bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Seems pretty obvious those magazine companies wanted to be close to the ‘big 3’ auto makers and suppliers to get lots of info to write about. Now not only is that largely pointless, but so are magazines as all the action is on podcasts, videos, blogs, and forums.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Back to the uaw strike, when is the ratification vote?

mmarshall

Well, although I said I have no idea, that was my (partial) assumption, too.....being close to Detroit. Except that they constantly complain about the Michigan roads.......can't have it both ways.

Anyhow, you can appreciate those glass-smooth roads in the Deep South. It is simply one of the benefits of living there. Here in the D.C. area, it is a combination of some very good roads and some awful ones.

Back to the strike, Hamtramck might not be permanently closed after all. GM might convert it to Electric Hummer production.

geko29

I did not factor taxes into my joke about purchasing a home in Detroit. And since we're picking nits, I was exaggerating. I only have a couple hundred bucks in my wallet, not the $1200-1500 it would actually take to buy a house. But you (hopefully) get my point.

That said, a quick Googling suggests that Michigan's property taxes are about double SC's, while SC's sales taxes are about double Michigan's. So I'll call that a wash. Certainly not something that would necessitate a 25% increase in labor costs. As for your last sentence, what it costs to operate a plant is completely irrelevant when discussing the employees' cost of living.

SW17LS

It depends on when you were born. My mother is 72 and she was able to take them with no restrictions at 66. She could have taken them at 62 but she would have had to largely give all of it back because she was still working.

If you were born before 1955 you get them at 66 years and 2 months, if you were born between 1955 and 1960 it slides up to 67 and everybody after 1960 is 67 (for now).

Taking them early would depend on your need for the income.

geko29

Voting update:

Saginaw was the first plant to vote. Production workers were 75% in favor, skilled trades 73%: https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-b...otes-next.html

Warren Technical Center was 81% for production and 85% for skilled trades, 84% overall.

If the remainder of the votes are this overwhelming, it seems GM offered too many concessions.

mmarshall

In this video, Jim Lentz, Chief of Toyota North America, gives his view on the strike and the state of the industry.

Toys4RJill

Quite surprised the Toyota US leader is talking about this. My guess is the GM strike is sagging everyone as per confidence

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

He’s smart and knows gm back to work is good for all brands.

Toys4RJill

yeah. Quite true.

mmarshall

Not only that, but Toyota, even with non-UAW membership, tends to treat its employees better than GM or Ford........job security, for one thing, is an important issue with the company.

Hayek

English is not my native language, so forgive me for any mistakes or typos, but surely you guys can't be so blind to not realise what's happening here again, right? It's the same story happening again! The UAW extorted GM for too long, GM nearly went belly up and asked for a bailout in 2009, which they got it and kept the UAW happy. But like the mafia, the UAW kept extorting GM and now that the money is about to end, GM will soon ask for another bailout. Prepare to bail GM out again, Americans!

Blame it on their spineless management who kept being the UAW's favourite suka.

LeX2K

GM did go belly up the corporation you see now is the same in name only. Same old stupid decisions yes, but a different company.

Hayek

GM is addicted to corporate welfare. They want more taxpayers' money.

mmarshall

No. With all due respect, you are way off track. It is not a matter of UAW extortion...in fact, it's close, in some ways, to being exactly the opposite. UAW money, in the 2008-2009 buyout, actually helped to save GM from bankruptcy....they put up part of the package, along with the government, taxpayers, and bondholders. All they asked for, during a time of high GM profits now, was some concessions in return......concessions which GM not only refused, but rewarded the UAW (and their sedan customers) by shutting down several plants, throwing tens of thousands out of work, and removing those vehicles out of the U.S. market. Absolutely outrageous...and IMO the strike was more than deserved. What's more, GM's reputation, among not only the UAW but the general public as well, has been seriously damaged....they are going to lose business from a lot of angry people. The Silverado, their (former) best seller, has already been the first victim (now bumped down into third place behind the F-150 and Ram 1500)...although some of that is also the excellence of the new Ram itself.