1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Featured The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Prodigyplace, Oct 5, 2019.

  1. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars - MarketWatch
     
  2. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Also the powerful labor unions in the US.
     
  4. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Not sayin MarketWatch don't know squat about the auto industry as a whole, but does anyone here know what the average salary is for a UAW worker?
    Is this the first UAW strike in recent history? Back when it was the Big Three every couple of years it was the same ole same ole with contract negotiations that would sometimes last a year or more and every time GM would ratify first, Ford second, Chrysler would give in last.
    Rank and File vs Management round the clock 365
    Must be trying to rewrite history again
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    same ol', same ol'. my gm stock is struggling to stay afloat.

    workers want a piece of the recent action. nothing gm can do to slow ev's, and they know that

    union probably made a lot of concessions in the bankruptcy and recession.
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,595
    11,220
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The Union had made concessions in pay during the bail out, and is wanting it to go back up.
     
    salyavin and vvillovv like this.
  7. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Labor unions in the US are far less powerful than in Europe, and this has been so pretty much for the last 40 years or so. So that's not the reason for US automakers lagging on electric cars IMHO.
     
    salyavin and Rmay635703 like this.
  8. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    The labor movement is much more prevalent in Europe, even if it falls under the noise of the 50 other parties there
     
    kgall likes this.
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,605
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    'less we forget, Tesla tried to over automate electric car production - presuming less parts equals less need for humans. It did not go well. With that in mind, it may very well be that the OP's linked "OPINION" article is making presumptions that fail to take Tesla's learning curve into account.
    .
     
    salyavin and kgall like this.
  10. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    all I can say about GM stock is just be glad you airn't holding F (symbol) look on the bright side, if there is one.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    well, its a stock market rag, so there are probably ulterior motives
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    holding ford too (n) was thinking of buying more on the low, 7% yield (y)
     
  13. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,493
    1,231
    1
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    what ever we say about it today, is usually different tomorrow.
    I can't wait for the next inverse bond yield to show it's ugly face. First in April/May second in August and ....
    I was two days early on a dip and got stuck selling low and buying high.
    Two freakin days off.
     
    bisco likes this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i'm a newbie with an inherited portfolio. i'll stick with mostly dividend stocks. i do need to balance though. my dad loved tel and energy
     
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I wonder how many of the union negotiators are involved in the UAW scandal.
     
  16. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2019
    575
    595
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Article is burying the lede:
    GM/Ford/etc have been pushing to replace more expensive, older union workers, with cheaper, younger ones long before even Tesla existed. EV's are just the latest excuse.
     
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Notice Tesla has no union to boss them and no dealer service profit takers complaining either.
     
  18. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2019
    575
    595
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    They also have trouble turning a profit, but for entirely other reasons.

    My point was be very skeptical of "we are doing badly due to fancy new technology" arguments. Companies with solid business models and good strategic decision making can handle disruptive technologies.
     
    #18 noonm, Oct 7, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2019
  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not sure I agree with the headline. Someone stll has to make Plug-Ins.
    I do feel GM/Ford perhaps see an advantage (over say Toyota) if USA mandates plug-ins.
    It's that GM/Ford are not competitive now, that they are likng a new direction free from Toyota/Honda hybrids.
    Europe embracing EV for the same reason they embrace diesel, they hate whimpy gasoline.
    Let's not assign superiority to EU just because some like to use it as a weapon for what USA should do.

    US autos forever have been saddled with high head-count and retirement benefits that cost a lot of money. So I am sure they want to try to get that albatross off of their necks as best as possible. But we need the employement, so we need to find a way to keep the jobs here.
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    t is fixing all that