Work Layoffs...

I don't use ATM's, or ever overdraft, or have late fees. I'm not perfect, but I try to manage my money, unlike our government...
I'm a vested Teamster and am glad to be out of it...high wages, great benefits, which drove our selling products sky high, and we lost market share to non union companies...this happens all the time...I remember going on strike over an "unfair" contract according to our union hack, fat ass Lincoln driving fat cat loving us paying our Union dues POS...we drank the Union Kool Aid and voted to strike, then two weeks after striking settled on the exact same contract originally offered. Two weeks on strike without any pay. Our Union reps got their pay and fat cat allowances...I still remember his weezing and his gut...on our dime...
That incident taught me to think for myself, and also convinced me that Unions were just as my dad told me, a neccessary evil...it's an evil I want no part of, thank you...
Like I said though, I'm a vested Teamster...it's not like I'm some clone on the outside babbling a bunch of pap trying to aggravate like Dave Thompson...
With falling pay, and more layoffs, people will continue to shop at WalMart and grocery stores like WinCo, offering items you need for less money...
I used to be pro North American, but when our automakers started dropping the ball on quality (UNIONS), I had to move to purchase Japanese cars, something I never contemplated doing so...better product, better value, and pride in craftsmanship and quality...the Big 3 are learning from their mistakes, but it could be too little, too late...until they got a government bailout...GAG...more tax dollars protecting Unions, and a particular voting block...
bitter? you bet...

[QUOTE=PeepingScott;366533]

1)...we drank the Union Kool Aid and voted to strike,

2)...it's not like I'm some clone on the outside babbling a bunch of pap trying to aggravate like Dave Thompson...[/QUOTE]


1)...AHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAH
THAT is funny!!!

2)...Haven't heard from Dave since the boat left the YUKU dock and everything got moved over here.


Unions had their place back in the day, but I'm mixed on whether or not there is need for them anymore. Maybe in some cases. Wal-Mart employees seem to be getting fleeced, and a union to Wal-Mart is like a Cross to a vampire.

Andy

I remember a story, perhaps somebody can confirm the wording and source, but to paraphrase:

During the Depression, FDR was brought before a works project, where the foreman showed off a new steamshovel. "This machine can do the work of sixty men!", the foreman proudly exclaimed.

"Well then," FDR replied, "Leave it and hire sixty men."

[QUOTE=Phildirt;366579]I remember a story, perhaps somebody can confirm the wording and source, but to paraphrase:

During the Depression, FDR was brought before a works project, where the foreman showed off a new steamshovel. "This machine can do the work of sixty men!", the foreman proudly exclaimed.

"Well then," FDR replied, "Leave it and hire sixty men."[/QUOTE]


That would be great but technology is onr of the biggest killer of jobs.I person on a machine doing the job of 50. After the machine is paid off I wonder why the prices dont go down? Because as long as the compamy is making money they will raise prices or even better keep the price the same and give you less, like food companies are doing right now. This is just as bad as raising prices. Scott I know unions are as bad as the compaines that they supossedly fight against and they usually in bed with them but they are usually on our side. I think that these companies would do what they want without a union. And those non union people doing union work arent compensated or protected as well. You know in NYC there are people dying on the job alot recently and almost everyone, over 90%, are non union workers. Non Union works are doing the exact same job as union workers but are dying alot more, I am in CWA (COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA) and I got into the brownstones and smaller buildings and it is so different than going into these big buildings. It is much more unsafe. They cut so many corners on saftey that I usually am nervous. They are alot more unsafe. I still think that unions are needed in all job that have a saftey issue. I wish they werent filled with fat cats and bums but I wish that about our government too.

Just for arguement.....someone has to build the machine.

25 years ago, Japan was going to take over the U.S. That didn't happen. After a recent experience I have far less concerns over China also. (Not that it changed my mind about buying things made in the USA, even if for more any time I can).

We made a certain product for decades. Someone in China decided to make the same thing (it was only 1 on many products we made). They were of course able to way under price us. Being technology as opposed to labor driven though, we have been able to come up with all sorts of new products. We decided to "partner" with the Chinese company. They would make this product for us and we would help them with technology.

There is another product we make that is as easy to make but the end product is fairly labor intensive. You can't just make it and sell it. It takes some "finishing". Well we can sell far more of this than we can produce. We run 24 hours 7 days a week and we still can't keep up. We decided to install the equipment to produce this in China. We build it and go over and make sure it makes the stuff. Being new equipment, we can actually make it better in China. (some of our equipment is 60 years old).

Two problems. Certain companies we sell to in Japan (a nice chunk of sales) wants nothing to do with it because it's made in China. Also, we are having a very hard time getting them to make it at all now in China. It's too much work. They can make the "easy" stuff all day and be happy. They have no desire to do the labor intensive stuff. This surprised me as I thought this was supposed to be their thing.

We are back to (last I heard) trying to figure out how to increase our production here.