Toyota Workers look out – you’re being scammed

In the business section of today’s Toronto Star, I read very disappointing news. After years of screwing the auto industry with overzealous labour demands and eventually costing the Canadian taxpayer millions and in a world of reducing labour force, the CAW is trying to get Toyota workers to come over to the dark side.

Lets face it – the CAW paying membership is being reduced on a steady basis as plants close, shifts are reduced and production moved out of Canada and, in order to support the lifestyle they have gotten used to, they are trying to get Toyota workers to get on board a union.  Hey, if it wasn’t for the taxpayer bailout, the union auto industry would be sucking lemons right now.  Your non-union plant has been doing great.

They say it is because Toyota has scheduled extra production, reduced some paid holidays and increased daily production. Wake up Toyota worker – this is what the UAW has agreed to in the US to get production rolling and the CAWhas also make concessions.

In order to protect your company, these things had to be done but it seems that the CAW wants to bring you guys down to the lowest common dominator.  I’d tell you stories but I think it is common knowledge – union = protection of worst worker. 

It was a union plant that built my F150 with the leaky window and this so-called voice of the people, the CAW didn’t help me, even though it was one of their guys who made the mistake.  So much for responsibility and accountability.  Their guy made the mistake but they tell me it’s Ford’s problem.  Each pass the buck and nothing gets done.

So, Toyota it is up to you.  You’ve got good workers and maybe they need something to help out.  But, you Toyota worker have a responsibility as well to put out a quality product and work towards making sure you are competitive. 

Unless of course, you want to join the CAW/UAW union method of sucking on the taxpayer’s tit for help.  Nothing like union welfare.

You need to burn your Ford for action

Ford has announced another recall on their infamous speed control switches.  Reported at MSN Autos, the following was stated:

“All new recalls are from model years 1992 to 2003, and, it should be noted, no fires have been reported. The measure is a preventive one to stem “possible ongoing customer lack of confidence in vehicles with the switch,” a Ford representative said.) The Texas Instrument-made switches may leak, overheat, smoke and burn. ”

You’ll note that no fires have been reported and a “possible ongoing customer lack of confidence” has led to this latest recall.  So much for those of us who suffered thousands of dollars of repairs to our vehicles due to a leaky front window and the fact that the failing electronics could cause an accident.  Guess if a few Fords burn up you get action. 

All I know is that I’m telling everyone I know about my problems and I intend to buy Toyota for my next truck.  At least they are honest and do the recalls on all their problems and don’t pick and choose like Ford.  After learning about Ford’s work during WW II and how they supported the Nazis, why on earth would I support a company like that.  I kind of wonder why the CAW and UAW support a company with that history.  Lot of union boys got killed fighting against Ford vehicles.

Ford vs Toyota – who has the best ethics?

Recently, Lexus and Toyota ordered a recall on 55,000 floor mats.  Seems that if the owner of the vehicle does not properly hook up the supplied door mats or, adds another floor mat to the driver’s side, there is a possibility they will slide forward and lodge under the accelerator, thus causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

Now, two points here are important.  One is that Toyota is doing this recall at no cost to the public, and the problem was not caused by Toyota but by owners who either took the mats off the provided safety hooks or, added a second mat which was not properly hooked.

And we should note the following from Consumer’s Report:

“Although this recall affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles, improper mat usage can pose risks in any vehicle. When installing factory or aftermarket mats, follow the directions. If your vehicle has them, utilize the mat anchors; they provide a real safety benefit of keeping the mats secure and out of the way of the pedals. And do not stack a new mat on the old one. The combined height of the two mats or a loose upper mat may interfere with pedal operation.”

Yes folks, Toyota realises there is a POTENTIAL problem caused by the owners and is making alterations to minimize this owner initiated problem.  A problem that can occur in any vehicle.

Now Ford, on the other hand, builds F150 trucks with a leaky front window that can fry the electronics and potentially cause a vehicle to go out of control.  Do they say anything?  No, they keep repairing the electronics and don’t even notify the owners of this problem, let alone have a recall.

ETHICS!!!

Toyota takes the high road and minimizes the risk to the owner while Ford hides the problem and doesn’t even come clean with the owners and repair the damage – window, electronics, nada.

But then, what do you expect from a company that not only built machinery for the Allies but also helped out the Nazis in Germany with Ford plants and then sued the American government for bomb damage to their Nazi plants.

And we still support Ford by buying a product that could be built wrong but Ford won’t do anything about it.  Maybe if there was a death or two that results in law suits.  Seems their ethic level only responds to lawyers.  Both at the same low level.