
When Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) decided not to ask for federal bailout money and General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) did decide to take it (out of necessity), one of the truths that finally, finally came out about the state of the U.S. auto industry was the need to match employee costs with our foreign rivals.
This was much to the chagrin of auto unions, but now that the entire American auto industry is a few blinks away from oblivion, apparently labor costs are, well, at the top of the survival guide.
For both GM and Chrysler to receive any more federal aid, it was mandated that wage parity had to be reached between the two companies and the U.S. operations of their foreign rivals. Instead of a $70/hour figure for compensation, insurance and fringe benefits, wages would have to approach the $50/hour level.
Indeed, Ford's latest contract with the UAW puts it close to the $50 level, even though Ford has not taken federal bailout money yet. So, it took the impending collapse of the U.S. auto industry for this change to come? If you don't think unions have power in U.S. industry, think again.
With UAW workers making $28/hour at all three U.S. automakers (just base wage), newer workers that are hired to replace retiring ones only make half that. Still, with benefits, foreign companies like Nissan and Hyundai's U.S. operations pay $30/hour and up -- and Ford or GM's entire workforces won't retire overnight. For unions, labor concessions are only the start. Welcome to the global stage, fellas.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-18-2009 @ 1:14PM
BHarrison said...
Well, it looks like the competitive forces of capitalism are beginning to work.
The CEOs, CFOs, and the special interests have become ungodly weathly via the frauds that have crippled and devastated our national economy. The "average" middle and lower class citizens have been brought significantly down to the level of many foreign countries.
But at least, the basics of capitalism are beginning to be re-established.
The PRIMARY ULPRETS in all of this is Congress, the vast majority of Congressmen voted to enabled and to allow these blatant frauds to be orchestrated and to be perpetuated.
Individually many of them "sold out" for $110K to as little as $20K or less in political contributions to curry to the interests of the special interests groups.
Most of our Congressmen should be "purged" . . . they have failed the people and our nation. These "guys" have turned out to be the destroyers of our nation as we have known it, and of our ethical "capitalism". They have betrayed all of us . . . and that is the VAST MAJORITY of our Congressmen.
3-18-2009 @ 2:04PM
Why aare we in this handbasket, and where are we going... said...
I agree with BHarrison.
Now, we should bring executive pay on par with the foreign competition. Executive level pay should be generous but capped at some multiple of the national poverty level. Many execs make more in one day than their rank and file make in a full year, I find this absurd. If we lose a few "talented" execs to foreign countries, so be it, we have a lot of talented and patriotic leaders to take their place. As for the congressmen blaming Obamafor the fat bonuses of AIG,etc...didn't our astute congressmen read what they passed? NOTE: I did not support nor vote for Obama.
3-18-2009 @ 2:34PM
thedude said...
As for executive pay; it should be based on a percentage of the taxes paid by the company. If a company takes massive deductions claiming "losses" and reducing their tax payments or even getting "bailed out' then the top execs should get NOTHING. If a company is running solidly and paying a few hundred million in taxes then sure let those execs get paid 10% of the amount of taxes paid.
As for the US Auto Industry, there really isn't much of one left. Take the Dodge Challenger an iconic american muscle car - the body is made in Canada, the engine in Mexico and only the transmission is made in the USA although the union workers at the transmission plant just voted against pay cuts so the plant is being closed and manufacturing relocated, probably to India
It pains me to my very core to see that Hyundai, Honda and Toyota can manufacture cars in the US cheaper and more efficiently than Dodge, Ford or GM.
That's GLOBALIZATION for ya !
I weep for America and lay blame solidly on complacent consumers (WalMart shoppers) and politicians.
3-18-2009 @ 6:03PM
babyraymond8 said...
I dont buy the argument that protectionism created the great depression. Its time to start buying American. and only American!!!
3-18-2009 @ 6:52PM
DMGE said...
I HEAR CHRYSLER TRYING TO SHOTGUN THE CAW OVER WAGE PARITY SAYING THEY CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR CURRENCY VALUATIONS I'VE GOT ONE FOR THEM THEY WANT TO GO BY THE US DOLLAR WELL THEN PAY OUR CAW BROTHERS IN THAT CURRENCY LET THE CAW OFFER THAT AND WATCH CHRYSLER BALK