Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave
It will be interesting when the UAW gets "card check" certification at Japanese transplant assembly plants. I wonder if the Japanese will play ball with the UAW or will they just close up shop and go back to Japan. With the exception of the Toyota engine plant in Buffalo WV, all Japanese plants in the US are just assembly plants. Nothing but a conveyor and a paint shop. They could shut them down and all the equipment moved within 90 days.
I know VW will not work with the UAW. They got burned in Westmoreland, PA back in the 70s.
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Actually Dave, Honda has engine plants in Anna, OH and Lincoln, AL. As well as an auto transmission plant in Russel Point, OH. They also have a large facility in Allison, ONT that just opened a big 4-cyl engine plant. Their U.S. plant production capacity is too large to just pick up and move at a moments notice. Not to mention the PR nightmare that would result here.
I'm not any fan of unions, but they have their place and they might be needed if HALF of what I've read about Toyota's treatment of it's US employees is true. They function a lot like a Wal-Mart. They fire injured employees. Employees bear most of the health plan costs on wages that are far below other local jobs of similar complexity and responsibility. The average wage at the San Antonio, TX plant is said to be $12/hr. Since the plant opened in 2003 the Texas Dept. of Labor has had to hire 3 employees just to deal with the worker complaints directed at Toyota. A third of their employees are temps so they can avoid hitting time-of-service milestones triggering things like sick pay, vacation time, and holiday pay. The temps don't quailfy for any type of health coverage. This sounds like a situation where a union could help balance the playing field somewhat. Toyota has almost $60B tied up in US manufacturing plants so they can't just walk away without taking a huge financial hit that investors wouldn't take kindly to.