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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. Reading more into this by Brento · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You can read even more into this than Ford is saying. Not only is Ford making a statement that they can't afford to give PC's to their employees, they're also implying a couple of other things.

    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 Ford, you're not living on Ramen Noodles, and you can probably afford any one of the dozens of el cheapo PC's being served up for the masses. Most of us would rather be given a credit at Best Buy to purchase the PC we really want, or maybe even peripherals if we already own a PC.

    Second, in this economy, employee perks are the last thing from anybody's mind. Ford started this when employees were hard to find. Fast forward to today: due to massive layoffs everywhere, people are much easier to come by, and you don't have to go flashing perks in order to get people on board. Giving stuff away to your staff is an increasingly hard sell to the shareholders.

    Third, the shareholders just got informed that they're getting decreased dividends for the first time that I can remember. Ford's always been a dividend-heavy company, and I'm sure it's hard for them to rationalize giving away PCs to their staff when their investors are getting less returns. Giveaways are associated with a dotcom, and typically the giveaways are cut just before the jobs are cut. Look out...

    --
    What's your damage, Heather?
  2. Re:Rolling Over by Brento · · Score: 5, Funny

    Henry Ford is rolling over in his grave...

    Evidently he was buried in an Explorer.

    --
    What's your damage, Heather?
  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.