Make US Auto Industry #1 Again

but if they got rid of the lazy workers who would staff the factories, immigrants?

You are right. They get paid 80k because the unions have such a heavy hand in things.

Their argument is that upper management makes huge salaries, but the difference is those people are in demand and command big money. Guys twisting wrenches do not. I can't remember how many guys working in dealerships fixing cars wished they could join unions and make twice what they did, but their jobs were based on what the economy would bear, not what the union said they were worth.

I wonder how much less I would have paid for my new car if the builders made $20 instead of $40.

And that's all I have to say about that.

I think some of the manufacturers are trying that. Do some legwork and tell us what countries the Chevy Aveo or the Ford Fusion are made.

What makes you want to blame Unions? Workers that assemble import brands in the US, of mostly imported parts, are paid less that workers in domestic plants and they have fewer benefits and less desirable pensions, but the import brands sell for as much or more than domestic brands, of the same size and with the same equipment.

By the way the US auto industry IS number one. The three US manufactures still sell more vehicles combined than do all of the dozen or so import brands combined ;)

buddy of mines dad has been a ford union employee for years. I was amazed when he told me about his average work day. He's a tool maker so he only has to work when the plant needs a tool made. Well this guy is making pretty good money to barely work and ford has to pay him for 40hrs because of the union. dont remember what his salary is but it aint shabby.

And the import automakers are making money on cars sold in the US; the Michigan-3 aren't.

Number 1 in what market? Don't forget that there are many other markets, like Europe, South America and Asia. Right now, the US market is the largest. The Asian market it growing fastest; the US market s shrinking.

Except in March, when import brands had 51.6% of the US market. What good is more than 50% of the market when the Michigan 3 aren't making money here?

It should be noted that for the year to date (January, February and March), the Michigan-3 sold more vehicles than the import brands. However, there is a trend of the Michigan-3 losing market share and the imports gaining market share. Part of this is related to the imports actually making more cars that people want than the domestics, based on sales (more import-brand cars are bought than domestic brand cars - not including trucks of course).

Jeff