GM To Lay Off 25,000 . . .
 

. . . along with IBM's 15,000 and H-P's (expected) 10,000.


http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050607/general_motors_outlook.html?.v=19

but the economy is doing well. That's what I keep hearing...

the stocks went up , though, wall street is happy. who cares about people's jobs.

Fellas - if you are looking for the big employers to provide cradle to grave for the masses, you will only be heartbroken.

We all grew up hearing the "Whats good for General Motors..." blather - but times have changed. Growth in this economy comes from small and small growing to large businesses.

Just hope you (as a taxpayer) dont wind up paying for other companies promises to their employees.

Too late for that...


Anyway, it's about damn time GM does this. The question is, is the union going to force GM to continue to pay these 25,000 salaries?

Tell me why I should be boo hooing for a bunch of workers who milked the system for all it was worth and didn't seem to care about the quality of their work?

As unfortunate as the loss of jobs are, how many of us on this board actually own a GM product or would even consider a new GM car. When a Pelicanite is looking for advice a new car, I don't think a Malibu or G6 is ever mentioned vs. an Audi, BMW or Subaru.

As for an indicator on the health of the economy, money within the car market is just being spent on cars from companies that are more inovative.

GM says it's an issue of health care - which it can no longer afford. The General's chairman states, "$1,500 worth of health care goes into every car GM sells."

Own an '05 Denali. And like it.

- Skip

Nice anti-blue collar generalization.

Why should anyone be concerned about big layoffs?
hum, maybe the ripple effect down to small businesses?

You can ask why this is happening and take steps to alter the trend or....................................you can piss and moan. The latter seems more common these days.

Ask yourselves, seriously, why are these jobs leaving? If your answer is "Because George Bush and his big business buddies are blah blah blah", well then I apologize for interupting your pissing and moaning, carry on.

There's more health care than STEEL in every car they make. I'm sure the union backers will be here shortly to explain how that business model works. (And just to head off the first cheap shot by the caped crusader, no, I'm not advocating taking health benefits away).

Not likely. Those people are the ones shopping at Wal-Mart.

Maybe we should follow the Japanese model of lifetime employment? By the way, they have been in a recession since 1991.

Or maybe the European model? Make it illegal to fine someone. 20% unemployment sounds about right..

I do remember reading somewhere that Michigan was the most profitable state in the US for medical workers.

The healthcare benefits enjoyed by the UAW are PHENOMENAL.

Anyone care to add an opinion to this thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/225272-american-business-question-no-more-unions.html

So why is health care so expensive?

Gotta be W's fault.

I'd like to run with that, have any documentation?

;) SmileWavy

A couple quick ones are that we carry the world in this regard. We pay more because we can, that's how they price these things(drugs etc..). A company invests xxx million in a drug, they need to make xxxx million on it. They get what they can from the rest of the world and we pick up the balance. Just another way we "give" to the rest of the world and they piss on us.

And litigation. Libs and dems claim lawsuits only cost (hell I don't know the number but it's a small percentage) of the total healthcare bill. Yea, but they only include actual settlements and jury awards, not all the insurance and other costs done to protect doctors and providers from the suits or after the fact. It's BIG.