Flint Journal Letter to the Editor

[Guest buickman]

GM management to blame

FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

by Theodore Edick

Let's take a look at some of the decisions General Motors' top-level management has made over the years, and it will be easy to see why it is in the fix it's in.

Several years ago, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the third-best-selling nameplate behind Chevy and Ford. So GM canceled that car, and eventually did away with the entire Oldsmobile division.

Not many years ago, Buick LeSabre was the best-selling Buick, so GM did away with that nameplate.

Also Buick's best-quality LeSabre plant was the Buick City plant in Flint, and GM not only stopped production at this plant, but completely demolished it.

The Cadillac DeVille had been around for as long as I could remember, and a fine automobile it was, but it too is history.

GM advertises cars that will go zero to 60 mph in seconds when what we really need is a full-size car that will go from New York to Denver on a tank of gas. Those cars would sell faster than they could make them because high gas prices are here to stay.

All of the engineering departments for all the car divisions were moved to GM headquarters in Detroit. Now all the cars have the same seats, the same hardware, the same everything. They all look alike except for nameplate and price.

Another brilliant decision, GM is adding 280,000 square feet of gas hog truck production capacity at the Fort Wayne Truck Plant at a cost of $35 million.

The big boys at GM are now even taking a 50 percent cut in salary and, get this, no bonus. Bonus for what? GM management has sold off every asset the company has, and is even trying to sell off GMAC, the only profit-making division.

GM has agreed to some stupid things in the UAW contract, such as the Jobs Bank.

On the other hand, the hourly work force has built what the big shots gave them to build. Now the hourly workers are going to suffer for management's stupid decisions.

GM is the poorest managed company in the United States, and even though management has reduced their wages, if GM doesn't go out of business, the dividend will be restored. The benefits they have taken away from the workers and retirees will never be restored.

Theodore E. Edick

[ellives]

My response is directed to the author of the letter:

Whah whah whah! If you don't like working at GM, find another job. The word "company" is GROUP of employees. When a company is successful or it fails, the blame is on all the employees.

It's easy to be a Monday morning quarterback. If you don't like the decision management has made, make your own better decisions. Oh that's right, you're not a member of management.

You complain about the job bank - and I agree it's a stupid idea - but I bet you'd sign yourself right up if your job was lost.

THIS is the kind of attitude that is killing the US. Everybody looking to blame someone else and expects someone else to be responsible for their well-being. This and look at home few people actually vote and take an active part in government by staying in touch with their elected officials.

In the end, GM has made its bed and will now have to sleep on it and there's no bigger fan of GM than I am but I'm tired of the "looking back." The future is ahead and the Company and all its employees need to realize this and stop this endless lamenting.

GM management to blame

FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

by Theodore Edick

Let's take a look at some of the decisions General Motors' top-level management has made over the years, and it will be easy to see why it is in the fix it's in.

Several years ago, the Oldsmobile Cutlass was the third-best-selling nameplate behind Chevy and Ford. So GM canceled that car, and eventually did away with the entire Oldsmobile division.

Not many years ago, Buick LeSabre was the best-selling Buick, so GM did away with that nameplate.

Also Buick's best-quality LeSabre plant was the Buick City plant in Flint, and GM not only stopped production at this plant, but completely demolished it.

The Cadillac DeVille had been around for as long as I could remember, and a fine automobile it was, but it too is history.

GM advertises cars that will go zero to 60 mph in seconds when what we really need is a full-size car that will go from New York to Denver on a tank of gas. Those cars would sell faster than they could make them because high gas prices are here to stay.

All of the engineering departments for all the car divisions were moved to GM headquarters in Detroit. Now all the cars have the same seats, the same hardware, the same everything. They all look alike except for nameplate and price.

Another brilliant decision, GM is adding 280,000 square feet of gas hog truck production capacity at the Fort Wayne Truck Plant at a cost of $35 million.

The big boys at GM are now even taking a 50 percent cut in salary and, get this, no bonus. Bonus for what? GM management has sold off every asset the company has, and is even trying to sell off GMAC, the only profit-making division.

GM has agreed to some stupid things in the UAW contract, such as the Jobs Bank.

On the other hand, the hourly work force has built what the big shots gave them to build. Now the hourly workers are going to suffer for management's stupid decisions.

GM is the poorest managed company in the United States, and even though management has reduced their wages, if GM doesn't go out of business, the dividend will be restored. The benefits they have taken away from the workers and retirees will never be restored.

Theodore E. Edick

[balthazar]

IMO- that letter's author has grossly distorted the 'facts' in an attempt to support his emotions. I could take them point by point but they should be obvious to all.

[The O.C.]

GM management to blame

FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

by Theodore Edick

GM advertises cars that will go zero to 60 mph in seconds when what we really need is a full-size car that will go from New York to Denver on a tank of gas. Those cars would sell faster than they could make them because high gas prices are here to stay.

All of the engineering departments for all the car divisions were moved to GM headquarters in Detroit. Now all the cars have the same seats, the same hardware, the same everything. They all look alike except for nameplate and price.

What a ridiculous article. Guess I have to look at the source? The Flint Journal? Give me a break......

Hate to tell him, but on his first point highlighted above, some people DO still want a car that has performance aspirations. I'd argue that most people don't want a car based purely on MPG.....or we wouldn't still be selling so many trucks, SUVs, V8 passenger cars, and sporty vehicles.

Secondly, GM has never done a better job differentiating it's platform mates (with a couple of exceptions.....ahem.....Equinox/Torrent.) Look at the LaCrosse, Impala, and Grand Prix. Those cars don't share any exterior panels or any interior treatments. Also, Lucerne and DTS exteriors are entirely different.

Remember the days of the '86 Rivera/Toronado/Eldorado? How 'bout that generation's Electra/98/Deville? Remember the Lincoln commercials making fun of GM's trio of FWD "look-alike" luxury sedans?

At least those days are (mostly) gone.