General Discussion

hughee99

(16,113 posts)

84. When did assembly work become "unskilled"?

Tue Jan 24, 2012, 08:40 PM

Jan 2012

When non-union workers are hired at lower wages, the argument always seems to come around to "you get what you pay for" suggesting that union workers are better at their job compared to non-union workers. This particularly seems to be the case when discussing auto-assembly plants relocating. If the jobs don't require any "skill" why would this be the case?

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Why the United States Will Never, Ever Build the iPhone [View all] ashling Jan 2012 OP

What "skill" is there to assembly work? ingac70 Jan 2012 #1

You are correct! This is just like the B.S. about companies unable to find qualified Americans rfranklin Jan 2012 #2

I agree... Money making trumps all else... midnight Jan 2012 #33

Yup. We're out there. We don't want to work on their terms. Initech Jan 2012 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #3

Not skilled labor. Sorry. Might be difficlut, but still unskilled. Ikonoklast Jan 2012 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #8

I've done it. Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #13

Forbes: Cheap Labor, Taxes, Location: Why Apple Doesn't Build Products in the U.S. rfranklin Jan 2012 #36

What, Americans can't learn it? originalpckelly Jan 2012 #69

T1, and are you saying putting phones together is hard? snooper2 Jan 2012 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #14

I wouldn't agree with that..a machinst should be able to make cam or a gear for a Rolex snooper2 Jan 2012 #34

That's an operator, not a machinist. Mopar151 Jan 2012 #61

Tesha's right--those kids are good! nt Romulox Jan 2012 #17

It's their tiny hands that make all the difference. nt Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #44

No, I agree. Sometimes we need to use children or segregate workers based on race Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #50

+1 ingac70 Jan 2012 #83

Are you saying that American workers are somehow inferior to those in China? Hugabear Jan 2012 #31

wow we beg your forgivness you have a screwdriver. youre right no one in the us is qualified leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #39

"ultra-fine-pitch assembly work"? joshcryer Jan 2012 #71

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #72

I don't own an iPhone, but flex cables are very very easy. joshcryer Jan 2012 #78

10 years worth, Thanks for asking. ingac70 Jan 2012 #79

My girlfriends employer outsourced to a company in Texas Sen. Walter Sobchak Jan 2012 #92

I can say from personal experience: not that much. eShirl Jan 2012 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #9

and soon robots will be doing all the assembly work. (NT) eShirl Jan 2012 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #46

I don't see that as a problem, I see it as a solution. joshcryer Jan 2012 #75

Not as long as there is cheap human labor. progressoid Jan 2012 #76

I totally agree ThomThom Jan 2012 #47

I, sir, take that as a personal insult. Mopar151 Jan 2012 #60

I used to work in the automotive industry.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #81

Mike the journals, bore guage the saddles, pick the inserts to get the clearence right Mopar151 Jan 2012 #89

Tell that to the UAW. n/t hughee99 Jan 2012 #67

I used to be UAW.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #82

When did assembly work become "unskilled"? hughee99 Jan 2012 #84

Once you work there you become skilled? joshcryer Jan 2012 #87

So the quality of workers hughee99 Jan 2012 #88

That depends on the educational level of the area you are going to.... ingac70 Jan 2012 #98

What does it matter, if they train you on the job to do something that requires no skill hughee99 Jan 2012 #99

Not according to Toyota. ingac70 Jan 2012 #100

they... ingac70 Jan 2012 #91

"Industrial Policy Matters" baldguy Jan 2012 #4

As an aside, but about the iPad... MineralMan Jan 2012 #7

The article eats its own tail. Zalatix Jan 2012 #10

At first glance, one would think it's about skill . . . but further on . . . HughBeaumont Jan 2012 #18

Well said JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #48

Tell that to Verizon JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #57

Psst JustAnotherGen Jan 2012 #58

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #62

Another part of the problem. MattBaggins Jan 2012 #30

They don't need our money, they can print their own. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #85

Its not the money quakerboy Jan 2012 #93

if they were happy to work under those conditions, foxxconn wouldn't have to erect saftey nets frylock Jan 2012 #35

The main reason sharp_stick Jan 2012 #15

........ marmar Jan 2012 #16

Uh, that's cowshit. Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #20

an A for observation leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #40

I liked it, though! Tansy_Gold Jan 2012 #41

an A for wit leftyohiolib Jan 2012 #42

It's because Apple's fans have no problem defending child labor, neo-slavery. Romulox Jan 2012 #21

In about 5-10 years the assembly will all be done by robots anyway johnd83 Jan 2012 #22

Cheaper than $2 a day? quakerboy Jan 2012 #94

$2 a day is for subsistance peasants johnd83 Jan 2012 #96

"A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company�s dormitories, redqueen Jan 2012 #23

"China needs a labor movement" MattBaggins Jan 2012 #25

Exactly. Zalatix Jan 2012 #28

+1 redqueen Jan 2012 #29

Or both! Fearless Jan 2012 #68

Tail ... GeorgeGist Jan 2012 #24

Unfortunately, the trend is moving R&D overseas as well IDemo Jan 2012 #26

Insult to American workers. Hugabear Jan 2012 #32

You mean they have more UNSKILLED factory workers. Dreamer Tatum Jan 2012 #38

Shit, throw a 10,000 duty on the shit and you'll see a factory in Alabama ASAP TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #43

But a tariff would be 'racist' and 'xenophobic'. LOL! Zalatix Jan 2012 #45

Right on TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #52

What a load of fertilizer! Motorola used to have a ton of maunufacturing plants in the US. retread Jan 2012 #51

It is funny how these Reich Wing/corporate talking points are now Democratic cannon, TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #53

You need to understand the equation. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Jan 2012 #64

Yes, but Apple is supposed to be a "good" company. Snake Alchemist Jan 2012 #65

Often enough it is probably the same site TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #97

I'm disappointed to see that, too... Blue_Tires Jan 2012 #56

It's not even low cost. girl gone mad Jan 2012 #86

Indeed they did - I worked for Motorola in the 1980's Crabby Appleton Jan 2012 #59

That's apple's story and they are sticking to it Blue_Tires Jan 2012 #55

Greed Aerows Jan 2012 #63

"Cheap labor isn't the issue?" It is when the slave labor builds it cheaper than robots. high density Jan 2012 #66

we haven't even gotten to supply chains yet maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #70

I would buy that if we weren't making the glass or ICs. joshcryer Jan 2012 #73

not saying that labor isn't a factor maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #77

Well, one reason labor "costs so much here" is we have standards that defend labor. joshcryer Jan 2012 #80

another point, about Chinese companies being so flexible maggiesfarmer Jan 2012 #74

You expect me to believe that quakerboy Jan 2012 #90

They can build it. Who will be able to buy it? aquart Jan 2012 #95