Just how do you BUY AMERICAN?

[rtdiggr]

My actual pay on my check is $34 cdn per hour. Our skill trades get 20% and do about 80% less work.

You would be surprised how many people i work with that has gone to College or University including me. Why because it is hard to get a job that pays well.

Keep in mind that 6-7 percent of the price of the vehicle is our wages "the so called $70" Where does the the other 93-94 percent goes.

People criticize what is infront of them mostly because of the the media. 30% goes to advertising a vehicle but you don't see the media going after NBC ABC etc. to cut there prices. But one way they have be saving money is have you noticed there is very few celbs promoting vehicles. That costs a small fortune.

At our place a few years ago they were changing the sun visors. I asked the vendor why? She said so they can all be the same to keep costs down. Good Idea.. I ask how much does this save she said $6 per side per vehicle. hummmmmmmm
At the time we were making over 1200 vehicles per day. Long story short in our plant that one change saved over $700,000 a year.

My hole point to this story did you see the saving in the vehicles NO!!!!!!!!We really work for the stock holders.

All as i am saying is 6-7 percent of a vehicle is wages how could that possible be the unions fault.

Shane

 

[rtdiggr]

Unions some bad some good
case in point Union shop had a machine that had 2 employees working on that station automated the machine only needed 1 person production and quality went down yet while all the time I was the standing by the machine production and quality went up??? when I came in every morning I would check with my maint. crew and tour the plant to make sure everything was running well when I came up to the Amade NC punch press and saw the operator a little bit tipsy I walked up to him and he smelled of alcohol Told him not to run the machine he told me to go F-- myself I went to see his Foreman and told him about the problem he said I don't what anything to do with this went to human resources manger she told me he had been fired twice before for drinking on the job ,so her and I went down to see him and asked if he would go to the doctor and take a blood alcohol test he agreed came back as .32 she fired him again BUT he got his job back as long he resigned as chief union Stewart.
The plant was eventually sold and moved out of state to non union ,set up the machines in there plant trained operator on the machine that I had eliminate a person from and after 3 days 5X more production less than.4 waste???

This was the the problem with that Local another local I was subbing work to were excellent workers and high quality work.

I agree there are some stupid thing the unions get away with.

I can only speak for my own plant. Times have changed in last few years if you get caught drink or other it is an automatic 30day suspension, Do it again and your gone.
If you get Fired in our plant now you don't usually come back.

Please understand that i am not for or against unions but they do create a safe place to work.

We lost our cleaners in our plant last contract so the people they brought in gets about $15 and our members of our union. So the union still gets there dues. and i am guaranteed not to get that job.
Yes there is still wheeling and dealings going on all the time.

I am just glad i still have a job. for now.

Shane

 

[greenmule]

Its not all the unions fault,probably if you wanted to look at it the way most things are looked at its none of the unions fault,management gave the unions what they demanded,management is supposed to run the company in a way that will keep the company in business,management made the decisions that led to the japs coming in by making junk.Everything boils down to the management,the buck stops there. So,if you looked at it that way,than its all management fault,not any part of it was the unions fault. But we all know that other than a chain gang,theres no amount of management that can do it all,the people working there have to be on board as well.

Heard on tv that toyota in america,sold x amount of cars for x amont of money and made a good profit,heard gm sold about the same amount and lost money,this was over the same time period.So that tells you all you need to know there,gm can't stay in business doing what its been doing.

But the thing that bothers me is because of whatever reason,the big three want me to loan[do you really believe its a loan] them money. I don't want to loan them any money,sink or swim is the way I look at it,we got too many car makers in this country now,some need to be weeded out.Its the big threes fault that is the case,they had it all in the 70's when they was making total junk,like I've said.

 

[Nissan197]

Im curious, was it actual "sheetrock" the brand or are you using the term in general? Ive only seen actual sheetrock brand products made in Canada (CGC) or the US. It wouldnt surprise me though if they are making it overseas. Guess i'll have to start reading the labels on my drywall too There was a drywall plant in my Provence that was closed recently citing high costs and reduced construction. Maybe they shipped those jobs to china?

I wonder if the items by the wall were turning black because of mold?

Sorry, it was not the "Sheetrock" brand. Generic gympsum board made in China.

 

[rtdiggr]

Its not all the unions fault,probably if you wanted to look at it the way most things are looked at its none of the unions fault,management gave the unions what they demanded,management is supposed to run the company in a way that will keep the company in business,management made the decisions that led to the japs coming in by making junk.Everything boils down to the management,the buck stops there. So,if you looked at it that way,than its all management fault,not any part of it was the unions fault. But we all know that other than a chain gang,theres no amount of management that can do it all,the people working there have to be on board as well.

Heard on tv that toyota in america,sold x amount of cars for x amont of money and made a good profit,heard gm sold about the same amount and lost money,this was over the same time period.So that tells you all you need to know there,gm can't stay in business doing what its been doing.

But the thing that bothers me is because of whatever reason,the big three want me to loan[do you really believe its a loan] them money. I don't want to loan them any money,sink or swim is the way I look at it,we got too many car makers in this country now,some need to be weeded out.Its the big threes fault that is the case,they had it all in the 70's when they was making total junk,like I've said.

Funny thing is it is a loan and yes i believe will get paid back why because they have "borrowed" money from the government in the past and have paid it back.

There really should be more concern of the TRUE bail out of $700bill to the financial area.

Greenmule i don't know where you live but i assume you don't live in an area where your community is supported by the auto industry.

Shane

 

[greenmule]

I don't believe in any bailouts[well at least the ones here lately],seems like the government has went to bazzaro land here in the past few months.Stupidest things I ever heard of,,if they want to do stuff like that they should have the people vote on it,bet it wouldn't have got the votes.

No, no auto makers around here,and believe it or not,most of the country has no auto makers in it,I know there is alotta jobs the auto industry has,but we are just talking about the big three,right,they are they only ones that wants my money,so that really narrows it down.

 

[rtdiggr]

Over 7million people are affected by the auto industry in Can and the US you are right it doesn't affect you but maybe you should talk to some people who are lossing the jobs and see how they feel.

Shane

Just keep buying imports and call yourself a true American

Isn't it ironic.

Maybe when all the jobs are gone you can pick up you family and move to China and work for a few bucks aday.

 

[horse7]

I agree totally with George2615
Here in Vermont, a large City Electric Co. is requesting a rate increase. WHY ?
Because so many have gone to energy conservation that the Elec Co profits have taken a large drop.

This is an example of "be careful what you wish for". Some areas of the country are bemoaning the loss of gasoline tax revenue as people drive less, and drive more fuel efficient cars.

Pundits say Americans don't save[1] enough, but what if they 'saved' more? The fear is that the economy would collapse from a lack of consumer sales... oh wait, we are seeing something like that now as people and companies hoard their cash....

[1]what exactly is the definition of "saving". Interestingly enough, it does not include capital gains, or (usually) 401Ks, or equities (stocks and bonds), or not having a mortgage on your house so there is home equity. Usually, savings is just what you stuff in a bank. However, keeping all your wealth in a bank is a poor investment strategy overall, thus Americans don't do it-- which makes American "savings" look bad (it is also made to look worse by not removing retirees from the population of savers-- retirees are generally spending the money they saved! This is a major reason WHY people save assets after all, to spend during retirement! It boggles the mind how poorly understood this is.)

 

[greenmule]

Shane this is getting weird,you are from canada right?

But to me the big three auto makers and the rest of the country are two different issues,things or whatever. And to me the country would be just fine if one or two of them closed up shop,this is not a welfare state,[well not yet],I slightly feel anybodys pain if they lose their job,but thats life,thats why education and training will get you through,skills,you can take your skills and go on someplace else,many[most] factory jobs don't travel well.

Feel the same about the housing market deal that they have been ranting about,our house is paid for,no body helped us do it. And if we couldn't have and the bank took it back,wouldn't blame nobody but myself. Course,like I said,I'm an independant kinda guy.

But I'll change my mind on all these bailouts if they give me 30,000 or so of other peoples tax money,to keep me bailed out. Thats what I meant by greed,thats just the way we are.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Just keep buying imports and call yourself a true American

Isn't it ironic.

Maybe when all the jobs are gone you can pick up you family and move to China and work for a few bucks aday.

So I pick up my new GMC truck "Made in Oshawa". Despite that plant being rated #1 in productivity for NA it is being closed and production moved to the US.

Wife wants a new Malibu. So we trot off to the local GM store and buy one - OOppps - Made in Mexico.

Want a FEL for my JD tractor - OOpps closed the Welland plant and moved production back to US.

What if I needed a new Navistar truck - like the Canadian military $254 Million order. OOpps closed the Chatam plant and moved production to Texas.

Oh well. Let's upgrade the kitchen with new cupboards. OOpps - Canac closed the plant and moved production back to the US.

What if next time I really want to buy a Canadian made car - well may Toyota made in Kitchener / Woodstock, maybe Honda made in Alliston, maybe Suzuki made in Ingersoll.

You think it's tough to buy American - try finding anything other than firewood that is Made in Canada anymore. Canada is losing manufacturing jobs at an astounding rate and they are not all going to China or Japan.

Some of the companies must be feeling a backlash. I see a lot of the lables now just say "Imported by...." and do not give the country of origin.