Saturday, October 14, 2006

To Tow or Not to Tow?


The sign above is posted in the parking lot of the UAW Local #659 in Flint, Michigan, and I just took this picture today. I noticed a Honda in the parking lot while I was taking photos, so I am not sure how strictly this parking ban is enforced.

Just wondering..... how do you think the local union would classify these vehicles?

Buick Lacrosse, Chevy Equinox, Chevy Impala, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy Silverado, Chrysler 300, Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Freestar, GMC Sierra, Mercury Grand Marquis, Dodge Stratus, and Pontiac Torrent. Problem? All of these vehicles are made by the UAW, but in Canada. Isn't that a foreign country? Wouldn't those be "foreign made autos"?

Another problem is that the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are also produced in the U.S., directly across the street from UAW Local #659 in Flint at the Flint Truck Plant. Better check those VINs before towing - 1A is US and 2A is Canada. Same for the Chrysler Town and Country and the Dodge Caravan, they are produced both in the U.S. and Canada, so check those VINs before towing those models.

Now, what about these vehicles?

Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mitsubishi Galant, Mazda 6, Toyota Corolla, Mazda Tribute, Mitsubishi Endeavor, Mazda B Series Truck, Mitsubishi Raider, Toyota Tacoma, Isuzu I-Series Trucks?

The problem? All of these vehicles are produced in the U.S. BY THE UAW!? Hmmmmmmm. Guess they can't be towed. But don't they sound pretty "foreign"?

And what about the Cadillac Catera, now discontinued and replaced by the STS and CTS? The problem? It was built in Germany. Tow or no tow?

And to further complicate matters, what about Volvos, Jaguars and Saabs? Volvo and Jagaur are owned by Ford and Saab is owned by GM?

To tow or not to tow? It gets soooooo complicated in the Global Economy.

3 Comments:

At 10/14/2006 12:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have always felt this behavior by the UAW to be idiotic and rather juvenile. The UAW loves to place the blame for their troubles and loss of collective bargaining power on something tangible (like "foreign" automobiles) simply because it's easier to do so than to accept the clear fact that the rest of the world and its economy have evolved. Rather than find new ways to remain relevant, the UAW would rather strike out at foreign auto makers while it simultaneously seeks to suffocate the life from its relationships with domestic ones. To your point, the matter isn't that simple anymore.

 
At 10/15/2006 3:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tow the Catera. Not because it's foriegn but because it sucks.

TC

 
At 1/25/2007 11:51 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My dad is a member of UAW 659. I'll have to ask him what he thinks about this. We've never really discussed it before.

 

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