Save the BIG 3 or let them fail?

[nicetry]

My son recently got in a minor accident in our '03 Dodge Durango. He cracked the amber turn signal lens and it needs to be replaced. I called the dealership today to see what it would cost; an 8 inch by 3 inch piece of plastic $146.00!
This is nothing short of criminal. Some guy with a high school education standing on an assembly line making $30.00 an hour with a benefit package that ranks with the best, stamping these out by the hundreds. I have absolutely no empathy for the Big Three, the UAW or the guys who have repeatedly whined and gone on strike to make these wages for doing shop work. Many years ago when Chrysler was on the verge of going under, CEO Lee Iacocca went to the rank and file and told them bluntly "I have all kinds of jobs at $11.00 an hour but I don't have any at $17.00 an hour. Take it or leave it." Most of them took it, kept their jobs, coporate profits rebounded and Chrysler came out to be one of the strongest and most innovative car companies around. I have nothing against any hard working person making what they can, but the Auto industry saw this coming years ago and just rode the gravy train, taking all of us for a ride. IMO, a very restrictive bailout with major stipulations to include retooling, streamlining and the mfgr of cars that are 30-40% more fuel efficient within the next 5 years, not 10, but 5. The government would svae more money by bailing out the average citizen. Pay off their mortgages, give them incentives for home repair to include solar heat, etc..

 

[veni vidi vici]

Originally Posted by nicetry
http:///forum/post/2847935
My son recently got in a minor accident in our '03 Dodge Durango. He cracked the amber turn signal lens and it needs to be replaced. I called the dealership today to see what it would cost; an 8 inch by 3 inch piece of plastic $146.00!
This is nothing short of criminal. Some guy with a high school education standing on an assembly line making $30.00 an hour with a benefit package that ranks with the best, stamping these out by the hundreds. I have absolutely no empathy for the Big Three, the UAW or the guys who have repeatedly whined and gone on strike to make these wages for doing shop work. Many years ago when Chrysler was on the verge of going under, CEO Lee Iacocca went to the rank and file and told them bluntly "I have all kinds of jobs at $11.00 an hour but I don't have any at $17.00 an hour. Take it or leave it." Most of them took it, kept their jobs, coporate profits rebounded and Chrysler came out to be one of the strongest and most innovative car companies around. I have nothing against any hard working person making what they can, but the Auto industry saw this coming years ago and just rode the gravy train, taking all of us for a ride. IMO, a very restrictive bailout with major stipulations to include retooling, streamlining and the mfgr of cars that are 30-40% more fuel efficient within the next 5 years, not 10, but 5. The government would svae more money by bailing out the average citizen. Pay off their mortgages, give them incentives for home repair to include solar heat, etc..
Just for the record,I'm a Union Carpenter with some college education and i make $38.49/hr.I earn every cent of it too. My job probably requires more skill,intelegence and sweat than some of these hot shots that make millions of dollars doing absolutely nothing but counting beans.
My employer pays the Union something like $70/80 /hr for my services,some of this goes into a retirement fund some goes for my insurance the rest goes into the unions pocket and im sure a few kick backs too . I think when times are good this is all fine and good,but times aren't good.Im pretty sure most union members ,myself included would take a pay cut or have less money going into retirement fund or a larger co-pay insurance policy just to see the economy turn and for the companies we work for make it.
I just think when people are looking to blame the union workers they are looking in the wrong place.People should be looking at upper management and the union heads.

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by nicetry
http:///forum/post/2847935
My son recently got in a minor accident in our '03 Dodge Durango. He cracked the amber turn signal lens and it needs to be replaced. I called the dealership today to see what it would cost; an 8 inch by 3 inch piece of plastic $146.00!
This is nothing short of criminal. Some guy with a high school education standing on an assembly line making $30.00 an hour with a benefit package that ranks with the best, stamping these out by the hundreds. I have absolutely no empathy for the Big Three, the UAW or the guys who have repeatedly whined and gone on strike to make these wages for doing shop work. Many years ago when Chrysler was on the verge of going under, CEO Lee Iacocca went to the rank and file and told them bluntly "I have all kinds of jobs at $11.00 an hour but I don't have any at $17.00 an hour. Take it or leave it." Most of them took it, kept their jobs, coporate profits rebounded and Chrysler came out to be one of the strongest and most innovative car companies around. I have nothing against any hard working person making what they can, but the Auto industry saw this coming years ago and just rode the gravy train, taking all of us for a ride. IMO, a very restrictive bailout with major stipulations to include retooling, streamlining and the mfgr of cars that are 30-40% more fuel efficient within the next 5 years, not 10, but 5. The government would svae more money by bailing out the average citizen. Pay off their mortgages, give them incentives for home repair to include solar heat, etc..
Do me a favor and call a Toyota dealer, ask how much a 03 Sequoia taillight costs...

 

[stdreb27]

there are 3rd party retailers...

 

[usirchchris]

What's it do to my warranty if they go under

. Get that 25 billion going if it does what I suspect

. If not let capitalism run its course.