Strike has begun

[Aj58]

I bet they’ll release all the pricing for the 24 a week or two after they settle the strike. Guess who’s gonna pay?

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[Cburd61]

considering that corporations and the top tier wealthy investors nake milliins in profits, and CEOs have continuously made increasingly more percentage wise over the years than the acarage worker, I support the unions in their fight for more livable wages. Those who dont can always buy 3rd world items much more cheaply.
I am surprised that anyone on this forum who might say buy American would then not support American workers.

The last 2 “American” vehicles I bought, before my Gladiator, were Dodge Ram Bighorns. Both made in Mexico. My Crown Vic was made in Canada. Anymore, ”made in America” doesn’t necessarily mean made in the U.S. (Unfortunately).

 

[Mad Mac]

Forced Unionism States that have union shops
are driving manufacturers and jobs
to the Right to Work States
or overseas.

Decades ago, my boss criticised me
for driving a Japanese pickup
instead of an American pickup.
I pointed out
that his extended cab Chevy pickup
was made in Canada
while my Nissan Hardbody pickup
was made in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Now who's driving made in America.

This trend has grown stronger.
For example, Toyota now races in NASCAR
because they manufacture in the USA.
NASCAR has prohibited foreign built cars
ever since Jaguar XK120s won races
back in the beginning of the association.

There is no such thing as a trickle up economy.
That is why the Rust Belt is rusting.
The free enterprise system works
when there are free markets,
including labor markets.

Keep it civil. Have a good weekend.

 

[Cburd61]

Yeah, the big three should easily be able to replace these unskilled workers. It's not even really a strike because they have so many people lined up ready to do these jobs for less. ?‍

Not all those jobs are unskilled. Yes, the majority are loading robots, or installing parts, according to the computer screens. However, some jobs are highly skilled, especially with experience. I worked on the repair line, the last 12 years I was at BMW, doing Paintless Dent Repair, installing replacement body panels by hand, etc. Not just anybody can learn some skills. Granted, the first couple of years, I was hanging a part on a fixture, hitting a button, and letting the robot do its thing. When we were in a pinch a couple of times, they outsourced PDR people from all over the country to help out. It’s frustrating being one of 50 or 60 folks in a plant of 10,000+, and the contractor next to you is making as much a day, as you make in a week.

 

[dajudge]

We are in the beginning of a major transition in the auto industry.
Elon Musk has shown that with true innovation vehicles can be made more cheaply and better. The big 3 automakers have sat on their collective fat a$$es for decades and not really invested in true innovation.
They are now scrambling to catch up and as a result are having to pour billions into upgrading their manufacturing process including using more robotics (and therefore eliminating some jobs) as well as shifting to electrification (good or bad).

The Union is trying to claw back to the good ole’ days when in fact many of the workers will be out of a job in 5 years or so. In fact, if the Union gets their way the big 3 may go bankrupt by then.

I will say that the top tier of auto executives are getting paid outrageous sums and stupid bonuses even when their companies are not doing well. Performance bonuses are a joke at that level.

This sounds like an argument from 1992. I have traditionally not been a fan of unions. I grew up out side of Detroit and watched them sit on there hands for stupid things and all that it did was cause manufacturing to move to Mexico. However this time they have point. In real dollars they are making much less than they were 10 years ago. They only agreed to take the deal they currently have to help save GM, Ford, and whatever Chrysler was then. The top brass at all three have gotten consistent raises and bonuses while the workers have gotten screwed. It's time for them to share some of the wealth with the people who do the actual work.

As as far as Tesla "quality" goes, my '77 skylark had more consistent panel gaps than any Tesla.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Now that would surprise me . Most run on just in time production so I really do not think they have 90 frames ,transmissions and engines in storage among all the other stuff needed for production . Let alone 90 body's all ready painted .

By inventory, they are just counting vehicles already sitting on the dealer lots, or what is sitting at the assembly plant that was done and ready to leave.

But yes to your point, there isn't much of anything just laying around inside of the plant to assemble (especially painted parts) and even if there was, there isn't anyone to put it together if they are striking.

 

[ecidiego]

Elon Musk has shown that with true innovation vehicles can be made more cheaply and better.

Ermm... while I love Teslas - better? My Gladiator is like a Lexus in quality compared to my Model Y.....

 

[Timoleon]

After the next presidential election, there will be a massive replacement of union workers with the folks that are just arriving. There are more than 5 million new people here in the US that weren't here 2 years ago. Think of that as you walk the picket lines for the very last time.

 

[KC_H]

Unions used to have the bargaining leverage of skilled workers producing quality work in the 60s and 70s. That was a long time ago.

The way that demographics are quickly changing, automakers (all manufacturers) will be paying whatever it takes to get workers. Plus the great on-shoring that is starting to take place (you cannot continue to invest in places like China that very quickly will not have the workforce necessary to run their industrial production) will put the power back in the hands of workers. Simple supply and demand...

If folks want to understand what is actually taking place from a global demographic perspective, simply read or watch some of Peter Zeihan's works. He is a Geopolitical Strategist and is a global energy, demographic and security expert.

Like it or not unions are what made the American middle class possible.

 

[KC_H]

Yeah, the big three should easily be able to replace these unskilled workers. It's not even really a strike because they have so many people lined up ready to do these jobs for less. ?‍

Completely untrue...

 

[KC_H]

I automate manufacturing for a living. The robots are coming no matter what. All of these companies have a goal of lights out manufacturing.

Automated manufacturing has been around since the first Allen Bradley PLCs (realistically even before PLC with enclosures full of relays). The product must be designed to be manufactured by automated processes rather than simply throwing automation at existing designs. If you are producing junk, automation just makes you produce junk faster...

 

[KC_H]

After the next presidential election, there will be a massive replacement of union workers with the folks that are just arriving. There are more than 5 million new people here in the US that weren't here 2 years ago. Think of that as you walk the picket lines for the very last time.

What???

 

[ZoMojave]

I wonder if the strike does go months, would Jeep just not make anymore 23’s, even though they’re already on order, and just go straight to the 24’s?

I think that is a fair assessment.

Like when Ford couldn't fill all of the orders for the '22 Mavericks, Broncos and some F-150 models, they just ended the model year and sent letters to those who had orders in stating that they had to reorder the '23 model year. This of course included a hefty price increase attached to it.

It happened to two of my co-workers. They both reordered and ultimately waited a year for their new vehicles.

 

[ScooterInTX]

The way that demographics are quickly changing, automakers (all manufacturers) will be paying whatever it takes to get workers. Plus the great on-shoring that is starting to take place will put the power back in the hands of workers. Simple supply and demand...

Like it or not unions are what made the American middle class possible.

Maybe in the 60s.
Simple math. Pay unskilled union worker $60 per hour for a 4 day work week or pay unskilled non-union worker $30 an hour for a 5 day work week.
That's a problem that will just work itself out over time.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

Automated manufacturing has been around since the first Allen Bradley PLCs (realistically even before PLC with enclosures full of relays). The product must be designed to be manufactured by automated processes rather than simply throwing automation at existing designs. If you are producing junk, automation just makes you produce junk faster...

I know, it's literally my job to reduce headcount and automate manufacturing. ?

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