Originally posted by Stazi:
You guys need to get a grip on what's killing the Big 3. It's not supply chains or logisitcs, it's the fact that a major chunk of the profits made on 1 car go to pay the pensions for a handful of retirees, plus the benefits for them plus the benifits and retirement plans for the UAW workers working the line.
Retirement funding is a long term problem. What we're seeing here is a microcosm or what will eventually occur with the existing socsec gov't program. The companies underfunded the pensions, basically by borrowing from it or never paying into it in the 1st place (sound familiar?), so the funds aren't there in entirety to support the retirement base. Short term thinking is the overall problem that is plaguing American business interests as a whole, that and a lack of ethics IMHO.
Just to be clear, I'm agreeing with your point, just stating it took a while to get to where GM is today, which resulted from a series of bad decisions over the long term, most likely to solve short term problems that could and should have been solved another way.
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Unskilled workers, a lot without even a GED get paid the same amount as engineers, all because the Big 3 let the UAW get out of hand 20 years ago. NO that the baby boomers are all retiring they are facing more bills than they have money to pay with. Thus sacrifices are made and quality, standard features, materials,etc. all get cut back.
The only way that they can survive is to do what the Japanese did years ago. Declare every contract null and void, including UAW contracts and then say "OK so who want my business?" Then force them to bid hard on that business - this will work if they consider hiring a non-unionized work force as they will be able to negotiate wages/benefits that are more reasonable.
Honestly I live in the Detroit greater metro area and see all these line workers and the lives they live. Guys that are less skilled than me are earning bucu bucks, and living the big life - it's just all pear-shaped.
I'm not saying they should be forced into poverty but if when you hear about janitors earning the same if not more money,. per hour, compared ot a college graduate working for the same company, you got to think "Something is not right with this picture" 
I agree, wages should be tied to supply and demand coupled with skillset requirements.
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