fyrftr50 wrote:Not surprising at all really, we hear the exact same things from the GM plant here in Oshawa. The auto unions have grown far too powerful and are chocking the life out of the makers and protecting the incompetant and immoral workers that know how to abuse the system to no end.
It is frustrating to know a guy (fiance's ex) with no education and little need for training driving a fork-lift for a living at GM makes the same as I do, gets ALL the OT they can humanly handle, gets 2 free weeks off in prime holiday season (July) including the regular holidays they are allotted, take extended lunches, naps on weekends and risk nothing going to work day to day. I know there are a lot of decent, hard-working people at these plants, but there are also a lot that abuse the privilage of their position that do not deserve in the first place. Makes me wonder why I continue to buy nothing but GM sometimes.
Bryan
I really can't argue with your statement because I work there and have said the same thing. Now this post may wind up being disjointed, but I'll do my best not to turn it into a rant.
Lets start off with the seniority of the workforce in Oshawa. In 1980 there were almost 18,000 people working in GM's Oshawa plants. There is now a little more than 8000. Think about it, since 1982 GM has been reducing the work force in Oshawa. As a result, up untill a couple of years ago, the lowest seniorty was approx. 20 yrs. That puts the vast majority of employees over 45 yrs. of age. I am constantly faced with the situation of having to explain to some 25 yr. old punk engineer why something won't work. Unfortunately my 26 yrs. experience of putting cars and trucks together doesn't mean much to them. It is this accumilated experience and knowledge that enables GM's Oshawa plants to consistantly achieve high scores for quality and efficiancy. If GM fired the whole lot of us and hired a bunch of young kids (who don't give a rat's ass for anything that resembles responsibillity), how well do you think they would do in the quality surveys? That's right, it would be 1970 all over again.
Now keep in mind that the statements above were made in the '70s and at one time had some credibility, but not now. We (the employees) are a lot older and a little wiser.
As for the work itself, yes most of the jobs could be done by a trained monkey, but monkeys are smarter and wouldn't stick around like we have. The jobs are very repettitive and can easily cause long term problems with muscles and joints. Imagine doing the same simple task every minute for the whole day. Take my word for it, it sucks and sometimes hurts.
I can't say what it's like in the US plants, but they do have a reputation for higher employee turnover. This results in a work force with less experience and knowledge. Remember, most employees know squat about cars and trucks, so it can take many years before some of these people can recognize a problem as being such.
Now I'll address the abuse. Yes, there was a time when a lot of people could bust their ass and have eight hours work done in three or four, but those jobs are long gone (remember those 25 yr. old punk engineers?) Now it's more a matter of busting your ass to get one job done then waiting 1/2 a minute untill the next job arrives. And all those guys that were abusing sick benefits during the '70s and '80s? Some are finding out they have to work an extra yesr or twoo before they qualify for a company pension. Looks good on the mfsobs.
Then there is the mythe of "don't buy a car built on Mon. / Fri. / before hloidays". With two or three thousand people putting a car or truck together, somebody is having a "bad day" every day of the week. That is why every manufacturer has (or should have) quality control, to stop problems from coming off the end of the line. Again, the experience and knowledge of the employees helps out more than you could imagine.
Many people like to portray autoworkers as doing their best to screw the companies. I hate to admit it, but there are still some peolpe around like that. However the vast majority of us rely on the auto makers to support ourselves and our families.
I have worked in other industries, but it wasn't untill I started working at GM that I learned something that I have found very usefull: "Everybody else's job looks easier than your's, untill you try to do it."
And yes, someone tossed a paper coffe cup into the door of my '77 Astre, and that was the very first spot that rusted through. I'd like to kick his french ass.
Ken
Were's my spell check?