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Is Toyota Down For The Count? Kentucky Toyota Workers Call For Union

Agent009 submitted on 06/13/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:01 PM
from: www.businessweek.com

[40] user comments | category: Misc News

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Is Toyota Down For The Count? Kentucky Toyota Workers Call For Union

Current and former workers at Toyota's Kentucky plant shared stories Sunday about low wages and poor working conditions -- rallying points many in the assembly line are hoping will ultimately lead to unionization.

A crowd of about 200 people -- many of them workers at the Georgetown plant that produces the Camry -- attended the meeting of the Kentucky Workers' Rights Board, a panel of religious and civic leaders pushing for better labor conditions.

Like foreign-owned auto companies across the South, Toyota is nonunion, but the leaders on the board sympathize with the workers and many contend that should change.

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kpaxx - 6/13/2007 12:12:40 PM

-4 Boost

Toyota is starting to look a lot like GM....

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Anti_Bangle - 6/13/2007 12:31:43 PM

+3 Boost

"Toyota is starting to look a lot like GM...."

Not quite. Toyota will still build reliable cars with a union. GM builds crappy cars regardless of the presence of a union. GM's poor management, along with UAW's presence, dragged GM down to where it is now.

kpaxx - 6/13/2007 1:20:56 PM

-3 Boost

Toyota didn't do as well as other years in the latest JD power survey.

PLUS

SLUDGE

PLUS

BROKEN CAMSHAFT

PLUS

TRANSMISSION HESITATION

Maybe I should restate myself toyota is starting look worse than GM.

Will_ - 6/13/2007 3:57:13 PM

+2 Boost

Who are you kidding? I challenge you to look up all the specific problems GM and Ford vehicles have had...

2JZSoarer - 6/14/2007 12:33:44 AM

0 Boost

TRANSMISSION HESITATION thats some thing that a simple ECM calibration can fix,I just did few today..

Agent009 - 6/13/2007 12:16:59 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Can you get to Number and be union free? The UAW says no...

Very very sad...

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PlanB - 6/13/2007 12:24:24 PM

+5 Boost

Just another classic case of more money, more problems.

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Agent009 - 6/13/2007 1:06:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Until the UAW tells them otherwise...

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vdiv - 6/13/2007 2:04:49 PM

+1 Boost

This is a good point. Toyota can say "screw it" at any point, close the factories and move them piece by piece to next-door Mexico. It is a compelling reason for the workers to be uncertain about their jobs and seek protection. Some of them have probably already been downsized by GM and Ford in their previous job so it is not a happy situation easy to resolve.

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r_driver04 - 6/13/2007 2:18:38 PM

+2 Boost

Maybe they should do that. That'll shut the haters up. You just can't please everybody all the time, it's a shame.

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sold2early - 6/13/2007 1:24:30 PM

+6 Boost

Those unhappy workers should do what most people do when they don't like their job: QUIT!

And besides, there's a lot more unhappy union guys at the Big 3 than there are unhappy non-union guys at Toyota. And there will be a whole lot more after the next round of negotiations. The UAW have painted themselves into a corner; either they give up major consessions to the Big 3, or they stick to their guns and sink with the ship.

Toyota should build a trash-burning power plant onsite and fuel it with all the UAW resumes they'll be receiving.

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jon21 - 6/13/2007 1:48:57 PM

+3 Boost

Toyota move everything to Texas, we won't complain. No UAW threat here.

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2JZSoarer - 6/14/2007 12:37:59 AM

+3 Boost

Jesse Jackson sucks,he needs to get a real job and stop feeding off of people he helps!!

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r_driver04 - 6/14/2007 2:05:32 PM

+1 Boost

2jzsoarer.....he's a typical politician.

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r_driver04 - 6/13/2007 2:20:06 PM

+4 Boost

They'll really be cryin when or if Toyota decides to pull up stakes. Talk about "slappin the taste out their mouths".

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2JZSoarer - 6/14/2007 12:40:22 AM

0 Boost

Toyota should give the workers five across the face and tell them to get back to work..

GodfatherSHM - 6/13/2007 2:36:29 PM

+3 Boost

200 people...so how many people work at the plant, is that really a majority of the workers? They complain now about pay, wait till they see what comes out of their paychecks for union dues...people are idiots.

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Will_ - 6/13/2007 3:58:45 PM

0 Boost

I used to feel for all those Union workers, but with Toyota all sympathy is gone.

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Anti_Bangle - 6/13/2007 10:37:29 PM

0 Boost

Why the double standard?

no1listensanyway - 6/13/2007 5:59:01 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

And so it begins. You cannot be the number one automaker in the world and not include tha AUW.

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r_driver04 - 6/14/2007 2:06:36 PM

+1 Boost

How did they get to be the #1 automaker in the world then??

kart1 - 6/13/2007 6:16:46 PM

+2 Boost

Some of these people's complains is completely stupid. For example the guy complaining that he got fired for discussing secret wage plan, WHAT THE HELL DID HE EXPECT? Leak company secrets, whatever those may be, and be rewarded? That is the stupidest thing I ever heard. These people are demanding too much for the amount of work and skill they are required to hold. Wasn't this the same factory that had the highest hourly pay for autoworkers across the world? Toyota should move, because the labor unions these days are only here to get inflated paychecks and benefits.

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2JZSoarer - 6/14/2007 12:29:56 AM

+3 Boost

Fire all of them if they don't want to work,if you want a union take your ass back to the big three,Union workers do really bad work because they feel protected no matter if the quality is poor,case in point GM,Ford,and Chrysler,as a Toyota technician I don't want to cleaning up their mess(even more recalls,poor quality issues and ect.)...

So I say Down with unions!!!!!!!

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r_driver04 - 6/14/2007 2:10:05 PM

+1 Boost

How do you feel protected when they're closing plants all the time. The days of security and stability are long gone friend. It's literally a brave new world.

EnnNorak - 6/14/2007 12:52:35 AM

0 Boost

Don't underestimate GM. GM lost its way for a while but has clearly learned from its failures. I am totally pleased with GM's new products and current quality. GM is definitely rising like a phoenix and Toyota can only fall now. I love the fierce competition in the industry today.

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r_driver04 - 6/14/2007 2:20:36 PM

+1 Boost

GM can't rise to where Toyota is currently because of they don't believe in building a quality product for a higher ideal. GM's doomed to be number 2, if they're that lucky.

alfistiDK - 6/14/2007 3:27:42 PM

+1 Boost

EnnNorak:
I love the fierce competition in the industry today.

What competition ? :) GM isent anyway near toyota quality wise

austintyson - 6/14/2007 9:44:41 PM

+1 Boost

Well I love to see all the American people stand up for fellow Americans that want what everyone wants.. Better pay and working condictions.. What happens when they walk into your office and give you a folding chair and a 10 yr old computer to do your job. Then the first time you open your mouth they fire your butt. Wake up. Unions are going to come back because big business is bigger than ever and they are pushing the little guy around.. Read why these people got fired. Last time I checked this is a free country and you should be able to talk about what you want to, if not take down the flag and burn it. This country is in trouble. Don't believe me Read what your saying about your fellow country men. Way to go about being Americans.. be proud of your country and its people and what we do and make.. From most of your postings I am sorry any man lost his life protecting this fine country so you can sit there am slam a fellow country man like he was a pile of shit..

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2JZSoarer - 6/15/2007 12:22:24 AM

+1 Boost

I'm proud of my country,but when it come to cars they just can't cut it,and that the honest truth..

Union workers are overpaid for the work they do,Toyota already pays their workers well,I don't know what they are complaining about,if you don't like the job,there is the door and don't let it hit you in the ass!!

r_driver04 - 6/15/2007 9:58:05 AM

+1 Boost

This is America....so we do reserve the right to check habitual line steppers!

2JZSoarer - 6/15/2007 12:23:52 AM

+1 Boost

mistype:
I'm proud of my country,but when it come to cars they just can't cut it,and that "is" the honest truth.

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