Honda Ceases ATV Production

TxDoc · October 15, 2002

From Kagey:

"As of 10-14-02 Honda of S.C. in Timmonsville S.C. has ceased production of its ATV's due to an inavailability of parts. The needed parts are tied up at harbors on the west coast waiting to be unloaded . Perishable cargo and other "prioritized" cargo which must be handled first has delayed shipment of these parts to the east coast factory causing the work force to be indefinatly laid off. Workers have been given a phone number to call daily to get updates on when they are to report back to their jobs.

I am unsure whether or not this will have any affect on the availability of products in the future but it is something to think about if you are shopping for a Honda ATV now. It might not be a bad idea to try and get it while you can.

I will be sure and post as soon as the plant is up and running again."

Shadowfax · October 15, 2002

*rant on*

Guys losing their jobs while guys who were making 150 k to 85 k a year were boycotting because they wanted benefits which they really didnt need. Thats nice. Hope they are happy now. Just another reason IMHO why unions should be outlawed and disbanned. My entire life I've worked hard for what I've earned and, and somtimes earned jack squat, and I've never complained until now. This burns me up to see somthing like this.

*rant off*

MarkD · October 15, 2002

Wheew! I almost accepted a job offer from that plant a few weeks ago!!!!!!!

hogger999 · October 19, 2002

*rant on*
Guys losing their jobs while guys who were making 150 k to 85 k a year were boycotting because they wanted benefits which they really didnt need. Thats nice. Hope they are happy now. Just another reason IMHO why unions should be outlawed and disbanned. My entire life I've worked hard for what I've earned and, and somtimes earned jack squat, and I've never complained until now. This burns me up to see somthing like this.

*rant off*

Benefits aren't the only thing they are in dispute over. They are trying to keep the company they work for from replacing people with machines. If the Longshoremen didn't have a union they wouldn't be able to stop them would they.

The company I work for did the same thing. They wanted to cut Locomotive Engineers off of their jobs running switch engines in switching yards. What they wanted to do was give switchmen about 1 weeks training and let them run these engines by remote control. Since the federal gov. won't allow us to strike. There isn't a whole lot we can do about it. The United Transpotation (which I am no longer a member of) sold these jobs to the company. Now 28 jobs (locally) have been cut and switchmen are running these trains by remote control and earning a whopping extra $6.00 a day.

Even though these unmanned engines are not suppose to go across a public crossing they do it all the time. Think about that the next time your next to a train yard. People have been killed around the country.

If the people that work for Honda are Union they have nothing to worry about they are probably getting paid right now. If they aren't it sounds like they better get organized!

Don't kid yourself that because someone is union they don't work hard either. The reason companies let unions come in is because when they increase their wages they in turn expect more from the employees. Stop buy a union warehouse sometime. Will you see a bunch of lazy asses sitting around. No, you will likely be run over by them trying to make thier quota.

Proud member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers!

TxDoc · October 19, 2002

Honda seems to treat their employees pretty fairly. In 2001, they ran short of parts for the Rubicon, as demand was high and parts coming in were slow. So, while they waited the 2 or 3 days to get restocked, they let the employees come in and stay busy. They did things lke pick up trash, clean work areas, etc. Some may say that they would not want to pick up trash, but if you are still getting paid your full hourly wage vs going home with no pay...

When the S-10 plant in Shreveport runs too low on parts supply, they shut it down and send people home.

Hopefully, they will get the port problems sorted out for a long-term solution.

MarkD · October 20, 2002

That Honda plant is non-union.

Unions around here haven't done much for people. What I have seen in Union/Non-union plants is that it is almost impossible to discipline an employee, no matter what they do.

hogger999 · October 20, 2002

Unions are a two sided coin. True, they do make it hard to discipline some. Something else I don't like about them is that it's not always the best man that gets promoted just the guy who's been there the longest.

At the same time union keep employees from being disciplined unfairly and they keep that guy that just got hired two months ago from getting your promotion just because he's the foreman's fishing buddy.

Either way I support the longshoremen completely.

TxDoc · October 23, 2002

Update from Kagey.

The Honda Plant has resumed production ,albeit at about half of what normal production is. They expect to be back at full production within a couple of weeks.

And, he says that a friend at the plant says the Rincon is assembled in Japan for the time being and the other models are made in SC.