What's your gut feeling about the results

[Camino LS6]

... of the current strike?

Mine after I take Arkus for a walk.

[Newbiewar]

my feeling is in 4 years gm will be much more healthy and willing to tangle...

if i were GM i'd bait them to strike once a few times a year to wear down that money they got till they cant strike no more...

if they dont have such a wealth

if i've done my calc correctly, it seems as though they could only last for 6 weeks at 200$ a week with 73000 people and a reserve of aproximatly 900 million

that way the unions got now power come next contract

[bowtie_dude]

GM has no intentions (I hope) to bend to the UAW's strong-arming this time around. I hope GM has the sense to see the UAW as a self-devouring snake too blinded to see that in their pursuit of the status quo, they're destroying themselves and the auto industry.

[Northstar]

I would like to see Ford and Chrysler somehow join in. If all 3 companies shut down for a month, then yes it would hurt quite a bit, but the union would be gone in the end.

[Clownzilla]

I believe that GM will give a job guaranty to the workers for a few give-backs. Over the next 4 years, GM will start to slowly push their production capacity to factories outside the USA (China will be a HUGE player). Their engineering from now on will be based off of universal global platforms, where vehicles can be built at multiple factories. GM will still invest in the United States factories but invest MUCH more in the factories outside the USA. When the next contract comes along, the UAW can stand outside for months and GM will be able to shift production elsewhere. I think that GM will ask for a HUGE pro-GM contract or they will just keep building elsewhere.

[Z-06]

Newbie, it is more like 62 weeks.

Ron and Co have pretty decent balance, but that is when their own folks will start to backfire on them, because it will be like comparing 40 hours at $48/hour / week (if contracts go through according to GM, which is $960/week, pretax vs. $200/week on UAW fund) those workers will not stand UAW to prolong the strike, and the strike will implode. It iis hardly enough to live with $200/ week for a masters students, you are talking here about people with families.

I think optimum UAW thought they can push is about 3-4 months, before GM sees the Doldrums. UAW is looking for more money in fast time, with their goals based on the surmise that GM cannot sustain for more than a month or two of strike. Now if GM outsmarts them, which I think upto a certain extent they did by selling the businesses like Allisson, Suzuki, etc. UAW, will lose big time. Not only will they run their own patience, but will receive the ire of general public.

I think GM managers thought long term of 2007 than people give credit to them. In some ways strategically, GM is going to be benefitted by the strike. As much as you say, WSJ has not been harsh on GM, as a matter of fact, WSJ is the mouth of what happens in the stock markets. As such of now, the way I am reading it, most analysts are either neutral or pro GM. CNN is a ultra liberal mouth piece, I am not surprised about it saying bad things about GM and corporations. Obama is trying to make political a conflict which needs no political attention to gain his market share by a point or two. GM may lose market share because of the strike. Prople argue that in 1998 GM lost 2% which it never recovered, but the history shows that GM's market share has been on decline. Heck, it lost 1.3% last year, which it has not recovered, and there was no strike last year. But it is not about market share, it is the goal of long term sustenance, profitability and then the market share. Given GM's strength of near future and future portfolio, market share will definitely come back, if you have right products and R&D.

Now as regards to job security which UAW wants, no one can guarantee that. And if union does argue that, it will show their own selfishness. They acknowledge sour economy, they acknowledge bad health of US car manufacturers, yet they are not ready to take responsibilty of helping their own corporation. If GM assures job security, will they tell GM that they will work at $40/ hour, that is a reasonable sacrifice? Because the basic law of economy is safer the investment, lesser is the yield on the principal.

GM is down, but UAW cannot put it out.

[gm4life]

GM has no intentions (I hope) to bend to the UAW's strong-arming this time around. I hope GM has the sense to see the UAW as a self-devouring snake too blinded to see that in their pursuit of the status quo, they're destroying themselves and the auto industry.

This name idot on the head. f@#k the Union they ask for way to much. Let 'em strike and GM can hire those poor asswholes who have ruined the Ameircan auto industry back no Union and fair wages.

[Camino LS6]

It was a long walk (went past the project car and...) well, you lnow.

Anyway, here's the short version since I want to put a bit more time in on the project. I see the potential here for a very, very, long strike. It may not come to that if the UAW caves early, but cave they will. I feel that the momentum and the absolute need are with the Big 3. I think that they have decided to have it out with the union, once and for all. It all comes down to how much grandstanding the union leadership wants to do before the fat lady sings. I truly believe that the longer the strike lasts, the less the UAW will get in the final agreement. Make no mistake, this is the contract that will determine the future of the domestic auto industry. Time has run out for screwing around and our automakers are ready to take it offshore if the UAW is stupid enough.

In the end, be it sooner or later, the UAW will have to accept a new reality from which there can be no turning back. Without the flexibility to decide who, where, and how many, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have little chance at revival. They will demand that flexibility - and they will eventually get it.

[bowtie_dude]

This name idot on the head. f@#k the Union they ask for way to much. Let 'em strike and GM can hire those poor asswholes who have ruined the Ameircan auto industry back no Union and fair wages.

Yeah, that didn't make any sense.

[daves87rs]

Here in Michigan-the longer it lasts-the worst it will get around here....

If it goes long-I could see Motown turning their backs on the big 3....it seems people are sick and tired of everything around here, and the timing of this strike is not good.

I don't see it lasting too long-the UAW will get a few things-but GM will get most of everything they asked for....

[Newbiewar]

It was a long walk (went past the project car and...) well, you lnow.

Anyway, here's the short version since I want to put a bit more time in on the project. I see the potential here for a very, very, long strike. It may not come to that if the UAW caves early, but cave they will. I feel that the momentum and the absolute need are with the Big 3. I think that they have decided to have it out with the union, once and for all. It all comes down to how much grandstanding the union leadership wants to do before the fat lady sings. I truly believe that the longer the strike lasts, the less the UAW will get in the final agreement. Make no mistake, this is the contract that will determine the future of the domestic auto industry. Time has run out for screwing around and our automakers are ready to take it offshore if the UAW is stupid enough.

In the end, be it sooner or later, the UAW will have to accept a new reality from which there can be no turning back. Without the flexibility to decide who, where, and how many, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have little chance at revival. They will demand that flexibility - and they will eventually get it.

If a long stike were to exist, since GM is taking the hit for the big 3... would the other two be willing help financially while good contracts are made?

[Camino LS6]

No, but they just have to present a united front.

[Windy-57]

A couple of thoughts:

First, I'm sure we're all taking this to the extreme moreso than even the people involved. GM reps might be pissed, but they still know that they have to work with the UAW. Hopefully each side still knows that they have to find as close to an equitable agreement for both sides as they can. That said, I agree with most of you here that I'm pulling for GM and think that they will get their way in the end.

Second, what makes me think they'll get their way is the external living situations in Detroit. It's hard to strike and go without a chunk of money in your pocket for any length of time...it's even harder when you've been trying to sell your house for a year or paying two mortgages (situations that are rampant in Detroit). I know that the Detroit area is only a chunk of the membership, but they're still they symbolic leaders.

[Camino LS6]

I believe the situation really is that extreme - it is do or die time.

[Newbiewar]

well as the newspapers are analyzing this deal represents the same as the 1970's strike... where GM was pushing for a massive deal, and what they got in return was a 54 day strike...

I beleive the outcome was GM, didnt get what they wanted, after losing billions

and the need for cuts is still present, with a much weaker UAW

[thegriffon]

As some of you have suggested, a number of analysts are saying this national strike is just to send a message to the rank and file that the UAW is getting a good deal, that it is largely symbolic and only meant to be short term. If they wanted they could shut down GM by only striking a few strategic plants, and preserve the strike fund for a much longer conflict, but instead they are striking everywhere, and to top it off, other unions which would otherwise be laid off by GM are striking as well. Now if I were in the rank and file I'd by asking "What the h— are you doing?" Of course they could be sending a message to GM while doing the least amount of damage to the company's ability to sustain future employment.

[Newbiewar]

As some of you have suggested, a number of analysts are saying this national strike is just to send a message to the rank and file that the UAW is getting a good deal, that it is largely symbolic and only meant to be short term. If they wanted they could shut down GM by only striking a few strategic plants, and preserve the strike fund for a much longer conflict, but instead they are striking everywhere, and to top it off, other unions which would otherwise be laid off by GM are striking as well. Now if I were in the rank and file I'd by asking "What the h— are you doing?" Of course they could be sending a message to GM while doing the least amount of damage to the company's ability to sustain future employment.

I think a large number of people are in agreeance that this is just a lot of smoke to make people feel good about the deal...

when in actuality, it will probably be a win win for GM and UAW...

it focuses of attention to, the world, hey GM is serious now... regaurdless of why or when... GM is Serious

with 38 billion in cash GM isnt exactly, falling over...

its sending a message to the united states... "Hey! we've got a little control over the ecconomy still" look delphi, dana corp, drive and axel corp...

America, dont forget over 3 Million americans are directly are effected by the ins and outs of GM, and over 7 Million are directly affected by the big 3...

Also the world is seeing, people who are striking being quoted as to say "No one wants to see GM hurt, no one wants to see them go down the tubes"

"Obviously, we did not want to strike, but that's what was required and in many ways it may be a good thing because it'll bring an end to this thing quicker, we hope"

Also, UAW will soon feel this in the supply manufactures if GM continues to stop production...

UAW cannot fund GM, Delphi and whoever might still have UAW and supplys GM...

but as some articles have said, Teir 1 suppliers of GM, have been preparing for this for the last 9 months...

if negotiations have been going on for almost the end of 3 months, who expects this to resolve quickly might be crazy... they should hire buickman to do the negotiations since he's such a good seller

haha havent heard about him in a year or so....

regaurdless... i beleive it will see minimum of 7 days maximum of 10... but i could also seeing the enthusiasm of the strikers dwindle after day 3 so, if that is what its all about... then maybe it wont go past tomarrow