Honda to manufacture Ridgeline pickup at Alabama plant [2.29.8]

[mdwalls]

Every time you take PAID vacation, PAID sick leave with PAID medical, PAID holidays and work a 40 hour week, you can thank a union. Even if you work a non union job, it was unions that fought for these bennies.

[MoosePond]

Originally Posted by UOVB

MoosePond, what is the source of the data and when is it from? Any idea what the impact is on recent changes in the USA re: restructuring of labour costs?

here's my source:

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/07/...of-market.html

The entire issue of the decline of the competitiveness of the Big 3 (in no small part due to high labor and materials costs) is very complicated and the manufacturers, unions, investors and politicians all share some of the blame. Clearly it's not the quality of the American auto workers as they're our same friends, neighbors, relatives, etc. that build vehicles for BMW, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, etc. at their plants here in North America.

[MoosePond]

Here's another relevant article from the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.aftermarketnews.com/defau...e=art&id=80833

[Horm]

Nothing against Alabama, but that's not such good news for the Alliston plant. Wonder what they will be building next?

[mdwalls]

I've seen the Z3 plant in action on TV. It's mostly woman and robots. And I'll bet many of their workers are part time with no benefits. I also read stories about the toyota plant in CA. and how they are mistreated. It's not that the UAW workers are over paid, but that many stilled workers are underpaid.

[avenger]

Originally Posted by MoosePond

I think that "cheap" is relative only to the grossly overpriced stuff up there at the Big 3:

Latest reviews of the "Big 3" don't really show them as "grossly overpriced" and their quality is way up there. The new Chevy pick-up is getting pretty darn good reviews.

[avenger]

Originally Posted by mdwalls

Every time you take PAID vacation, PAID sick leave with PAID medical, PAID holidays and work a 40 hour week, you can thank a union. Even if you work a non union job, it was unions that fought for these bennies.

Originally Posted by mdwalls

I also read stories about the toyota plant in CA. and how they are mistreated. It's not that the UAW workers are over paid, but that many stilled workers are underpaid.

Well stated.

Also, here in NYS, job loss has been huge thanks to New York State government literally taxing everything and everybody to death. The #1 employer in this state is the government (literally) !

Taxes are NUTS here and when I retire next year we're looking at moving somewhere less expensive to live. How's that for a 56 year resident of NYS who has owned his own home here for a pretty long time. There are lots of other nice places to live that won't rape my wallet when I retire.

[kwoodman]

Originally Posted by Horm

Nothing against Alabama, but that's not such good news for the Alliston plant. Wonder what they will be building next?

It was almost a year ago, I posted that the Ridgeline would be assembled in Alabama. I have a contact 'in the know' at Alliston. He also told me that the 'replacement/redesign' for the Element would be assembled at Alliston in its place. Honda is completing a huge engine plant there, so they are not abandoning the Canadian investment.

[MoosePond]

Originally Posted by avenger

Latest reviews of the "Big 3" don't really show them as "grossly overpriced" and their quality is way up there. The new Chevy pick-up is getting pretty darn good reviews.

I was referring to the price of their labor, not their vehicles.

[meanmachine19]

So, if they start production next year, will that be for the 2010 model then? I wonder if it will have anything to do with changes in the model?

Perhaps Gary Flint may have some answers at the next international truck meet.

I can see an international truck meet in Alabama some day