Genius move by Ford

[tcar]

Big 3 annual labor costs per person, w/ legacy costs, etc. vary from $140k's to $155k at Chrysler (highest). They average in the $70k range for the foreign vehicles built here.

Salaries only average about $75k for the big 3 (including janitors at GM's Delphi).

Salaries average about $46k for the foreign plants.



Big 3 have to charge more than $2500 more for what would be the same car as the foreign owned shops.

The big 3 are overpaying what is basically unskilled labor.

UAW has fought fairly successfully (even went on strike to prevent it) the use of robots. As a result, there are many more man hours per vehicle built under their contracts.

When Hyundai advertised for employees at their pay rates at their new plant, 10 people showed up for every job opening. Over 30k people IIRC.

[Porsche_monkey]

Originally Posted by tcar

UAW has fought fairly successfully (even went on strike to prevent it) the use of robots. As a result, there are many more man hours per vehicle built under their contracts.

I think that comment is about 15 years out of date. And irrelevant today.

[Hebrewhomeboy]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Anyone have a link to this news?

It does appear that Ford is the strongest of the US automakers, from a financial point...

-Z

And that is why I bought a bunch of their stocks when they went down to $2 per share

[Chocaholic]

Bankruptcy didn't hurt Delta Air Lines after 9-11. The parasitic unions need to be severed.

End of story.

[HarryD]

My friends, the future of Ford:

http://info.detnews.com/video/index.cfm?id=1189

[83-911SC cab]

I do not have the source handy but while sitting around the dinner table at the fire station the other day we were discussing this bail out ordeal.. One of my coworkers stated that he saw a show that stated the average cost per vehicle for worker pay and benifits (medical, dental, retirement) was in the $8800 range for the big three, I am sure each varies with contract specifics.

You talk about the UAW agreeing to a new starting salary of $14 and change for non assembly workers. This is down from over $28 that it used to be..I saw this little fact myself on a show the other night.. It must have been nice to get that kind of money to push a friggin broom on your first day of work..

Maybe if they get the money they need to take some of it and train the dealership mechanics how to do their jobs better..I had one dealership tell me my spare tire carier was broke as it would not go down when trying to lower it for a 5 tire rotation.. It was fine, the mechanic was just trying to use the wrong end of the rod to try to lower it. Same dealership just changed my oil and a little later in the day after getting fuel my check engine light started to pop on and off. I thought it might be bad gas or builup on O2 sensor. Nope, idiot left oil cap off valve cover as it was still sitting on fender brace when I opened hood. Another dealership replaced my transfer case when I complained of ratcheting noise in my left front end of truck under speeds of 10 MPH. Did not hear noise for about three days after leaving dealership. Then I took a 1300 mile trip to see Dad in Mich and noise started again. Small town dealership took front end apart and said all bearings in front diff were shot. Replaced them all an low and behold no noises for over three months and 5K miles.. By the way my truck is a 05 GMC if you did not care to look at my Sig.

Something needs to be done to help these industries but just writing a blank check to these guys is not the answer. There needs to be a plan in effect to make their products more viable... Sorry for the rant, now I can take a chill pill..