Toyota may be forced to cut U.S. factory workers

Just because there's a plant in the US, doesn't mean the one you buy is necessarily assembled in the US. There's a chance that Camry you buy is built in Japan.

It's not a matter of chance if you pay attention to the window sticker that tells you where the final point of assembly is as well as the percentage of North American parts and county of origin for the engine and transmission.

As far as being UAW or not, the difference would be in how they would be treated once laid of. Typically unions ensure that there's some notice, that seniority counts, often severance pay if someone wants to leave for good, and recall rights once business picks up. Too bad the UAW's job bank program went way too far in requiring large percentages of current pay be provided too. Most Americans, even in other unions, don't get that; so while the UAW now could be smelling like a rose, that's not the odor most folks are associating with it right now.

It's not a matter of chance if you pay attention to the window sticker that tells you where the final point of assembly is as well as the percentage of North American parts and county of origin for the engine and transmission.

As far as being UAW or not, the difference would be in how they would be treated once laid of. Typically unions ensure that there's some notice, that seniority counts, often severance pay if someone wants to leave for good, and recall rights once business picks up. Too bad the UAW's job bank program went way too far in requiring large percentages of current pay be provided too. Most Americans, even in other unions, don't get that; so while the UAW now could be smelling like a rose, that's not the odor most folks are associating with it right now.

"Typically unions ensure that there's some notice, that seniority counts, often severance pay if someone wants to leave for good, and recall rights once business picks up. "

I don't agree that "seniority counts" is a good thing.

Who gets laid off should be based more on merit and skill then just on what date you started.

Years ago I was in the CAW (Canadian Auto workers) and when it got slow the company laid off 1/3 the staff. Thanks the the seniority rule a lot of good guys got let go while a lot of dead wood kept their jobs.

I was amazed when I worked there how many oldtimers coasted through the day, doing as little as possible knowing full well they couldn't be touched.

Seniority should only be a factor when you have to decide between two equal employees.

"It's not a matter of chance if you pay attention to the window sticker"

That's a big IF.

brn:

The chances of getting a Camry made outside of the US is VERY slim. When I was in the market for mine, I saw 1 out of about 80-100 that was from Japan. Some people believe that Japanese-built means better quality, and those people either complain that they cannot find one to buy or they brag about it if they do get one like it was the most rare car on earth.

Back to the topic, I'd bet Toyota will have to lay off for a while, just like ALL the automakers will.

brn:

The chances of getting a Camry made outside of the US are VERY slim. When I was in the market for mine, I saw 1 out of about 80-100 that was from Japan. Some people believe that Japanese-built means better quality, and those people either complain that they cannot find one to buy or they brag about it if they do get one like it was the most rare car on earth.

Back to the topic, I'd bet Toyota will have to lay off for a while, just like ALL the automakers will.

TOYOTA BEING FORCED!!! No not quite, toyota deosnt care about the united states the only reason they have the select few factories they do is because they can get patriot americans to buy there cars, since it is no longer profitable they will simply close the plants and move production back to the very cheap labor costs of japan.

Surprise! The econonomy is in the tank on a global scale, and automotive supply and capacity is greater than demand. If you love cars it's sad, and if you build cars it's time to consider "plan B".
And KTM? When you state that Toyota is eager to give up US production in order to "move production back to the very cheap labor costs of japan." Do you know something the rest of us do not? Japan's labor costs are "very cheap" in comparison to where? Are you confusing Japan with China? Maybe a time traveler? Maybe it's humor beyond my intellect. But the last time I heard of Japanese labor being "very cheap" was pre-disco.
Trippy!

"TOYOTA BEING FORCED!!! No not quite, Toyota doesn't care about the united states the only reason they have the select few factories they do is because they can get patriot Americans to buy there cars, since it is no longer profitable they will simply close the plants and move production back to the very cheap labor costs of Japan."

KTM, that has to be the one of the most ignorant and backwards statements Ive seen on Edmund's to date.I really hope you were being sarcastic here. Toyota's largest market is the U.S. so why or how could they not care? Do you have any idea how much Toyota has invested in its U.S.operations?

"KTM, that has to be the one of the most ignorant and backwards statements Ive seen on Edmund's to date"

You're not looking very hard.

"Toyota's largest market is the U.S. so why or how could they not care? Do you have any idea how much Toyota has invested in its U.S.operations?"

I think we've been down this road before. Toyota doesn't care much. They care about selling vehicles in the US and they care about how much they can make on them. They assemble in this country to avoid tariffs and because some states pay them (tax incentives, whatever) to build plants in their state. The end result is that they assemble in the US because it's more profitable than assembling in Japan. The "Built in the USA" marketing is just a bonus.

"Toyota doesn't care much"

Are you under the impression that any big company (automotive or otherwise) cares very much about anything other then cash position and market share?