Abridged letter from Troy Clarke, President of General Motors - followed by a response from Gregory Knox, President of Knox Machinery, a manufacturer of precision machine tools
which supplies the auto industry.
Dear Employee,
Next week, Congress and the current Administration will determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us
now on why this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior to the global financial crisis......................As an employee, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your
voice heard. Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support. Troy Clarke, President General Motors North America
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RESPONSE:
From Gregory Knox.
In response to your request to call legislators and ask for a bailout for the United States automakers please consider the following, and please also pass this onto Troy Clark, the president of General Motors North America for me.
You are both infected with the same entitlement mentality that has bred like cancerous germs in UAW halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping the nation,
awaiting our new "messiah" to wave his magical wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing our once great nation to keep "living the dream...."
The dream is over! The dream that we can ignore the consumer for years while management myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid, arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded "laborers" without paying the price for these atrocities...and that still the masses will line up to buy our products.
Don't tell me I'm wrong. Don't accuse me of not knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW, Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM's and Tier ones for 3 decades now throughout the Midwest and what I've seen over the years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting.
Mr. Clark, the president of General Motors, states: "There is widespread sentiment in this country, our government and especially in the media that the current crisis is completely the result of bad management. It is not..."
You're right -- it's not JUST management...how about the electricians who walk around
the plants like lords in feudal times, making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass...so they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time...for a job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour week. How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare tactics...for putting out too many parts on a shift...and for being too productive (mustn't expose the lazy bums who have been getting overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?). Do you really not know about this stuff?!?
How about this great sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke's sad plea: over the last few years ...we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors. What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!? Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto vs. the Civic?!? Do I need to go on? We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the United States auto industry for decades. Time to pay for your sins, Detroit . I attended an economic summit last week where a brilliant economist, Alan Beaulieu, surprised the crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of "bailout money". Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems, but despite what people like George Bush and Troy Clark would
have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next day... and something else would happen...where there had been greedy and sloppy banks new efficient ones would pop up...that is how a free market system works...it does work...if we would let it work...
But for some reason we are now deciding that the rest of the world is right and that capitalism doesn't work - that we need the government to step in and "save us"...save us, hell - we're nationalizing...and unfortunately too many of this once fine nation's citizens don't even have a clue that this is what's really happening...but they sure can tell you the stats on their
favorite sports teams...yeah - THAT'S important... Does it occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades now in this country?... How can that be??? Let's see... Fuel efficient... Listening to customers... Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul... Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards Deming 4 decades ago. Ever increased productivity through quality, lean and six sigma plans... Treating vendors like strategic partners, rather than like "the enemy"... Efficient front and back offices... Non union environment...
Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone anything they really don't already know in their hearts. I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into - my children
do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did at their age. I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way) - I make them stand on their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and work them through. Radical concept, huh... Am I there for them in the wings? Of course - but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as adults. I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly are
unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting and government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins.
Bad news people - it's coming whether we like it or not. The newly elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to "make it all go away." I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back in" almost immediately after the vote count was tallied... "we might not do it in a year...or in four..."
Where was that kind of talk when he was RUNNING for the office? Stop trying to put off the inevitable ... That house in Florida really isn't worth $750,000... People who jump across a border really don't deserve free health care benefits... That job driving that forklift for the big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year... We really shouldn't allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the most atrocious human rights infractions on the face of the globe... That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn't be living in that $485,000 home...
Let the market correct itself people -- it will. Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna be painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it is a nation that appreciates what is has...and doesn't live beyond its means...and gets back to basics...and redevelops the work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world...and probably turns back to God.
Sorry - don't cut my head off, I'm just the messenger sharing with you the "bad news."
Gregory J Knox, President Knox Machinery, Inc. Franklin , Ohio 45005
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"Dream Catcher"
'09 R/L LE
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Blk. Top
Kappashield w/Artwork by Danne De Backer
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Tons of Kappasphere stuff!
I looked up Greg Knox and his company. Seems like this is for real. Good for him! It takes integrity and courage to say something like that to your main customers.
I've been saying it all a long. Don't feed these trolls (Big Three) Baill outs are a waste of time and money. The will fail regardless and there goes billions. I could use just a 1/10,000th of the interest earned in a year on that money to pay off all my dept, buy a house and live comfortably for the rest of my life with the just interest on that 4 billion.
__________________ 07 SKY Redline Silver
Red/Black Leather
JPM Custom: Dash, Side panels, Shift boot, Center console Red leather
OK I am sure I will get my head bit off for this but....
I mean, come on!!! 85,000 for running FORK LIFT! Hell back in 1987 I was running one for minimum wage!
I believe that everyone should be able to make as much money as they can but lets get real about the responsibilities and skill that warrants a persons salary.
We cant just blame the UAW workers for being over paid. The companies as well are the ones that approved the union contracts that gave them big money!
My brother purchased a new Ford F350 with the big diesel engine in it along with every bell and whistle you could get but is it really worth $48000 dollars??
It is not the economy that drove the prices of cars and trucks up over the years. Most of it was all the big money contracts and executive bonuses that did that.
How many of you that work in car dealerships, Walmart, Pep Boys, or any other car repair shop make 85,000 a year??
They wouldn't need the bail out if everyones pay was cut even a little.
There are thousands of people out of work that would love a job building cars for $10.00 a hour.
I have been a member of three different unions and all I did was pay dues that I didn't want to. Yes there were someplace's that needed unions once a long time ago but with all the government and state laws now in regards to sexual,race and every other kind of discrimination. If a person does there job and just stops sluffing off they don't need a union and that is something the people need to realize!!
I think Iam paid very well for what I do but also am on call 24/7 and work a minimum of 11 hours a day and NO I am not in any union.
I make my money the old fashion way... I earn it!!
I say if the unions don't like it let them walk!!!
It is time for the big three to say enough is enough and you people are over paid!!
If it was me I would cut the pay by 40% and if you don't like it leave and I will hire the guy living under the bridge or in the cardboard box down the road!!!
I am curious, Just what does a top level exec do to earn 1 or 2 Million dollars a year? Anybody?
In the company I retired from the top exec created an environment that was directly responsible for keeping 35,000 folks employed. His knowledge and expertise was the major reason we were successful. Now I am retired and only a stockholder with a pension.The current top level execs are now responsible for keeping my pension and thousands of others pensioners as well as the stock above water. With that much responsibility they earn every penny they get. By the way my x industry is not asking for bailouts.
I am not against big salaries or big bonus's as long as it's based on merit and objective criteria.
When golfing, massages and goofing off is most what you do all day then...
There are real world top level execs out there, probably more then 90%, that do not fall into this stereotypical definition of what they do. The majority work their a$$ off.
I am curious, Just what does a top level exec do to earn 1 or 2 Million dollars a year? Anybody?
How much? If Waggoner and the rest of the execs only made 1 or 2 mil then GM would be in fine shape; this is from a web site for 2007: General Motors Corp - Executive Compensation, 2008, CEO Salaries, Bonuses, Stock Options
2007 Total compensation
R.Wagoner CEO = $14,415,914.00
F. A. Henderson CFO = $7,608,011
R. A. Lutz Vice Chairman, Global Product Development = $6,894,024.00
G. L. Cowger Group Vice President, Manufacturing and Labor Relations=$5,092,856.00
T. G. Stephens Group Vice President, Global Powertrain and Global Quality = $4,944,167.00
for a total of $38,954,972.00 for 5 guys-way over paid!!
You Think
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamie Hyneman
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There are real world top level execs out there, probably more then 90%, that do not fall into this stereotypical definition of what they do. The majority work their a$$ off.
Nah, even in the business my Dad has been CEO, and CFO of they are all the same. Upper management taking advantage of the system using golfing trips, spas, and other stuff as meetings or "business" related then trying to get it all off on Taxes.
Some guys steal from the Goverment the company and us tax payers. I can't how many times my Father has been in court testifying against these glutanous idiots. It is funny! The FBI would come to the house and weeks later it would be in the news. This was in the 80's and 90's when I was a kid.
Yet, he is a guy that does work hard, but hits the links in moderation and not on company time or dime. Not like his co-workers and business partners.
Heck, a friend of mine who had a guy help him update his house with 40K in modifications and who said he would buy the house at a give away price of 98K to boot. Well turns out the guy wants to rent the house until he can purchase it. You would think you know a guy that moves in and rents your old house. Turns out this guy escaped from Federal prision 10 years ago. The feds came to his door and arrested the guy. I don't think he is coming back! So now he is stuck without payment for the house and 40K in the hole for upgrades and has a house that needs to be rented or sold again but the guys family is squating in the house. Fun stuff huh!
You never know who you can trust.
__________________ 07 SKY Redline Silver
Red/Black Leather
JPM Custom: Dash, Side panels, Shift boot, Center console Red leather
Nah, even in the business my Dad has been CEO, and CFO of they are all the same. Upper management taking advantage of the system using golfing trips, spas, and other stuff as meetings or "business" related then trying to get it all off on Taxes.
Some guys steal from the Goverment the company and us tax payers. I can't how many times my Father has been in court testifying against these glutanous idiots. It is funny! The FBI would come to the house and weeks later it would be in the news. This was in the 80's and 90's when I was a kid.
Yet, he is a guy that does work hard, but hits the links in moderation and not on company time or dime. Not like his co-workers and business partners.
Heck, a friend of mine who had a guy help him update his house with 40K in modifications and who said he would buy the house at a give away price of 98K to boot. Well turns out the guy wants to rent the house until he can purchase it. You would think you know a guy that moves in and rents your old house. Turns out this guy escaped from Federal prision 10 years ago. The feds came to his door and arrested the guy. I don't think he is coming back! So now he is stuck without payment for the house and 40K in the hole for upgrades and has a house that needs to be rented or sold again but the guys family is squating in the house. Fun stuff huh!
Nah, even in the business my Dad has been CEO, and CFO of they are all the same. Upper management taking advantage of the system using golfing trips, spas, and other stuff as meetings or "business" related then trying to get it all off on Taxes.
Some guys steal from the Goverment the company and us tax payers. I can't how many times my Father has been in court testifying against these glutanous idiots. It is funny! The FBI would come to the house and weeks later it would be in the news. This was in the 80's and 90's when I was a kid.
You never know who you can trust.
Actually I saw this in the military all the time, working at a Corps level. High ranking officers would often take business trips to talk over exercises, but more often then none it would be in Hawaii, Japan, etc. I would often hear stories about how they went scuba diving, golfing, etc. Granted that the unit above 1st Corps where I worked was in Hawaii, it didn't make sense. Now having a Naval Command in Hawaii does make sense but an Army Command that is above several duty stations?
I was even tasked once to support a "Public Relations" event, turned out to be going to the Golf Course, Military Officers, Major and up, playing golf with CEO's of local companies during business hours.
I personally would sweep floors for 55k a year.. I slightly get less then that being a Systems Administrator.
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2004 Sportback "Pack Mule"
2007 VFR800
National Guard
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimberlySky
Sticks and stones may break my bones.. but whips and chains... PUT IT BACK!
I am just saying there are a bunch of unethical people in business today! White collar crime. It pays!
We need sweeping changes to the laws that affect these criminals. Why worry about the street banger who steals a couple hundred when you have fat cats stealing billions and making YOU pay for it. While we stand opressed.
Enron, WorldCom, AIG, B&S, BANKS, automakers. Where does it stop?
Certainly smaller companies see these huge companies doing it and then those execs say hey lets follow. (My best redneck) Worst we can get is a slap on the wrist and couple billion in bailout...hell what they gonna do? I am not saying all are bad, but for this much crap to be taking place then you know it is most and those that have a eithical bone are either too afraid and spinless to blow the whistle. They think they will loose there jobs or won't be able to put little Johnny in the the fancy school so they do nothing.
I am saying that my father who is in a command position is not one of the spineless, gutless people who cower under these business practices or upper management and even though it may cost him a position and million in greed money at least he has his business ethics and will stand up and put these glutanous toads in prision or out of business. He will be the first to blow the whistle and testify against these people.
Tell you what though there is only so much more the decendents of the people who founded this country had direct family members who fought in all her wars including the battle for independece are going to take before we start taking back what is ours! If that means another civil war then sign me up. Because I'll be the first to start Kickin Azz and taking names and I am sure there are a millions of people here in America who saying the same thing right now.
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JPM Custom: Dash, Side panels, Shift boot, Center console Red leather
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