers is downright ridiculous. Go look up how much GM had to spend for VIAGRA last year and other ridiculous healthcare items then get back to me. Good look up how many workers the UAW DEMANDS be employed at any given time. A friend of the family has cousins that work for GM and they were telling me there could be up to as many as 30+ workers sitting around in their game room at any time with no work making $20+hr to sit on the internet and play ping-ping.

I'm very biased, being in a union once before has left a bad taste in my mouth, most of them are worthless and not needed into today's workplace. They could care less how their demands hurt the very company they work for.

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Works for Toyota...

DING!

[Savage_Messiah]

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

Pensions are killing all the big US companies and also running up our taxes because of gov't workers getting such big benefits. This country has to learn how to unload these pensions and people need to learn to build their own retirement savings. You can't expect a company to stay in business when they're paying more in benefits than the company makes in profits. But with gov't, they just raise our taxes to pay for the retirement benefits. My company does a partial match on our 401K and that's nice. But my retirement will be because of what I save, not what the company pays me.

Exactly. I have no problem with this, it's what the company needs to do to survive.

[CJDZ24_Z28]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Some of the salaries of noob factory workers is downright ridiculous. Go look up how much GM had to spend for VIAGRA last year and other ridiculous healthcare items then get back to me. Good look up how many workers the UAW DEMANDS be employed at any given time. A friend of the family has cousins that work for GM and they were telling me there could be up to as many as 30+ workers sitting around in their game room at any time with no work making $20+hr to sit on the internet and play ping-ping.

I'm very biased, being in a union once before has left a bad taste in my mouth, most of them are worthless and not needed into today's workplace. They could care less how their demands hurt the very company they work for.



DING!

Well I'm a Union Carpenter. I make $37.67 a hour pay with benefits and such our total package is like $57.xx a hr. and there are times I sit around for hours. Either waiting on materials or other trades to get out of the way. Sunday was double time for me and i was working in Sunoco and I worked hard but there was a time when i couldn't do my job. I can honestly say Most of the contractors make a killing so that is why we are able to make this pay.

My opinion? I do believe that the UAW should of taken a look at the declining sales and market shares of GM. Yea I do think most Union workers make alot of money. When I 1st got in top pay rate was $32.xx a hr. that was 4 years ago. On the flipside we have to complete 4 years of training with several upgrade college credit courses after that.If the contractor has a problem a worker all he has to do is call the hall and get another guy there.

If GM knew they couldn't afford the pay rate the UAW required then why did they sign off? They're negotiation were not in their best intrest. What there doing now is prob getting 2nd or 3rd year guys to fill the shoes of the guys that our at top rate.

[BigAls87Z28]

GM actually negotiated a very nice deal with the UAW, creating a retirement fun account in which GM invested 4 billion in it or something, and the UAW would match that. UAW will then put money into this fund, and will take some of the burden off of GM.
This buy out is just a way of freeing up a bit more money. With the dropping dollar, and increasing Canadain dollar, its cheaper to make them here.

[Jersey_TA]

I think we should just ban all imports from (what country was it) Japan or china since they don't allow most of our products to be sold there....that's if I remember correctly.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

Pensions are killing all the big US companies and also running up our taxes because of gov't workers getting such big benefits. This country has to learn how to unload these pensions and people need to learn to build their own retirement savings. You can't expect a company to stay in business when they're paying more in benefits than the company makes in profits. But with gov't, they just raise our taxes to pay for the retirement benefits. My company does a partial match on our 401K and that's nice. But my retirement will be because of what I save, not what the company pays me.

I agree 100%. I am in the same boat with a 401k- I have to save if I want to retire. And if that means investing my money instead of buying car parts and such, then so be it.

[Knipps]

i doubt it's china b/c ford's in the top 3 there, (last i heard)

[Jersey_TA]

Originally Posted by Knipps

i doubt it's china b/c ford's in the top 3 there, (last i heard)

I couldn't remember where I read that or for what country it was lol. maybe I should pay more attention...oh wait I'm broke lol

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by Jersey_TA

I couldn't remember where I read that or for what country it was lol. maybe I should pay more attention...oh wait I'm broke lol

In Japan, we cannot sell any cars directly. Any cars they get from America are brought in through some other channels. There is no Chevy dealer in Japan.

China, GM is #1. China is GM's money maker. GM also gives China all the good stuff like RWD Park Ave off the Statesman, while our stupid dealers say "No thanks, we want a FWD bore-o-rama Lucerne".
Friggin dumbass dealers.

[Fast92RS]

Plus the reason why benifit packages cost so much for employers is the outrageous cost of healtcare in this country. If the healthcare cost were not so out of control, benifit packages would cost less and maybe companies wouldn't out source labor in other countries.

[97ws6]

If they want to compete they are going to have to change with the times,

No union
401k for retirement
Move from Detroit, down South, have cheaper operating costs, and lower wages, there workers can move with them, its cheaper to live there
Get rid of all there divisions,(just call all cars GM)
Focus on a smaller number of Models, and build them right
Build a car that doesnt run on gas
Advertise like crazy, (This is the new GM)
Export the New GM to the world market

If they do this, they can beat Toyota here, and abroad!

[Knipps]

not gonna happen

[Savage_Messiah]

Originally Posted by 97ws6

Get rid of all there divisions,(just call all cars GM)

Need at least bottom, mid and top (like toyota)

Saturn, chevy, caddy.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by 97ws6

Move from Detroit, down South, have cheaper operating costs, and lower wages, there workers

That's exactly what Mercedes did, they built a damn CITY in Alabama. Their facility there looked like something out of a movie.

[Savage_Messiah]

Originally Posted by SteveR

That's exactly what Mercedes did, they built a damn CITY in Alabama. Their facility there looked like something out of a movie.

Mercedes = Umbrella Corp???????????


James... hook me up with soe of that T-V!!