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Free PCs Not AfFordable

Posted by michael on from the factory-recall dept.

rakerman writes: "Ford Cancels Computer Giveaway Program. I guess their 'Model E' program turned out to be an Edsel." We did at least one story about this at the time (and a Katz essay). A lot of people pointed out that the United Auto Workers union was the driving force (ha-ha) behind this program initially.

3 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. Re:no subject by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Right, just like how they cleaned up their emissions, and built new factories when Reagan gave them the tax incentives to do is in the 80's.

    Oh wait... they didn't.

    They squandered the corporate welfare on bonuses and lobbying, and now we still have a bunch of rusty favtories.

  2. Re:Reading more into this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "First, giving your staff free PC's isn't enough of a benefit to impress most of your staff. Let's face it, if you're working for a union-driven company like"

    I'm not sure what your point is, but I can assure you that the rank-and-file of the union are going to be more than happy to get something like this. I'm just not sure as to how it helps Ford.

    You could throw them a donut and there would be a committee call over who should get it ;>

    "Ford started this when employees were hard to find."

    You're kidding, right? We typically have hundreds of *extremely* hopeful canidates lining up the day before one of our cattle calls (it's not uncommon for them to sleep over in line).

    And this is for 5 to 10 jobs.

    "Third, the shareholders just got informed that they're getting decreased dividends for the first time that I can remember"

    Now this I would agree with.

    BTW, we got a sweetheart deal with AOL ($3 a month for the basic service, $5 for cable. Essentually we just pay the tax on the service). Not that I could/would use it since this be a Linux box.

    But I think that GM's plan for this is to provide (force?) business services at home to its employees. We will be able to access most if not all of the in plant services from home.

    No thanks...

  3. support by jonbrewer · · Score: 5, Interesting


    "Unionized GM assemblers make $21.02 per hour, Ford assemblers $21.03 and DaimlerChrysler assemblers $21.01."

    This from: http://www.auto.com/industry/qgm17.htm

    I don't see the point in giving away PCs to people with these salaries. Especially considering the percentage of these people in two income households. (Check the census)

    Now if Ford really wanted to do some good for the world, they'd give computers to their foreign workers and leave the Americans to buy their own.