China Tops US as World's Top Manufacturer
- Thread starter PitRacer
- Start date
Working as a peeon in a medium sized factory I see the greedy executives, who dont care about the people who work for them, sending work to china because its cheaper. We have mold builders in our country who are more then capable of building these molds get put out of business because its cheaper for our executive ###holes to send the work to china. All the executives care about is the bottom line and its sad. They lay people off who new the jobs only to replace them with temps, that cause more issues then they are worth. Its sad.
hershey
PR Elite
And many times if those things werent done the entire plant would shut down and EVERYONE would be out of a job. Just saying from an owners point of view.
However it was inevitable, look at the size of that place. What is the population compared to the us ?
NQ1965
PR Elite
There's other hidden positives in this as well.
As Chinas' working population grows and developes, so will the needs and wants of that population. They are working people just like we are. And although there is a trade deficit there are American products that they will want and can only get from us, as well as other nations products. My 401K (as well as many other folks here) have international emerging market mutual funds that I have money in, so seeing them grow is not all a bad thing.
As Chinas' working population grows and developes, so will the needs and wants of that population. They are working people just like we are. And although there is a trade deficit there are American products that they will want and can only get from us, as well as other nations products. My 401K (as well as many other folks here) have international emerging market mutual funds that I have money in, so seeing them grow is not all a bad thing.
hershey
PR Elite
That same growth will cause the cost of living to rise there and help close the gap in the cost of manufacturing between our two countries as well. In turn that will help lower the trade deficit !!!
Same thing I was saying about hiring temp employees and paying them 8 dollars an hour for a job we used to pay 12 with medical insurance. I realize companies have to make some cuts, but making cuts like this and sending work to china just so you can make your bottom line look more profitable is the problem.
hershey
PR Elite
What you and most americans dont get is what you say is .05 an hour is like making 10 and hour here because the cost of living is so low !!!!!! I have family from vietnam. My dads wife just moved here 4 years ago. Trust me you have no idea how far 1 us dollar goes there. You could as a vietnamese citizen live comfortably making less than $10 a week. And I mean living very well.
Hershey, I'm not trying to start issues or problems but all the things I see you say about unions and about sending work to China because of the reasons you list it makes me sick. I am a union carpenter.... I bust my ass every single day to provide for myself, my family and my riding addiction. The problem isn't the unions and believe me I see it first hand in the oil refineries I work in. The problem is the people like you who don't give a flying **** about the working public. All you care about is how much money you make, not the quality of your product or craftsmanship of the product being made.
I'm sorry if you feel its an attack at you but it is not. It's the ideas people have now that they didn't used to have back in the day. People then used to be proud of the term made in America..... I know I Damn sure am. Seems a lot of people don't give a **** anymore.
I'm sorry if you feel its an attack at you but it is not. It's the ideas people have now that they didn't used to have back in the day. People then used to be proud of the term made in America..... I know I Damn sure am. Seems a lot of people don't give a **** anymore.
ddmx488
PR Addict
Ya I do realize that. I was just poking fun at the fact that one of the main reasons I feel China has a booming economy is because American companies can outsource all their work for extremely cheap labor costs in foreign nations, China being one. It's a sad world, this corporate America, that we live in.
Scotty810
PR Addict
If you are hard working, great! I won't ever say every union worker is lazy or uverpaid or something like that. BUT, you have to look at the big picture, and overall, unions have let things go too far. Thats the problem people have with unions. Are you honestly going to tell me that its fair for a teacher to remain employed regardless of his or her performance, simply because they have a union contract? Are you saying that the auto problems in Detroit aren't atleast partly due to the UAW? I have worked with unions in manufacturing and I have seen some stuff that is unbelieveably hurtful to business profitability. I think a lot of people have, hence the views you are sick of hearing.
same here
You're right there are some unions that have taken it to far. In our union and in the construction field accessually the oil refinery area I work in to be specific, if you don't perform our get laid off. Then the voice is yours, you an be a turd and collect unemployment or oh can man up and bust your ass and stay working. The yawn and teachers unions are not like this, there's no individual accountability.
On the auto unions being a contributor in the downfall. I don't believe they were the problem it was the big two, because if you remember Ford didn't take the bailout, they weren't paying attention to what people wanted to buy, also they were building 3 to 4 cars in the same market with each other. The jap companies kept it as simple as they could, one model per class. Look at Ford now.... they are starting to boom again because they are listening to what people want and are willing to buy.
On the auto unions being a contributor in the downfall. I don't believe they were the problem it was the big two, because if you remember Ford didn't take the bailout, they weren't paying attention to what people wanted to buy, also they were building 3 to 4 cars in the same market with each other. The jap companies kept it as simple as they could, one model per class. Look at Ford now.... they are starting to boom again because they are listening to what people want and are willing to buy.
hershey
PR Elite
So how am I supposed to not take this as an attack at me ?
"The problem is the people like you who don't give a flying **** about the working public. All you care about is how much money you make, not the quality of your product or craftsmanship of the product being made."
Explain to me how I shouldnt take that as an attack ?
And excuse me if you ever get the idea I am not proud to be an American or use American products above foreign when I can. As an electrical contractor I am extremely concerned with the quality of our craftsmanship and service, that is how I ensure we stay in business.
Sir, you know absolutely nothing about me or my business, how we strive for perfection. You do not have the first clue about my patriotism or if I give a flying **** about you or my neighbor.
My bike. Yes it is advertising but I love the USA
Correct me if I am wrong but have I ever stated that the union worker is the problem ? The worst I have said is they don't work as hard as non union. The reason being in MY EXPERIENCES on the jobs I have been on the union workers will not work one minute before the starting time, during any breaks or lunch and not one minute past quiting time. They wont even answer questions about the job during those times. They will talk and joke with you but NOTHING related to the job.
I have two employees that used to be union. My production manager was told on numerous jobs to slow down. One time in particular he was told to do nothing for days at a time. He was told to look busy and be sure not to be caught doing nothing. He was scolded numerous times for working too hard. He quit. Another employee of mine got so sick of paying dues and being laid off seasonally that he quit. He worked at two other open shops before coming here. He has now worked for me 4 years. He is one of my best employees when it comes to dedication.
Two of my best friends work in the union. They introduced what is called a C.E. worker. Basically it is a new employee who gets paid less than a commercial journeyman and does not have to go to apprenticeship school. The throw them in the field and let them work. This goes against everything the union promotes themselves as. The union is in trouble because they have out priced themselves because of collective bargaining. The non union shops are easily under bidding them and doing just as good a job as the union contractor.
It is not the union worker that is the problem. Like you said they also want to make money and support their families and lifestyle. The problem is with the unions and the traditions they teach. You are taught that employers like me " dont give a flying ****". The norm is to say 'Stick it to the man'. He owns a business so he is rich. The traditions teach quality work and craftsmanship but they also breed complacency. Dont work any harder than you have to. You always deserve more than you are receiving. These traditions are what has driven our cost of living through the roof. This is why you have bills like SB5 passing in other states and most likely here in Ohio.
Another one of my best friends works as a union employee in a processing plant of sorts. He regularly complains about the fact he makes the same amount an hour as john doe but he doesnt do half the work I do in a day. And the same about many other employees in the plant. The point I am making here is the union protects the poor worker and pays him the same wage as workers such as yourself who " bust their ass " every day. How does it make you feel when you work twice hard as your fellow worker and he takes the same wage home you do ?
I am sorry the reasons China can make products cheaper than us make you sick. I am sorry that my pointing out the truth makes you sick. Prove me wrong about the cost of living in China or Vietnam or Thailand. In no way have I ever said your patriotism, your desire to support your family and way of life was in question. And quite frankly the fact that you said
"The problem is the people like you who don't give a flying **** about the working public. All you care about is how much money you make, not the quality of your product or craftsmanship of the product being made."
shows that you jump to conclusions about people in ignorance. If you knew anything about me you would realize that, sir, is not who I am or how I run my company.
Rant over
MarctheSharc
PR Founding Father
Dave, Way to keep composure, make your point and rebut ……nice job.
hershey
PR Elite
I am sorry I should have clarified more than I did
"The reason being in MY EXPERIENCES on the jobs I have been on the union workers will not work one minute before the starting time, during any breaks or lunch and not one minute past quiting time. They wont even answer questions about the job during those times. They will talk and joke with you but NOTHING related to the job."
By this I mean the construction unions I have had experience with. My friend has relayed his feelings about the plant he works in to me also. I have no direct knowledge of any other unions. My knowledge of the any other union workings is from studying in school and reading other articles and resources.
Again my views on the unions arent directed at the workers themselves but the complacency taught through traditions. Not in craftsmanship or pride of their personal work. Instead of being taught that the company they work for is part of the team it is taught they are on separate teams.
As with any group there are those who stand out above the rest and those who pull the group down but that is how an average is found. As has been shown time and again there are also numerous non union shops and workers who give the non union way of business a bad name as well.
At least we can all agree that riding off road motorcycles brings a smile to our face !
