Re:Ask HN: What to do about a strike?
by gojomo on Tuesday December 09, 2008 @05:23PM
(#391908)
Yes, you can pin the noncompetitiveness of the US auto industry on its labor arrangements.
A major reason the Japanese run more efficient factories in the US, with US workers, is that they aren't constrained by the same inflexible union hiring/firing/workplace rules.
And US companies do have significantly higher costs per similar car for pay and benefits (including health and retirement), due to misguided levels set in fat-year collective bargaining.
A 'bailout' plan: adopt for factories in the rust belt the exact same contracts, rules, and pay rates that work for profitable factories in the southern US.
A major reason the Japanese run more efficient factories in the US, with US workers, is that they aren't constrained by the same inflexible union hiring/firing/workplace rules.
And US companies do have significantly higher costs per similar car for pay and benefits (including health and retirement), due to misguided levels set in fat-year collective bargaining.
A 'bailout' plan: adopt for factories in the rust belt the exact same contracts, rules, and pay rates that work for profitable factories in the southern US.