Toyota Targeted

[unit731]

KEITH CRAIN

Automotive News -- July 5, 2010 - 12:01 am ET

 

 

Bob King was just elected to a four-year term as head of the UAW. He doesn't have to run for election again because he'll retire, so it was surprising to hear what he had to say after his inauguration.

 

He seems to be going on the warpath.

 

King's decision to pick on Toyota is hard to understand, except that he's upset that Toyota closed NUMMI after General Motors pulled out of the venture. But he sure is picking the wrong target.

 

During the financial crisis -- while the Detroit 3 were laying off workers and shutting plants -- Toyota kept workers on their jobs. If they weren't building cars, they were being trained or doing maintenance at factories.

 

The notion that the UAW can score points with the public by picketing Toyota dealerships across the country is ridiculous. For most people, all that would do is create a bad impression of the UAW, not Toyota.

 

It's time for the UAW to be supportive, not combative.

 

There are three major automakers that the union should worry about. The leaders of the UAW should not try to negotiate higher and higher labor rates to make the Detroit 3 noncompetitive again.

 

Have they forgotten that the UAW is a big shareholder in GM and Chrysler? One of the big problems with ownership is the conflict of interest. Unless those companies and Ford are making profits, there will be a problem getting good wages and benefits. That affects UAW members, whether they are owners or employees.

 

I had hoped the UAW had learned its lesson and paid attention to the role played by Ron Gettelfinger.

 

The next few years still will require a statesman leading the UAW to make sure the companies are strong enough to protect the union's investment and jobs.

 

The companies will sell their stock, but that stock will be valuable only if GM and Chrysler prosper in the meantime.

 

Like his predecessor, Bob King faces serious challenges. Let's hope he doesn't get too wound up in the rhetoric and forget that, for a while, the future of his union was in doubt.

 

He should tone down the rhetoric. It doesn't help

 

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20100705/O...6#ixzz0t5tXL53I

[Daryl LBZ]

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

[[email protected]]

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

[Daryl LBZ]

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

 

 

 

 

 

Because the US likes giving handouts to companies like Toyota and screwing the US Companies. Then Toyota returns the favor by giving us sticking gas pedals and non-working brakes while some of the people driving them get killed.

[[email protected]]

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

 

 

 

 

 

Because the US likes giving handouts to companies like Toyota and screwing the US Companies. Then Toyota returns the favor by giving us sticking gas pedals and non-working brakes while some of the people driving them get killed.

 

 

That's the typical modern U.S. way of doing things there. Send the money to all kinds of places when we don't have the money here. Maybe it's Obama's fault, maybe it's BP's fault, but the U.S. is going down hill for sure. I'm sure everyone already knew that, though.

[gmowner4life]

The problem here is the union, not Toyota. I'm willing to bet that the employees at Toyota are happy because they were kept on the job even through all of the chaos of their sticking gas pedals, their drop in sales, etc. Can you say the same for the big 3? I doubt it. Unions are nothing but a waste of money IMO. I worked for the school system a few years back and the only thing the unions did was guarantee that someone with more tenure got a position over someone else that really deserved it. I understand why unions came to be and why they were important once upon a time. Now, I think they just take their dues and really do nothing for the employees that they take the money from. They do not help the companies in implementing ideas to better their profits. It's a me, me, me attitude.

 

Let the beatings begin! I'm sure I'll hear it.

[[email protected]]

Actually, I totally agree with that. But, Toyota, if they're going to make vehicles in the u.s., should have to put up with the same union bs that the other 3 have to put up with.

[Matt_]

The problem here is the union, not Toyota. I'm willing to bet that the employees at Toyota are happy because they were kept on the job even through all of the chaos of their sticking gas pedals, their drop in sales, etc. Can you say the same for the big 3? I doubt it. Unions are nothing but a waste of money IMO. I worked for the school system a few years back and the only thing the unions did was guarantee that someone with more tenure got a position over someone else that really deserved it. I understand why unions came to be and why they were important once upon a time. Now, I think they just take their dues and really do nothing for the employees that they take the money from. They do not help the companies in implementing ideas to better their profits. It's a me, me, me attitude.

 

Let the beatings begin! I'm sure I'll hear it.

 

i agree with you completely!

 

my wife is a teacher and i HATE the teachers union!

 

im not going to get into the details... but lets just say that their sense of entitlement is absurd! not to mention with all the budget problems in NJ... NOT ONE email she got from her union rep was constructive as in "heres the facts and our options", they were all fear mongering emails that basically were meant to brainwash the members into hating the governor and to get angry enough to start picket lines and write nasty letters.

[Wingnut]

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

Force unions upon them, and they'll move production elsewhere.

 

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

 

 

Because they're not retarded. They treat their employees well, so they don't want to (or need to, for that matter) unionize. At this point, they don't bring a thing to the table.

 

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

 

 

 

 

 

Because the US likes giving handouts to companies like Toyota and screwing the US Companies. Then Toyota returns the favor by giving us sticking gas pedals and non-working brakes while some of the people driving them get killed.

 

 

Gas pedal deaths = less than 20

 

GM's gas tank explosion problems = around 1,800 deaths.

 

Just sayin'

 

I say they slap the Union into Toyotas plants. Im sick of the American Auto Makers having to deal with the Unions BS, but Toyota doesn't. Let Toyota deal with what the US Automakers do for a while, and maybe they won't think its so peachy selling their vehicles in the US.

 

I agree, why the hell doesn't Toyota have to deal with the union's shit?

 

 

 

 

 

Because the US likes giving handouts to companies like Toyota and screwing the US Companies. Then Toyota returns the favor by giving us sticking gas pedals and non-working brakes while some of the people driving them get killed.

 

 

That's the typical modern U.S. way of doing things there. Send the money to all kinds of places when we don't have the money here. Maybe it's Obama's fault, maybe it's BP's fault, but the U.S. is going down hill for sure. I'm sure everyone already knew that, though.

 

 

Let's keep the politics out of this

[Doug_Scott]

Actually, I totally agree with that. But, Toyota, if they're going to make vehicles in the u.s., should have to put up with the same union bs that the other 3 have to put up with.

 

Maybe I am wrong but, how a union gets into a company has nothing to do with anything but what the employees vote for. If the UAW wants into Toyota, they simply have to convince the workers that they need the union, then the workers schedule a vote amoungst the workers, and they decide. Forcing a union onto the workers would be just plain wrong. Did you forget that the workers are your fellow americans?

[[email protected]]

Actually, I totally agree with that. But, Toyota, if they're going to make vehicles in the u.s., should have to put up with the same union bs that the other 3 have to put up with.

 

Maybe I am wrong but, how a union gets into a company has nothing to do with anything but what the employees vote for. If the UAW wants into Toyota, they simply have to convince the workers that they need the union, then the workers schedule a vote amoungst the workers, and they decide. Forcing a union onto the workers would be just plain wrong. Did you forget that the workers are your fellow americans?

 

 

Ummmm, no. I know that the workers are here in America(with a capital A), but their company is not founded in America and thus many profits made from their company go to foreign places.

[[email protected]]

"Let's keep the politics out of this "

 

Like I said everyone already knows this. No need for the .

[ryan_hermanutz]

"Let's keep the politics out of this "

 

Like I said everyone already knows this. No need for the .

 

 

Knows what? That the President of the United States of America, past or present, and BP have nothing to do with unions not being able to break into Toyota, or that you hate Obama and BP. Get over it vote some someone else in and don't buy BP fuel, don't support companies that purchase fuel from BP, don't fly with companies that purchase jet fuel from BP. And if you really feel that strongly about the U.A.W please feel free to contact the nearest member and take over his/her yearly dues.

[[email protected]]

"Let's keep the politics out of this "

 

Like I said everyone already knows this. No need for the .

 

 

Knows what? That the President of the United States of America, past or present, and BP have nothing to do with unions not being able to break into Toyota, or that you hate Obama and BP. Get over it vote some someone else in and don't buy BP fuel, don't support companies that purchase fuel from BP, don't fly with companies that purchase jet fuel from BP. And if you really feel that strongly about the U.A.W please feel free to contact the nearest member and take over his/her yearly dues.

 

 

 

 

You do have a point on the everybody knows this part, but what makes you think that I like unions when I don't?

[ryan_hermanutz]

"Let's keep the politics out of this "

 

Like I said everyone already knows this. No need for the .

 

 

Knows what? That the President of the United States of America, past or present, and BP have nothing to do with unions not being able to break into Toyota, or that you hate Obama and BP. Get over it vote some someone else in and don't buy BP fuel, don't support companies that purchase fuel from BP, don't fly with companies that purchase jet fuel from BP. And if you really feel that strongly about the U.A.W please feel free to contact the nearest member and take over his/her yearly dues.

 

 

 

 

You do have a point on the everybody knows this part, but what makes you think that I like unions when I don't?

 

 

 

I guess I thought you were a fan of them You seem to want all the auto manufactures to have to deal with them, to me that seems like you are for them. I think they all should not have them so I would have said something like remove them from the other 3. No biggie I guess, different ways of expressing ones thoughts.