I would like to take the time to clear up a few things. First, the union does not own a share of the new company. Their retirement trust does, but only because of the pension obligations and they have no voting rights. That share is 55 percent. Fiat will own 20 percent with options to go to 35 percent if certain benchmarks are met, mainly repaying the Canadian and US Treasury. US 8 percent Canada 2 percent. Fiat is not simply "hired" to run it, they control it. They have the most board members and will decide the future direction of the new company. Sergio Marchionne will run the company as CEO. Please visit allpar.com to view the complete rundown of how the new company is set up.

 

Do they still have plants in Mexico.

 

done, "some unions" I should have said. I've personally seen how union bosses live, they live high on the hog, but then again the companies could stop paying the high wages that have helped cause these situations. What's the difference between a mailroom clerk making 15 per hour and a chrysler parts picker making 70k a year ? the money , thats about it.

 

Joe for the most part I agree. The thing is who decided 70k is an insane amount of money? Granted it has alot to do with ones chosen profession. 2 years ago we built a steel mill here in mississippi. I am a journeyman electrician. I made 67,000 that year. I was only making right around 23 dollars an hr. But I worked 7days a week, 10 hrs a day to get it. My point is....these autoworkers arent making 70k by working 40 hrs a wk...they are working overtime. It bothers me that people blame the workers....not the car companies. The laborers dont run the business....thats managements job. The unions can demand 100 dollars an hour, but they can only get it if the company agrees. So how can unions be blamed for a companies mismanagement? They dont have the company over a barrel. Matter of fact they dont have to deal with unions at all, not all car manufacturers do. Again its the companies choice. Union bosses make to much? I absolutely agree! Then again so do company ceos, which is another form of mismanagement. Not trying to push my beliefs on anybody, just another way of looking at the big picture. Union or non-union...neither is perfect. I dont look down on any man for the way he chosens to support his family. I wish everybody, regardless if union or non-union, could make alot of money and good benefits/pension. My heart is with any blue collar working man, for we together are the backbone of America. As you can see...I've got too much time on my hands....laid off due to economy. I wish everybody good luck in these hard times. Jason

 

Yes they still have the plants in Mexico.

 

ALL 4500/5500 and Megacabs are made in Mexico .

 

Check your vins, any vin starting with 3 is mexico. I know in 2003 ALL one tones were made there.

 

Welcome to America where it's always the other guys fault. I owned my own business for 40 yrs and my wife has been a union member for 39 yrs. The deal was , if you did the work Chrysler asked and you worked until retirement then Chrysler and the union and the worker would contribute to a fund for that retirement. Now some people say that's not fair or it's to much but that was the agreement 40yrs ago and is covered by many laws.
My guess is that most of you do not remember pre union. When Henry Ford would hire black goons to beat up white workers and white goons to beat up blacks all so Henry could make more money. When workers could not take a break to pee or eat as the company was paying for WORK. That 10 yr old Guatemalan girls worked for combines that paid them $.15 cents a day for 8 hrs. but made them sleep at the factory and gave them birth control medicine in their food because a pregnant 10 yr old would be sick and their fingers could not hold a needle. Of course Guatemala became to expensive and now all those families that worked at the combines are in the streets as they have no other industry. However the fat cat owners moved to Vietnam where their are pilliging that countries young. With out unions the people of Kentucky and Tennessee would still be living in company owned houses that rented for 10x what they was worth. If you think your employer has your best interest at heart compare his salary to yours. Is he worth 1000x more than you? Does he care about your families well being? There are SOME exceptions but the larger the company the less upper management cares. Wake up people some one said "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". Together we stand divided we are just a bunch of pigeons for the politicians.
Fred

 

Fred,
I agree wholehearted that unions where a necessity. However in many cases that pendulum has swung too far the other way. I have no problem paying a painter good wages. But when he paints over a light switch, "because only an electrician is supposed to remove the cover", that is a load of crap.
Yellow Freight had a large terminal near us at one time. Lots of union guys making top wages. They had just as many "Casuals" hired to do the actual work. The union mechanic would only pull the drain plug, that was in his job description. The casual did all the greasing and everything up to re-installing the drain plug. This isn't an urban legend, this was fact. They finally priced themselves out of a job.

 

If our tax money is going to save a U.S. company why should this company have a plant in another country. Why not close that one and move it back home.

 

I agree completely. If they are struggling then close the foreign plants first. Billions of dollars from the first "Spendulous Package" went to foreign enities.

 

Where are the two tones made?
Come to think of it, I haven't seen a two tone vehicle in years. Or one with a factory vinyl roof or that wonderful fake wood decal (last one was the mid 80's Caravan?) running down the sides!

Maybe if they do restart making the two-tones, the base color will be applied in Mexico, and the highlight color in St. Louis?

 

ya see, if all the one tones are made in mexico, and there are no two tones....What does that tell ya ? No wonder USA is going bankrupt.
ha ha ha

 

Companies with unions deserve them. 'Nuf said.

 

Thats absolutley right......thats one of the things that makes them a good company......shows they care about their employees!