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Originally Posted by Rackne
...The issue as I see it, isn't the unions, does anyone really believe that a GM product would be cheaper if the unions didn't exist?...
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Yes, there is no doubt GM would produce a higher quality product if the UAW didn't have such restrictive work rules. A colleague recently relayed to me his experience with heat treating of components at a US GM plant. In this particular case UAW work rules dictated that the plant ran two heat treat cycles; any more would be too much trouble to change over (they only get paid twice as much as most US workers you know). GM's Canadian plant had no trouble doing it right, Tier 1 suppliers could run it right, but UAW couldn't be bothered to change cycles.
Having said that, GM has not designed any product that is worth looking at in my lifetime, in the US market anyway. And they agreed to all the UAW contracts, "jobs bank" and all. At least Ford has a guy at the helm with his name on the side of the building; all GM's managers seem to be out to get rich regardless of what happens to the organization.
Here is the latest in a really insightful commentary into GM's situation.
And now back on topic:
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Originally Posted by Jakob F Prasz
I have a 90' 124, and I have never had a better car...Its starts every morning, its cheap to maintain, and its simple, yet advanced!!!
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Boy I wish they still made them like that! Mostly they do, except for the "simple" and "cheap to maintain" part. My main two gripes: (1) I have software that can diagnose anything on any VW/Audi product; I can change the ride hieght on a Touareg for cryin out loud! But I can't buy software for M-B at any price! (2) No stick shift!