Oh you are probably wrong about that--climate change has excellent evidence to support it. Don't let your ideology prevent you from a thorough and diligent investigation of the evidence. I invite you.
I'd rather have a history degree and be hunting for work than slamming cars together on an assembly line, that's for sure. You couldn't pay me enough to do those mind-numbing repetitive tasks while being whipped by a line supervisor.
I work in operations for a telecom company (non-union of course). I can't paint with a broad brush and say all leadership are sketchy, as some are genuinely bright - but some senior and middle managers I have worked with have kind of scared me, or have been pretty laughable, even with healthy 6 figure salaries. However, I still don't see a lot of positive correlation between ability and rank or salary.
"We’ve found over the course of time that our return on investment for some of this automation is very low because we turn around and change it to accommodate something that may not even be that major,” he said.
Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP said Chrysler’s approach makes a lot of sense for a company with limited resources and skyrocketing demand for its cars and trucks.
“It’s not so much that they don’t have the money for more automation, but it’s money they cannot afford to waste. They need a return on the money they’re spending. They erred on the side of fiscal responsibility,” he said."
No thanks. I'll take the engine built with the most precision automation possible. It is the precision of automation that has helped improve our vehicles. Some pothead on the engine line forgets a part and the engine fails, who do they blame. Not the pothead. I agree it would be a mind numbing job. So don't put anymore mindless numbskull UAW workers than is absolutely needed.
Looks to me like Chrysler is headed down the wrong trail. I have read too much from one of Rocky's mindless friends that works at Chrysler. He does nothing but complain and he has only had the job a few months. I don't want anything built by people that hate their job.
Well, the major automaker with the reputation for having the most body builders per car on the assembly line is Volkswagen. At least in their German factories.
I believe you are right. I have had a martini with my boss at lunch, and I have had laced brownies in the lounge at Alascom. I can tell you the Martini was no match for the brownies. That was my first and last exposure to pot. And I did not know they were drugged. It was a big joke by the telephone operators. I did NOT like the out of control inability to do my job feeling. took several hours sitting in my office reading the same page of a manual, before I felt normal again.
Zero tolerance should be the norm around any kind of equipment.
Hopefully my new Ram wasn't built on a Monday or Friday;) Anyhow, I'm not worried. If it starts to fall apart, I'll just get rid of it and get something else.
I've had it two weeks and already have 1,400 miles on it, so far it's been flawless.
Hopefully the potheads getting caught and losing quite a lot of pay will keep the rest from doing something stupid. The Perps are very lucky they got their jobs back. If I was the CEO of Chrysler I would have busted the UAW over that issue. Drugs in the workplace are dangerous to everyone around.
"They probably have Löwenbräu delivered to the break rooms twice a day. "
Well at NSA's Ft. Meade campus, you used to be able to get beer in the base cafeteria - this being on a military base and all that. Not sure if that's still the case.
It would be an interesting experiment for US automakers to allow one beer at lunch and then measure line workers productivity for a while vs. pre-beer levels.
I would have assumed a troublesome 94 Jetta might have been built during Dia de los Muertos.
A roomate in college had a new 95 Jetta bought by his parents. It was a couple years old when I knew him, and quite troublesome...I remember giving him rides to the dealer a few times.
And of course, when it was running well, it drove really nicely - kind of a German car thing there. Sometimes troublesome, but when everything is working, it's brilliant.
A co-worker actually ran a 98 Jetta up to around 160K, but he knew he was on borrowed time, and traded it away.
"The UAW trust, which manages retiree health benefits for blue-collar auto workers, received an 8 percent premium on what it would have received at the end of next year. The deal also gives it the money now, so it can invest earlier in hopes of raising more funds to pay retiree medical care costs that are set to rise further in the future."
Same thing at the dealership where I worked. After repeated and never ending problems our GM forbade our UCM to keep any traded in Volkswagens UNLESS they were still under warranty. we just had nothing but trouble even with the never ones.
Even worse were Audis and Volvos. We wholesaled them. Once in a great while if one was especially nice we might take a chance and even then we got burned most of the time.
Land Rovers were the worst and it didn't matter how new or how nice they were, we wouldn't keep them. Even the warranty companies won't sell coverage on used Land Rovers at ANY price.
This could be a whole 'nother discussion, bigger than I Don't Like SUVs Why Do You ever was. :-)
(In UAW news, Chrysler has filed for an IPO. Fiat isn't happy about that, wanting a full blown merger. The Detroit News reports that the UAW used its minority position in Chrysler to force the company to file for an IPO.)
(In UAW news, Chrysler has filed for an IPO. Fiat isn't happy about that, wanting a full blown merger. The Detroit News reports that the UAW used its minority position in Chrysler to force the company to file for an IPO.)
That ought to be fun. Is this Chrysler/Daimler/Cerberus all over again? Was the UAW asleep when all that went down? Chrysler is doing good right now, why rock the boat? Current UAW leadership are not the sharpest pencils in the box. King went along with KORUS. That cost a bunch of UAW jobs right off. $3 billion GM parts from Korea.
Right now, the IPO is a negotiating tactic. The shares are owned by the Chrysler health care trust and they feel that the shares are worth more than what FIAT has offered them. FIAT of course wants to pay as little as possible.
By selling about 1/3 of it's ownership, the trust is hoping to raise at least $1 billion to support the health care costs. FIAT currently holds about 58% of the company and wants to own 100% so it can tap into Chrysler's cash to shore up FIAT losses. This IPO would not change FIAT's majority ownership.
I guess it is beyond my pay grade. If the UAW owns stock in the company, how can they make it into a different stock? Or do they just own a percentage of something? I wonder who would want shares in a new IPO called UAWC or anything to do with the UAW? It could backfire on them. The Feds were hoping GM stock would be worth more. It has not kept up with the market. Are Fiat shares traded here?
The Chrysler health care fund and Fiat own shares in Chrysler Group LLC. Right now as an LLC, it's privately owned company split as FIAT 58% and the health care fund as 42%. If an IPO occurs, the company will be turned into a corporation and a new stock will trade publicly.
The health care trust fund was created in 2007 to allow the Big 3 to offload their retiree health care costs onto the union as 3 distinct funds that can't be mixed. They were to be funded in cash by all three. Ford was able to do it as it had borrowed billions. But due to the financial crisis, GM and Chrysler didn't have the money. In 2009, the union agreed to accept shares in Chrysler Group LLC and GM as part of the bankruptcies to fund the specific health care funds. As such, the Union was given the right to file a Chrysler IPO in the future.
Marchionne has offered the Chrysler health care fund $3 billion for their 42% share. Due to Chrysler's recent success, the company has been valued at about $10 billion. The union doesn't want to leave $1.2 billion behind. Further, under the terms of the bankruptcy, their share can never exceed $5 billion. The fund is hoping to get a premium from FIAT as is often the case in big takeovers like this.
Most analysts say an IPO won't take place. It's a negotiating tactic by the union. Marchionne wants 100% of the company and doesn't want to have to buy the shares on the open market.
It's a classic business case: buyer wants to pay as little as possible and the seller wants to get as much as possible.
Thank you, that makes it much more clear. So Marchionne should just cough up the $4.2 billion and own it outright? I am surprised that is all it is worth. I have a feeling if it did go on the market at that price it would be grabbed up and be worth more. I think I would take a chance at that price.
Especially now that Fiat is back in the USA and Americans no longer cringe at mention of the name. Most of us who owned Fiats in the past are now dead, so can't testify.
I also think Fiat should push all their chips into the game.
"Chrysler Group's extensive paperwork for an initial public offering features a look at its future-product strategy, including a mention of a "first ever" SUV in the small vehicle market or B-segment."
So Marchionne should just cough up the $4.2 billion and own it outright?
Without 100% ownership, FIAT can't tap into the $10-12 billion that Chrysler has in the bank. FIAT would like that money to help it through the European market downturn. And without Chrysler's recent success, FIAT would be on life support.
An interesting point is that the typical IPO filing extols the bright future of the company. This one is very dour:
Chrysler said in its filing that any dispute between the company and Fiat could undermine the company's financial health and strategic position relative to its larger competitors.
"Fiat has informed us that it is evaluating the various potential impacts that a public offering and the consequential introduction of public stockholders may have on its views of the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance, and as such, is considering whether or not to continue expanding the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance beyond its existing contractual commitments," Chrysler said in its filing.
"If Fiat becomes unwilling to work with us beyond the scope of its existing contractual obligations, there may be a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations," the company added.
IMHO, the union is quite aware of this potential an is using it as a veiled threat that if FIAT doesn't agree to the valuation, then it can expect to lose value in its share. Now FIAT basically got its share for free but without it, FIAT may be out of business.
Oh man, include some dog friendly stuff in the "Scamp" and do a Disney tie-in complete with a doggy decal on the doors. They'd sell a million.
Unfortunately, thanks to the Greaseman on morning radio back in the 1990's, I can't hear the word "Scamp" and keep a straight face. The word he used was actually "Scamper", but that's close enough! FWIW, my grandparents had a truck camper by a brand called "Skamper"...
Comments
I'd rather have a history degree and be hunting for work than slamming cars together on an assembly line, that's for sure. You couldn't pay me enough to do those mind-numbing repetitive tasks while being whipped by a line supervisor.
I work in operations for a telecom company (non-union of course). I can't paint with a broad brush and say all leadership are sketchy, as some are genuinely bright - but some senior and middle managers I have worked with have kind of scared me, or have been pretty laughable, even with healthy 6 figure salaries. However, I still don't see a lot of positive correlation between ability and rank or salary.
Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP said Chrysler’s approach makes a lot of sense for a company with limited resources and skyrocketing demand for its cars and trucks.
“It’s not so much that they don’t have the money for more automation, but it’s money they cannot afford to waste. They need a return on the money they’re spending. They erred on the side of fiscal responsibility,” he said."
Manual labor helps Chrysler boost capacity (Detroit News)
Looks to me like Chrysler is headed down the wrong trail. I have read too much from one of Rocky's mindless friends that works at Chrysler. He does nothing but complain and he has only had the job a few months. I don't want anything built by people that hate their job.
Zero tolerance should be the norm around any kind of equipment.
I've had it two weeks and already have 1,400 miles on it, so far it's been flawless.
Well at NSA's Ft. Meade campus, you used to be able to get beer in the base cafeteria - this being on a military base and all that. Not sure if that's still the case.
"Let's see...Ah, number 3: Lowenbrau! Dang! Sold out! Now, I'll have to settle for a Heineken or St. Pauli Girl!"
I wouldn't want a car built by potheads however.
I don't know if I would want a car built on a Friday during Oktoberfest though.
A roomate in college had a new 95 Jetta bought by his parents. It was a couple years old when I knew him, and quite troublesome...I remember giving him rides to the dealer a few times.
A co-worker actually ran a 98 Jetta up to around 160K, but he knew he was on borrowed time, and traded it away.
GM to buy back some preferred shares from UAW trust for $3.2 billion (Reuters)
"The UAW trust, which manages retiree health benefits for blue-collar auto workers, received an 8 percent premium on what it would have received at the end of next year. The deal also gives it the money now, so it can invest earlier in hopes of raising more funds to pay retiree medical care costs that are set to rise further in the future."
Even worse were Audis and Volvos. We wholesaled them. Once in a great while if one was especially nice we might take a chance and even then we got burned most of the time.
Land Rovers were the worst and it didn't matter how new or how nice they were, we wouldn't keep them. Even the warranty companies won't sell coverage on used Land Rovers at ANY price.
Kinda says something, huh?
(In UAW news, Chrysler has filed for an IPO. Fiat isn't happy about that, wanting a full blown merger. The Detroit News reports that the UAW used its minority position in Chrysler to force the company to file for an IPO.)
I mean, how many cars are truly hopeless? And as we all know, any car can find an apologist to defend it.
Besides, it's kinda off topic. Many TCCs are not American.
That explains a lot right there. My condolences.
That ought to be fun. Is this Chrysler/Daimler/Cerberus all over again? Was the UAW asleep when all that went down? Chrysler is doing good right now, why rock the boat? Current UAW leadership are not the sharpest pencils in the box. King went along with KORUS. That cost a bunch of UAW jobs right off. $3 billion GM parts from Korea.
By selling about 1/3 of it's ownership, the trust is hoping to raise at least $1 billion to support the health care costs. FIAT currently holds about 58% of the company and wants to own 100% so it can tap into Chrysler's cash to shore up FIAT losses. This IPO would not change FIAT's majority ownership.
No. That can't be true! There are other cars than UAW-built ones that have problems? Who woulda' thunk that.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Now that gets my laugh of the day award.
I love the nose-in-the-air of some of the drivers of such vehicles.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The health care trust fund was created in 2007 to allow the Big 3 to offload their retiree health care costs onto the union as 3 distinct funds that can't be mixed. They were to be funded in cash by all three. Ford was able to do it as it had borrowed billions. But due to the financial crisis, GM and Chrysler didn't have the money. In 2009, the union agreed to accept shares in Chrysler Group LLC and GM as part of the bankruptcies to fund the specific health care funds. As such, the Union was given the right to file a Chrysler IPO in the future.
Marchionne has offered the Chrysler health care fund $3 billion for their 42% share. Due to Chrysler's recent success, the company has been valued at about $10 billion. The union doesn't want to leave $1.2 billion behind. Further, under the terms of the bankruptcy, their share can never exceed $5 billion. The fund is hoping to get a premium from FIAT as is often the case in big takeovers like this.
Most analysts say an IPO won't take place. It's a negotiating tactic by the union. Marchionne wants 100% of the company and doesn't want to have to buy the shares on the open market.
It's a classic business case: buyer wants to pay as little as possible and the seller wants to get as much as possible.
I also think Fiat should push all their chips into the game.
"Chrysler Group's extensive paperwork for an initial public offering features a look at its future-product strategy, including a mention of a "first ever" SUV in the small vehicle market or B-segment."
Chrysler's IPO Filing Hints at Future Products
I guess if the UAW winds up owning the company, they'd have to make the mascot a bulldog or Rottweiler though.
Without 100% ownership, FIAT can't tap into the $10-12 billion that Chrysler has in the bank. FIAT would like that money to help it through the European market downturn. And without Chrysler's recent success, FIAT would be on life support.
An interesting point is that the typical IPO filing extols the bright future of the company. This one is very dour:
Chrysler said in its filing that any dispute between the company and Fiat could undermine the company's financial health and strategic position relative to its larger competitors.
"Fiat has informed us that it is evaluating the various potential impacts that a public offering and the consequential introduction of public stockholders may have on its views of the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance, and as such, is considering whether or not to continue expanding the Fiat-Chrysler Alliance beyond its existing contractual commitments," Chrysler said in its filing.
"If Fiat becomes unwilling to work with us beyond the scope of its existing contractual obligations, there may be a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations," the company added.
IMHO, the union is quite aware of this potential an is using it as a veiled threat that if FIAT doesn't agree to the valuation, then it can expect to lose value in its share. Now FIAT basically got its share for free but without it, FIAT may be out of business.
Who will blink first?
Unfortunately, thanks to the Greaseman on morning radio back in the 1990's, I can't hear the word "Scamp" and keep a straight face. The word he used was actually "Scamper", but that's close enough! FWIW, my grandparents had a truck camper by a brand called "Skamper"...
or
2. Futile Italian attempt at Transportation