Is a global high-tech work force bad for U.S.?

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Wake up call to unions

Hopefully this is a wake up call for the lazy Americans used to working half heartedly and making good wages. Can you GM union workers here me??? You at least need to figure out how you can work more efficiently so that GM can make money. You need to relax job restrictions and do everything you can to raise productivity so your wages will not fall too far. Yes, you will have to raise productivity AND accept lower wages

Some of the old line industries that have been around since the early part of the 20th century have had to go through the hardest adjustment, because they matured at a time when it was believed that everything could be managed in a top-down fashion, and that we could structure our economy through "good governance". This has largely been regarded as a long-term failure by the economists that get listened to in the last 20 years. The union resistance you speak of harkens back to that earlier time when employees put their trust in "good governance" and guaranteed benefits that rain down from on high.

I saw a piece on the Lehrer News Hour a couple months back that still has me skeptical about the chances of the traditional blue collar workforce surviving as it is (without significant changes in their skillset and workplace expectations). It talked about a split in the UAW, and their attempts at organizing resistance against what Delphi has been doing. The report was sympathetic to Delphi, saying that management was just responding to foreign competition, and that in fact GM was bending over backwards to try to save Delphi, losing money on each spark plug they buy from them. But still, the splinter group mindset was the same as it was 60+ years ago. They harken back to Depression times when the union played hardball and won concessions that created the blue collar middle class. Times have certainly changed. They think that if they organize a slowdown/shutdown of Delphi they'll get their wages and benefits back. Oh what fools. An organizer they interviewed basically said Delphi needs them more than they need Delphi. They say they're willing to put Delphi out of business, if necessary. Oh really? Where else are they going to find work, especially with their attitude?? A bit like destroying the village to "save it". It's sad to watch.

Further, he said, "We control the means of production." That's the real falacy, because in effect they do not. GM could get parts made by a foreign manufacturer just as easily, and more cheaply, as they could get them from Delphi. In fact GM would save money if they did.

if not, we will all by driving Toyotas before long, and you will be standing on the corner begging for spare change.

That's possible. What's more likely is they'll raise a ruckus by demonstrating. Years ago I heard a story from a friend. She was just travelling and saw some union acting in the most illogical fashion she had ever seen. She came from a working class background herself, so this was sad for her to see. A plant had been shut down for good. It was fenced off and locked up. A union local decided to hold a "strike" (more like a demonstration) in front of the plant. What's wrong with this picture?? There was no way, no matter what they did that they were going to get their old jobs back. They just made themselves look like idiots. With the way some are going, I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same in the future. Old mindsets die hard.

Posted by: Mark Miller   Posted on: 03/21/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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