GM Canada's August sales fall 17.1 per cent, Toyota Canada's up 29.3 per cent

I n the article they mention that Ford and Chrysler dropped 10.3 and 24.6 respectively.

Here are a few comments of those that work in the industry that were attached to the article.  If you want the entire list of comments go to:

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=10034085&ucpg=b9bb2eabbb0704e4704bc782fb189958310#_uca_list

auto assembly Ford Worker

Thank you for your comment! September 4, 2008 7:11:38 PM

I work at Ford and I have to say that Ford Management are very successful in taking care of the bum kissers - the drunks - the drug addicts and the lazy ones who whine so they can get out of a days work but when it comes to helping the hard working dedicated - ontime - punctual - workers we are left out in the cold not only by management like B*** G**** of Ford Oakville Body Build * but by our own union reps who I see only take care of their buddies. They all would be better off creating fuel efficient vehicles and quality. Look at the Ford Flex - What a joke - Looks like a Fridge on its side - May be we should suggest to them to paint them all black with one seat and 3 coffins and call it a taliban wagon and send it over to help our troops and put the taliban in them and bury them in the sand instead of us receving out dedicated soldiers coming home in body bags

CAW Local 707 Autoworker

Cant wait for my retirement date

Thank you for your comment! September 4, 2008 6:45:20 PM

I work at Ford Oakville and all of us workers do our best to make a quality vehicle - It is not our fault that what i call brain dead management in the upper circle that seems to be years behind everybody else. The only succesful thing I see them doing is reducing the workforce and adding more and more work to the worker. Our plant manager sends out news letters telling us to build in station the first time with quality and when we do have quality issues and actually do care for our future we are looked upon as lazy overpaid workers, but when it comes to putting the screws to the worker or adding more work - they are truly 110% sucessful at that

Jonny

Thank you for your comment!

 September 4, 2008 5:11:53 PM

yes i am a GM worker with a great attitude, these workers u speak of are of an older generation who are retired now , i work in a plant that has a younger generation of works who go in everyday and work hard at their job and enjoy it and want to do the best job they possable can, i know i like my job and want to keep it , now i cant quite make managements decisions but again your speaking of a older time (the real truth) and not todays work force who relize they need to make the best quality product to keep their job and do so everyday and are rewarded with awards time and time again

Work at Honda- drive a Ford

ScottThank you for your comment!

 September 4, 2008 3:17:22 PM

I work for a division of Honda and drive a Ford Fusion. Honda and Toyota do make excellent quaility products for people that want to keep there cars for a long time. I change my vehicles every four years - the price for basic Fusion -that is well appionted and everything that you need is about $22,000. much less than a Camery or Accord.So far it has been the best vehicle I have owned out of many. I am surprised that Ford has not done better with this model

If the people who work at Ford and other companies feel this way, no wonder Ford can’t bother looking after the consumer.  I notice the Honda worker thinks that Honda and Toyota will be better for those who want to own a car for a period of time.

For those that might be offended by the above, these are not my comments and are only copies of those published on a public website.  A website not censored by Ford, like my comments were on their public website.

Ford Canada has had five presidents in four years.  Now, this sort of makes one feel that Ford Canada is treated like some bush league outfit where good top management really isn’t necessary as the main office controls all that goes on.  In other words, you could have a monkey do the job.  I wonder if that is why we have so many problems with quality and the fact that Ford refuses to deal with the leaky window problem in a responsible way – kind of like how GM and Toyota faced their quality problem and dealt with the consumer in an adult manner.  The top guy isn’t there long enough to read the mail, let alone set policy to ensure customers are treated in the way Ford advertises.

Maybe our top executives at Ford should watch less television and advertising and, spend more time in the job observing what is going on and set some policies that reflect a company that truly cares about its customer.  Maybe even the CAW could help out – old Buzz has been president of the CAW for quite some time and had time to establish policy that has helped the auto worker.  Like the help he gave Magna as President of the CAW, maybe retired Buzz could work for Ford Canada – you never know, they might need a new president shortly.

Now, compare that to Ford.  I won't go into the Pinto issue nor expand on what I have stated concerning the Crown Victoria affair except to say, Ford was initially reluctant to come forward and issue a recall and take responsibility.  A lot of police officers died while Ford played around with the Crown Victoria.

In our issue concerning the built-in front window leak,  Ford has not publically acknowledged the fact that they produced a vehicle with this built-in fault (although I understand a service bulletin was issued to dealers but not other garages but I have yet to see this) nor have they issued a recall or attempted to fix the problem (I had to go to Speedy Glass - who did an excellent job).  Even the CAW refuses to comment on this except to tell me that I shouldn't blame their workers (who put the window in?). 

It is interesting to note that Ford Canada is on its fifth president in less than 4 years - they are changing the top man more often than underwear on a person with a lower bowel problem.  How can they expect to promote good customer relations when their top management keeps changing?  Who is going to take responsibility for the Ford F150 front window leak if they keep changing the guy that should.

At least Maple Leaf Foods has shown some ethics and their CEO is someone I'd like to do business with.  I think a handshake with him would the most I'd require in any business deal (although I'm sure the lawyers would tell me otherwise).  I'd buy a used car from the Maple Leaf CEO but not necessarily a new car from the Ford CEO.  I hope that Maple Leaf Foods survives this last incident and are able to move on, with a little help from consumers.

P.S. some will say I am comparing apples and oranges.  Well, Toyota recognized it had a rust perforation problem with their truck frames and they did the ethical thing - either repaired the vehicle or bought it and, if no rust, added on a 15 year warranty.  I'm sure that the Toyota and Maple Leaf Foods CEOs listen to the same school of thought - honest customer relations, not advertised relations.

"Bill Osborne, up until yesterday the President of Ford Australia, is not the only non-U.S. Ford exec taking a walk from his responsibilities at the Blue Oval. Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd head-honcho Barry Engle (above) has also chosen to leave the company on the exact same day. The coincidences don't end there, as both men took their respective positions just six months ago in February of this year."

Seems that all the high end executives are fleeing Ford like fleas from dog about to be hosed.  Head of Ford Australia and the head of Ford Canada both leave the same day from similar positions and after working the same time span.  Sounds very odd to me.  Maybe they both disagree with Ford's policy to bury the leaky window problem and hose the consumer... The only two with ethics at the company???  I also notice that old Buzz Hargrove from the CAW is leaving as well....  I must be missing something here......

Enjoy!  and remember if Obama gets into the Oval Office, it's only going to get worse.

Democrats Pushing for Four Day Work Week for Federal Bureaucrats   [Mark Hemingway]

Their justification? High gas prices:

The high cost of fuel makes the four-day week all the more important, [Majority Leader Steny] Hoyer's letter said. "In these times of high gasoline prices, I believe the federal government should do all it can to ensure that federal agencies and departments are appropriately reducing gasoline consumption. This goal can be accomplished with the adoption of personnel policies to limit unnecessary commuting." 

So Pelosi shuts the place down and Congress skips town without passing an energy bill. Now Democrats are pushing for a four day work week for gas relief for federal employees, even as they've refused to do anything to provide relief for ordinary Americans. Republicans are hitting back — Republican Study Group Chairman Jeb Hensarling issued the following statement:

The Democrat solution to high gas prices – a four day work week for themselves and federal bureaucrats.  Brilliant! While the Speaker of the House is off jet setting to promote her book, the Majority Leader is figuring out how to get more time off.  Americans struggling to pay their bills and fill their gas tanks deserve so much better from their elected officials.

People across the country are begging for Congress to work on a common sense energy plan that will lower costs at the pump.  For months, we’ve made clear that we need conservation, but not just conservation. We need renewable energy, but not just renewable. We need alternatives, but not just alternatives. We need to produce energy in America for Americans so we can drive down the cost of gas and increase our energy independence. Though Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer continue to block our efforts, Republicans will keep fighting for a comprehensive, common sense energy plan that includes all of those goals.  

 

As the Grand Rapids Press detailed, US Census figures for migration show a state hemorrhaging population. This dark blue vector from Wayne to Saginaw is a dagger to the heart of Michigan's industry. Collectively, these four counties lost more than 35,000 between 2006 and 2007. That's 12,000 households with a combined income of perhaps $600 million (assuming $50k/HHI), or $24 million lost to the state budget.

The map reminds us that these departures are not mere statistics, but are associated with very real places, and so with all too real lives. People leave because their hope has vanished. Work is gone. For them the future (in Michigan) is closed.

How then can we control our destiny?

In the midst of this, the extremist, pro-business decisions of the Taylor-led court only further increase the sense of a lack of control. In this light, the RMGN! proposal is all too easily understood. It was time to take back the state; time to take back control of one's life, even as it drained down I-75. Time, in the words of one east side activist, for "rough action."

In short, the politics of RMGN arises from a blend of external factors ("issues") and the economic and psychic hammering that takes place along the I-75 corridor. It's no wonder, then, that "smoking gun" powerpoint would have shown up where it did, at the UAW 1-C website.

RMGN and Fair Tax?

The issue of control explains much of the populist turn in the measure. One way we re-assert our power is by our thinking that the solution is easy if only we had courage. Here, the RMGN plan is little different than the Fair Tax idea bandied about on the other side: both share the same populist, (pseudo) man-on-the-street solution. Likewise with the redistricting and its 50-50 split: there is the same faith that if one only changed the mechanics of the system then we'll get better results. Even with the proposed reduction of the courts, there again came this same confidence that the reshuffling of the chairs would produce a better result.

At the heart of RMGN, then, was this defensiveness, an instinct for preservation. In an uncertain world, it sought by essentially mechanical means to regain control of its political life. Its very radicalism speaks to a lack of confidence, a self-doubt about the future. Even as the cars head down I-75, the proposal hoped to halt the damage, to preserve what could be preserved in this time of economic shipwreck.

So what is the future?

Who can blame the authors for trying to turn back this tide? But this concern with preserving present power handicaps us as we look to Michigan's future. Like old King Canute, we cannot turn back the tide.

What we can do, is work to build the boats -- the candidates and the policies -- that will allow our State to sail again.

* The map's data set is somewhat suspect. While the draining of population along the I-75 corridor is correct, Kent and Ottawa counties have continued to add population even as the east side has declined. This spreadsheet, gives the census numbers and the change both in nominal value and percentage.

Quoted in the Toronto Star, Engle stated, “Leading Ford of Canada has been one of the best experiences of my career and it’s very difficult to leave a team that is so committed to its customers and to building future success”.  Committed to its customers???!!!!

Which ones?  I think there are quite a few of us out there that would beg to differ on that point, considering the number of leaky windows causing our electronics to fry and putting our lives at risk.  As well, they even censor you from their customer input website if you don’t like their product. 

I also get a kick out of the statement, “building future success”.  In the Toronto Star there is a headline, “Big 3 drop in customer satisfaction survey”.  The article stated that “US car buyers are growing less satisfied with their purchases from domestic auto makers while their Asian and European competitors continue to improve.”  Maybe the Big 3 and the CAW/UAW should take this into consideration before coming to our government asking for handouts.  If you can’t build a good product and support the consumer, why should the consumer support you with our taxes? 

Engle’s is supposedly going home to be with his extended family.  Maybe the guy just got frustrated working for a company that cares less about the consumer and more about raking in more tax funds for the stockholders.

What is the best course of action?  According to George Iny, president of the Automobile Protection Association, “what you need is a class-action lawsuit.”

That is about all that will make the likes of Ford move on something like this.  I mean, Toyota did it themselves but I guess Ford needs a little push.  Maybe the CAW would help us out, considering that their future lies in whether or not we buy the vehicles they make and subsequently get raises as a result of a profitable year.  Maybe the CAW should not look at the consumer as a cash cow, ready to pay for all the mistakes in a car and, support us in getting our cars repaired. 

John Meeson, a retired OPP officer, had a problem with his 2002 Taurus.  His front tire exploded when the front spring broke and pierced the tire.  Now, Mortimer feels that this is not a safety issue.  Yes, when the spring breaks there is a lot of noise and the tire goes flat but, according to Mortimer, it doesn’t affect the stability of the vehicle.  He says every manufacturer has spring failures.  Well, I can see it now.  Mr. Mortimer’s wife ( I of course am assuming he is married and loves his wife) is driving along in her Ford F150 vehicle on a rainy day and approaching a curve when, her electronics start to act up due to a leaky window and her front spring collapses and rips the life out of her front tire.  Yes, I guess, based on Mr. Mortimer’s advice, she shouldn’t worry and easily bring the truck under control.   Good luck Mrs. Mortimer!!!!!

Mr. Meeson, as a retired OPP officer of some experience, is “astounded that Ford was able to convince the government that broken springs no longer constitute a driving hazard.”  “It boggles my mind.” he says.  “They don’t seem to care if people get hurt.”

Well, I’m not astounded.  Seems nobody thinks that a leaking front window that fries your electronics in a rain storm and causes your wipers to act up, lights to go on and off and your heater motor to fry -  so why should the government or Ford?

Well, the Federal Government and Ford are well aware of this leaky window problem so, if you hear of an accident involving these factors, let a lawyer know.  It seems that just a leaky window and fried electronics isn’t enough to get things moving.  Maybe a death or injuries will cause someone to take notice.  Sort of like the recent propane explosion in Toronto.  Oh, and please send a letter to Prime Minister Harper and explain we want protection and that the Federal government shouldn’t be giving money to the auto industry.  Why should the taxpayer give these companies money when they don’t even protect the consumer/taxpayer?  It is like paying twice for every problem with your vehicle.  I did and got a reply which will be in my next blog. 

The quotes and information are from the Toronto Star, August 2^nd edition.  They won’t report on this problem with Ford but, at least gave some useful information.  Not sure why they didn’t report the F150 problem, considering there is a fountain of information concerning this?

A day after he addressed local United Auto Workers at a rally in Fenton, the Missouri State United Auto Workers today announced that it is endorsing  state Sen. Chris Koster, D-Raymore, for Missouri attorney general.

Koster, a St. Louis native, is competing against state Sen. Mike Gibbons, R-Kirkwood.

At the rally,  Koster pleddged “to protect workers’ rights and high-quality jobs,” if elected.

“I am honored and humbled by the support of our state’s chapter of the United Auto Workers,” Koster said in a statement today. “For the entirety of my fifteen years in public service, both as Cass County Prosecuting Attorney and in the state Senate, I have been a tireless advocate for workers’ rights. I look forward to aggressively standing up for workers’ rights and good jobs as Missouri’s Attorney General.”

As his release states, “The Missouri State UAW represents nine local unions, and 40,900 auto workers in the state of Missouri.

“As Cass County Prosecuting Attorney, Koster successfully prosecuted the largest number of prevailing wage violations of any county prosecutor in the state. He is the only candidate for Attorney General with any experience prosecuting labor law violations,” Koster’s campaign says.

Yes, you do spend your days in class, but there's still plenty of time to enjoy the beach, the hiking trails, the golf course, heated swimming pool, gym, sauna, pool & ping-pong tables, the history and myriad other physical and  spiritual elements of Black Lake.

You can also apply to attend one of the summer Union Awareness sessions on your vacation time or annual "down" time.

There are still 51 campsites -- mostly empty this week. Used to be, you had to book a campsite a year in advance. Then the campground was shut down for a while during construction of the golf course, which ate up some of the campsites. Guess the word hasn't gotten out yet that the campground is open again.

This year, our UAW photographer, Brian Masengale, was able to attend the LUPA Conference with Scott Smith and I. Brian has 29 yrs seniority and has never been to Black Lake before. He is creating a phototour of the facility, which we will post to the Local 602 website when we get home, since a) Brian is a gifted photographer, and b) there's not much on the internet about Black Lake except the golf course, and c) he has to do a report to the membership anyway, so we'll make it a group report--Brian takes the pics, Scott & I run them in the newsletter and hang them on the website.

Today, while my students are off researching their writing assignments, I'll grab my own Rebel XT and head over the Japanese Bridge to look at the new walkway. Our 602 Retirees ordered bricks in memory of Vice President/Acting President Mike Bennett and Benefits Rep Craig Sanders--we'll see if they've been placed in the walkway yet. Our Retiree Chair, Dorothy Stevens, loves to come to Black Lake, but has no way of crossing the Japanese Bridge to view the walkway.

There's a peace here at Black Lake, as tho the spirit of Walter Reuther resides ehre. It can't be explained, it must be experienced.

If you are UAW, you owe yourself a trip to Black Lake.

Solid!

Dona Jean

"Ford is recalling more than 655,000 2005-06 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickups with 5.4-liter 3-valve engines to fix a hose that could affect the vehicles' braking power. 5-18-08"  I have copied this from

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-trans-recalls-cars-0810-mwaug10,0,1846673.story

Now, I can agree that fixing a hose that affects the braking power is important and I'm glad that Ford has done a recall to fix this problem.  Seems that built in leaky window that allows the electronics to be fried with rainwater isn't important enough to cause a recall, even though there is evidence that these electronic failures could CAUSE an accident.  I guess for those of us with leaky windows, someone will have to die in order for the government and Ford to rethink their stand on this matter.

The mayor faces two counts of assaulting or obstructing a police officer in the furtherance of their duties. Each felony count brings up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000.***

Kwame, Kwame, Kwame, can't you see

Dirty text got you up in perjury........

That's just a little ditty I'm working on. I'm still trying to get the Biggie Smalls' estate to let me sample "Hypnotize" and I'll have a hit on my hands for sure.

Anyway, Detroit's Mayoral Douchebag, Kwame Kilpatrick violated his bond and is on his way to jail.

WOOD TV

DETROIT (AP) -- Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, charged with perjury and other felonies for his testimony in a civil trial, was ordered to jail Thursday because he violated his bond by taking a quick trip to Canada without notifying authorities.

Kilpatrick apologized and acknowledged that he made a mistake when he visited Windsor, Ontario, minutes away from Detroit, for city business last month. But 36th District Court Judge Ronald Giles was not moved, saying he needed to treat the mayor like any other defendant.

"What matters to me ... is how the court overall is perceived and how if it was not Kwame Kilpatrick sitting in that seat, if it was John Six-Pack sitting in that seat, what would I do? And that answer is simple," Giles said.

Lest you lose track, Kwame will also find out Friday morning if Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox will press charges against the "mayor" for assault on a detective that attempted to serve Kilpatrick a subpoena. Kwame's attorney thinks an assault charge against his client is "a done deal."

And we all know the first model blues?  Sorry Ford, but the F150 has been out for quite some time and you couldn’t even get the front window right on it so why would you expect us to think you could get a new green model correct.

The CAW has not responded to my letter about how I thought they should support the consumer in regards to the leaky windows, except to say I am anti-union.  Sorry boys but that just doesn’t cut it.  You want us to buy union, then instead of whining about how we are losing jobs in North America, maybe you should start supporting the consumer in regards to mistakes such as the leaky window and then we’ll support you.  I mean, Toyota makes cars in Canada and is non-union.  So, if I buy Toyota I am supporting Canadian workers, albeit non-union.  At least Toyota backed up their vehicles instead of screwing the consumer and, they are into second generation green cars – which means the kinks are more likely out of the car.

So Ford and CAW, if you want our business, start respecting the consumer instead of advertising what you don’t really mean – quality.

I understood it to be a website that encouraged dialogue on various Ford products.  Since Ford did not feel responsible enough to notify the public concerning the faulty window they built into their F150 I went onto this site and wrote a small piece describing the problem.  I was hoping that anyone who read it and had a similar problem could fix their window and prevent further repairs.

Well, Ford isn’t really that caring about their consumers.  The webpage has this as an opener:

“WELCOME TO FORDPOWEREDBYYOU.CA This site is powered by you – literally. You are the engine that drives it – and your ideas, dialogue, and opinions are the fuel. True, the chassis is built by us, Ford of Canada. But we’re handing over the keys. It’s not our site. It’s yours. You talk. About design, technology, and the environment – areas where automotive culture merges with everyday life. It’s what our powered by you contributors will write about, sparking dialogue and debate. We’ll listen, and occasionally participate, but from here on – the discussions and debates on this site are all powered by you.”

Well, they certainly listened but removed my article from the webpage.  So much for a website powered by the consumer - they only let you have the power if you write positive things about how good they are.  Like telling people they are hired and then the next day, yank their chain and tell them, sorry but we aren’t hiring you and too bad you left your job to come to us.

Again, does this sound like an ethical company????

You have to accept that there are consequences to your actions.

You have to believe that businesses create prosperity and governments create oppression.

You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans is a good thing, and that U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean Communists is a threat.

You have to believe that there was art before federal funding.

You have to believe that global temperatures are more affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and less affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

You have to believe that gender roles are natural but being homosexual is artificial.

You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by sexual behavior, not a lack of federal funding.

You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is not qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

You have to believe that hunters care about nature. 

You have to believe that accomplishing something is the source of self-esteem.

You have to believe the NRA is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

You have to believe that taxes are too high, and so are ATM fees.

You have to believe that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan are far more important to American history than Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem. 

You have to believe that standardized tests are not racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are.

You have to believe that socialism hasn't worked anywhere and it never will.  

You have to believe that conservatives telling the truth belong in the White House, but a perjurer and a sex offender belonged in jail.

You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be illegal, and manger scenes at Christmas should be constitutionally protected.

You have to believe that the illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government and introduced to American politics by the Clinton 's is not in the best interests of the United States .

You have to believe that it's okay to give federal workers Christmas Day off and it's okay to say "Merry Christmas" without being offended. 

You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean Communists.

You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.

You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.

You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach 4th graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. 

You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

You have to believe that Hillary Clinton doesn't condone Bill's sexual predations.

You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

You have to believe that conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a perjurer and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

You have to believe that the illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese government and introduced to American politics by the Clinton 's is somehow in the best interests of the United States .

You have to believe that it's okay to give federal workers Christmas Day off but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas." 

You have to believe that McCain attacking Obama is racist, and Obama attacking McCain isn't.

But, it begs the question – why?  Does he have a bike fetish and just loves to gaze over a crowded room of stolen bikes or even worse, a bike seat fetish?  It doesn’t say but maybe he just wanted to stimulate the bike industry.  Stolen bikes create a need.  A need, as a bike shop owner, he could fulfill.

Now, this of course is a total lack of ethics.  Ethics, oh yes.  Ford produced a vehicle with an improperly installed window and never notified the consumers that their electronic repair bills might be caused by this.  I mean, a leaky window allowed water infiltration, which caused the electronics to short out.  Did anyone get a notice?  Of course, by not notifying the consumer, the consumer continues to have their electronics fixed due to the leaky window, which they know nothing about.  Hmmmmmmm…. No, I am not accusing Ford or the CAW of intentionally installing a window improperly in order to create a need for repairs and thus, generate income in the repair part of the industry - an industry that is having a downturn in income.

Now, one could extrapolate this and begin to wonder.  In this recession, will the car industry, which is suffering greatly, start supporting thieves so that cars disappear and thus generates a need by the consumer, whose buying is all supported by the insurance industry?  But no, I jest.  I mean, a company that builds a truck with a faulty window, doesn’t inform the consumer and repairs the damaged electronics wouldn’t stoop that low would they?  Never!!  As I was told recently by a CAW executive – they are all hard working individuals and having known some, I agree.  But, I wonder Ford - how can you stimulate car sales to people who have been burned by your policy to not recognize that the window was put in improperly and cost us consumers our money?  Trust is something earned and once lost; it is hard to get back, especially when others continue to build trust within the consumer’s market.

And what a rift it was.

In 1984, when I came to the Party, the Kent County Dems were reeling. They had been redistricted out of State Senate seat, no local redistricting plan had been submitted in 1980, so new County Commission seats were shifted, and one commissioner, Kathy Kuhn had switched parties. (In the south end, James Vaughn had threatened to do the same.)

Two groups faced-off in the Party: the Regular Party, fueled by UAW money and members; and a network of activists, the Coalition Democrats: academics, social liberals, minorities. The two groups echoed the split 15 years earlier between Robert Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. The Coalition were largely from the center and east side of Grand Rapids, the Regulars drew from the west side and the suburbs.

The two groups dueled over precinct delegates. Activists saw delegates as a ground force for organizing elections; Regulars saw the delegates as votes at the State Convention. Thus recruiting delegates was an activity guarded ferociously by union representatives. This was the level of distrust we had between us.

Coalition Dems had focused on local elections, and in turn built up a network of experience about campaigning. Poor Candidate recruitment galled them. The reluctance to engage in party building left many infuriated. There was more than enough bad blood, and it was often highly personalized. Some left. Some of us stayed.

But we healed. And this is a place to name names.

Kent County Dems healed, because we began to get more electoral success. By the 90s the Coalition as an organization had faded. In its place emerged Friends of Labor, a collection of non-UAW unions, guided by Bruce Harvey of the Teamsters. City Commission seats began to fall into Dem hands. Rick Tormala's ferocious 1999 victory showed how we could win in the Second Ward.

Kent County Dems also healed because of three strong women: Lupe Ramos-Montigny, originally one of the Coalition members, an MEA leader, and Party Chair 2002-2004; Sue Levy, UAW, party chair 2004 --, who in style opened the doors to all and so made us better; and Maggie Simmons, a fund-raiser and organizer for Granholm's first run for AG in 1998.

Their hard work, and the coordinated campaigns of 2002, 2004, 2006 have created a party as unified as it has been for more than a generation. We're winning elections.

And now RMGN will undo this.

The redistricting aspects of the Reform Michigan Government Now proposal will undo the work of our local party. Sadly the electoral concerns of West Michigan are sacrificed to the inside nexus of Party and union insiders. One of the main points of the battle in the 80s and 90s was to elevate electoral success as our criteria for Party success. Here, we have the unraveling of that vision. In place of transparency we are left with the clouded plans of a few.

Man, I hated the conflicts of those bad old days.

Now, I find it funny how 4 pieces of rubber outlasted my front end by over 40,000 kilometres.  I had to replace my tie rods at 100K and was just recently told by the dealer, Kennedy Ford, that my ball joints needed replacement.  Another mechanic told me no, so I am waiting for the alignment and see if they suggest the ball joints get replaced.  Almost like waiting for a baby to be born.

I was told, after I bought the truck off lease and had the front end replaced, that Ford has a problem with premature failure of the front end.  I can’t substantiate this but, interesting how local garage mechanics seem to all be saying this.  Even my neighbour remarked on the fact I had a Ford when I saw him this morning while enroute to the garage.  Wasn’t nice what he said.  Something about “Fix or Repair Daily”.

This began to make me think about planned obsolescence.  My truck was built during that period of time that Ford was closing the truck plant in Oakville.  The only good news to the CAW employees was that it was being replaced by another line – therefore jobs saved.  But what about the recent closing of the GM truck line in Oshawa.  Would you buy a truck from GM now, knowing it was being built by disgruntled CAW workers, knowing their jobs were redundant soon after the truck line closes.  What kind of atmosphere is present on that assembly line?  I mean, Ford couldn’t build my truck right and the guys had future jobs.

Planned obsolescence.  We hear about it in other industries and wonder sometimes why things fail.  Ford knows about the window problem but, have you ever seen a recall?   Have you ever received a notice that your window should be checked?

Funny, but Kennedy Ford keeps sending me notices that my truck is due for regular service.  Ever since the debacle of the front end and then my electronic problems caused by the improperly installed window, I have favoured a local garage for my servicing.  Kennedy Ford could send me reminders but never sent me anything to warn me that all the electronic repairs might be caused by the leaky window.  I understand Ford sent a memo to the dealers about this (can’t confirm it as Ford won’t even send me a letter confirming my complaint) but, I as a consumer was never warned that my repair expenses were being caused by an improperly installed window.  But, I guess that would mean someone at Ford had ethics, something that seems to be missing in this case.

I guess the rule of thumb for buying a vehicle is to check when it was built and what kind of relationship was occurring between the manufacturer and the CAW/UAW.   Does this have some kind of bearing on how your vehicle is built?  Well, they say, don’t buy a vehicle built on a Monday (hangovers, Monday blues) and a Friday (weekend coming up).  Don’t know how true it is but, I wouldn’t be buying a GM or Ford right now due to the cutbacks and the proven lack of concern regarding built in faults.  Toyota might not be perfect but maybe they’ve got it right.  No union and support their vehicles, even after warranty.

By the way, just got the news that my front end is alright and my ball joints don’t need to be fixed.  Wonder why Kennedy Ford told me they had to be replaced over 10k ago?  I just found out from a local garage that they’ve noticed a decline in repair business.  With the rising cost of fuel, people are maybe putting off repairs and maintenance.  At over $90/hour for labour, I can understand why.  But, if they’re not built right – like properly installed windows, it is hard to drive when the vehicle starts the road down what some might consider planned obsolescence, especially when no one warns you of the problems.  But then, who ever warns you about planned obsolescence?

A strike at a small auto-parts plant in Tennessee now threatens an important vehicle for General Motors Corp. -- the soon-to-launch Chevrolet Traverse crossover -- at a time when the struggling auto maker can least afford a costly production delay.

Workers at the Johnson Controls Inc. factory in Columbia, Tenn., walked off the job Wednesday because the company refused to recognize the union after workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize, local UAW officials said. Johnson Controls didn't return calls seeking comment.

Though the dispute over unionizing the factory, which employs 170 workers, has been going on for nearly two years, the union chose to send workers off the job just as production of the new Chevy is slated to begin.

It's a strategy the UAW employed earlier this year at another small parts operation in Lansing, Mich. -- a supplier for crossovers that at the time were in short supply. The strike forced GM to cut shifts at a nearby plant that builds the vehicles. The union eventually won representation.

One word came to mind when I heard the news from GM this week.  Unions.  You want to know what is killing the big three auto makers?  Unions.  The strangle-hold they have on U.S. auto makers is ridiculous.  I know from first hand experience. From family members to friends, the things the unions make those companies do and go through is down right criminal.  The fact that these companies have to pay employees for not working, for doing hardly anything worth the pay they get when they are working and for putting out an over priced, cheaply made product is outrageous. 

I have written about unions before here and here and then about Teachers Unions here.  Whether it's the Teachers Union or the UAW, they are all the same. 

While the Big 3 are reeling and just barley staying afloat (if even that),  foreign car makers are hiring right and left.   Hiring  Non-Union workers that is.  Toyota will go on, experts predict, in the next 10 years to be the biggest, most profitable of any auto maker.  Why is that?  Well, it’s because they don’t have to give in to the Union thugs and pay people for wages at a far higher price then they are worth.  The cost to build a car by Toyota is far less then the price to build a car by, say, GM.  Unions do not  change the productivity of workers. All they can do is stop the employer from paying less than what unions demand the employer pay.

Of course, during the next negotiation that the UAW has with Chrysler, GM or Ford, they will demand more money, even though the company, as a whole, is dying.

I'm sure Politics and Culture can chime in here, being from the Motor City and all.

Let's once again get a moratorium on Unions.

The fact that potentially thousands of Missourians are going to be losing their jobs is terrible, and I feel for every family who's life is now in chaos.  But what really bothers me is that this didn't have to happen.

For years, the auto industry has taken massive losses due to high labor costs, high taxation and regulation.  Because of previous labor agreements, the auto industry currently pays over $1 billion dollars in retirement benefits annually.  Think about that.  Every year, they have to make $1 billion dollars just to break even, and that's not counting the cost of having to run the daily operations.  No wonder they're going under.

But even though the above factors definately contributed to the problem, they certainly aren't the main cause.  I believe that the main reason the auto industry is failing is due to the unfair trade policies that have been forced upon U.S. manufactures.

Now don't get me wrong, I know that U.S. automakers welcome competition from Japanese companies and other international competitors. I believe that competition in a free and fair environment is good for consumers, good for innovation, and good for creating ever safer and more fuel-efficient cars. However, the U.S. government continues to passively accept subsidized imported vehicles from Japanese automakers who are not competing fairly because their government effectively subsidizes its auto industry through the use of an artificially low yen. This policy has led to the skyrocketing levels of auto exports to the U.S. that harm the economy and cost American jobs by giving Japanese automakers an unfair and unearned advantage over American automakers.

The artificially low yen has helped fuel our trade deficit with Japan, which hurts the U.S. economy and gives Japanese automakers an unfair advantage over American automakers. Nearly two-thirds of that deficit, or $56 billion out of a total $88 billion, is exclusively a result of Japanese auto products.

This issue is not trivial or just a technicality. The impact of an artificially low yen on the automotive sector is a major competitive factor in the whole automotive industry: The misaligned yen gives the average imported Japanese car a huge windfall cost advantage over U.S. automakers and other competitors in the market. This 'yen effect' also crosses over to Japanese vehicles made in the U.S. because of the high level of subsidized imported auto parts used in their U.S. plants.

A few facts:

• With a yen valued at 118 to the dollar, Japanese automakers enjoy an average windfall $4,000 cost advantage per vehicle more than they would if the yen traded at its true value. The overall subsidy Japanese automakers gain for the 2.2 million vehicles they import totaled $8.8 billion in 2006.
• The total yen subsidy provided to Japanese automakers in 2006 was $13.4 billion – $8.8 billion for car & truck exports to the U.S. and $ 4.6 billion for imported parts used in American-made Japanese cars.
• More than half (52%) of all automobiles manufactured in Japan were designated for export in 2006, exceeding 50% for the first time in 19 years. In fact, even as demand within Japan for new autos is declining, Japanese companies are adding production capacity to Japan-based facilities, reactivating assembly lines, adding workers and postponing planned factory closures as they move to export ever greater numbers of vehicles.

It is time for U.S. policy to place the needs and survival of its own manufacturing sector first. To do so will require the U.S. to demand that the Japanese allow the yen to regain its undistorted value. Japan must be pressed to bring its currency into alignment and trim its excessive currency reserves.

To me, this is where leadership steps up, but unfortunately, our Washington representative, Russ Carnahan, hasn't done anything to actively engage this issue.  Heck, even people who aren't elected officials have been more engaged in this issue then Carnahan.

The issue came about in May, when AB received the offer letter from InBev.  Immediately, local people began voicing their opinions about the issue.  People were concerned about losing their jobs and their pensions.  Businesses were concerned about the loss of revenue.  Everyone was talking about it.  Even Senators Kit Bond and Claire MaCaskill got involved.  But where's Russ?  It's his district for God's sake!  These are his people!  Where's their representative?

Finally, he released a statement yesterday, and it had about as much impact as a cloud on a sunny day.  He says, quote;

 "Collectively we share great concern for the welfare of the St. Louis area, the men and women who have led Anheuser-Busch to iconic prominence, and a questioning public that rightfully wonders what will be next. I have spoken with many colleagues from across the country and Missouri in the last few days who are more than sympathetic to our concern, because they see it as theirs as well".

Wow.

This is all you have to say to your constituents, who may, or may not lose their jobs?  Collectively we?  Who the hell is "we"?  How about "I"?  Why havent' you offered any solutions to the problem?  

I know Carlos Brito met with Senators Bond and MaCaskill, but why weren't you there?  IT'S YOUR DISTRICT!!!  Why aren't you actively engaged in this issue?  What are you going to say, when, and if people start losing their jobs?  "Sorry, find another one."

Russ, you're supposed to be representing the people of the 3rd district.  What are you doing?

It seems that GM has enough of the crap already, as angry CAW workers are still forming the blockade outside the Canadian Headquarters. As a result, the parent company has decided to file a court injunction demanding that the blockade must be removed.

Right now, a rally is taking place (at the time of this blog posting) outside GM's Canadian headquarters. People from far and wide - as far as Thunder Bay to the west and Cornwall to the east are joining in the fight in their last effort to save the Oshawa Truck Assembly plant from closing down.

As for the legal action, it doesn't stop the workers from fighting back. They will keep fighting for as long as this is going. Last weekend, there was a massive convoy outside the Oshawa Truck Plant. Approximately 300 workers were in the vehicles, making traffic snarled preventing deliveries going in and out.

Meanwhile, the province of Ontario is trying to work out a deal with the struggling automaker on getting a new shift. I'm not sure if the new shift will save those jobs, but it's anyone's guess.

To close off this blog posting, I'm leaving you a snippet from the song "Miracle" by Paramore (this song is very good, especially if you work for the auto industry):

"I've gone for too long living like I'm not alive
So I'm going to start over tonight
Beginning with you and I

I'm not going
Cause I've been waiting for a miracle
And I'm not leaving
I won't let you
Let you give up on a miracle
Cause it might save you"

References:

"Convoy delays production at Oshawa GM plant." CTV.ca. 7 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080607/gm_protest_080607?hub=TorontoNewHome>

"GM workers plan massive rally to protest closure." CTV.ca. 9 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080609/GM_protest_080609?hub=TorontoNewHome.>

"GM Heads To Court To End Plant Blockade As Province Pushes For New Shift." CityNews.ca 11 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_23685.aspx>

"Police Ignoring Blockade: GM." NewsDurhamregion.com. 12 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/featured/article/100386>

"Union expects GM injunction at auto workers blockade." NewsDurhamRegion.com. 9 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/business/article/100199>

"Ottawa has power to save threatened GM truck plant." Toronto Star. 11 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/440839>

"CAW calls 'solidarity march' in Oshawa to protest GM closing." CBC.ca. 12 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/12/gm-rally.html>

"Province, GM in talks for third car line for Oshawa, Ont., plant: Pupatello." The Canadian Press. 11 June 2008. 12 June 2008. <http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLcVX0eIvyZtPcAyzMyzKhxeO-AA>