When I was trying to decide which car to buy last year, I had a tough choice, because despite a family history with union labor, the hybrid offerings from the American car companies just aren't where they ought to be. I bought an HCH- I decided that fuel economy and low emissions were more important than who made the car and where.

Now it looks like my parents are doing some car shopping, and I would REALLY love to be able to steer them into the hybrid market. Basically, my father told me yesterday that he does not want to buy any car that isn't made by an American union. His father was a union official, AFL-CIO, and the unions are really important to him. It's not just about 'buying American' to him; it's about supporting the companies and workers who take seriously the health and safety standards that the unions and my grandfather fought for for so long. So far, our conversation has gone like this: 'Toyota is going to be building hybrids in a factory in the US by October' and he replies, 'Yes, but is it a UAW factory?' I honestly don't know; he thinks not.

Our station wagon is on its last legs, and it may die at any time and force the issue. Without a Girl Scout troop to drive around anymore, they are probably downgrading to a smaller car (FEH out of the question). I would like to be ready when the time comes with some information/arguments to offer about SOME kind of hybrid that involves this issue, and I've poked around the discussion threads without finding what I need.

So does anyone out there know of union connections, plans, future expansion, past involvement, which would help me have this conversation? Lots of foreign car companies have factories, manufacturing, assembly, whatever, in the US to some degree, and so I'm hopeful that there's something out there I'm missing, some hybrid/union connection that I couldn't find last year when I was doing my own shopping, but which could tip the scale in favor of hybrids with my parents.

Thanks!

I'm a Teamster who recently bought a Toyota Prius. I suppose I could have purchased a FEH instead but I would not be getting 55 MPG. Fuel efficiency and puting less carbon dioxide into the atmoshpere is more important to me than whether or not the car was union made. GM could have been ahead of Toyota in the hybrid market but they made a decision to build gas guzzlers.

If Toyota builds a hybrid plant in the US it will be non-union. If you care about saving union jobs then try voting for labor-friendly politicians. You can still be pro-union and drive a foreign-built hybrid but it would be wise if you don't park in any UAW union hall parking lots.

You can find a list of UAW-made cars here: http://www.uaw.org/uawmade/cartruck2006.cfm

There are a few Toyotas on there, but no hybrids.

Actually, the Toyota workers in Japan who make the Prius do have a union, but I think its seen largely as a "company union."

I've had the same concern, btw. I buy union-made jeans, shoes, jackets, food, etc. I stay in union hotels when I travel. My wife is a member of TWU Local 555, and we're pretty serious about buying union whenever we can. But when I bought my used accord I just couldn't justify buying a crappy GM or Ford vehicle I didn't want when some guy was selling a quality smaller car.

I think there is a big difference between buying nonunion just because its a few cents cheaper (which often, it isn't. My union-made jeans aren't any more expensive than a pair of Levis, and my union-made shoes aren't much more than a pair of Nikes) and buying nonunion because all the union-made products are crap due to management decisions.

But I'm not sure how well that argument will play with your dad.

I have never been in a union shop, with the execption of a summer job during college.

Sadly, there are no North American-made cars that come close to what I'd be interested in. Maybe the Ohio-build Civic, or the Geo Metro, but that is built in South Korea.

Showing my age again - remember in the early 90s when WalMart touted the "Made in the USA" products? I saw a documentary on PBS of American suppliers dependant on WalMart, who cut them out because foreign competition low bid them. If WalMart tried harder to keep domestic choices, I'd feel a lot better about them.

60.3mpg lifetime - 71mpg in winter months

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"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

I followed Dave's link and found a list which included the Toyota Corolla, which was marked with an asterisk, and there was the following note:

"However, those vehicles marked with an asterisk (*) are sourced from the United States and/or Canada and a third country. When purchasing one of these models, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN.) A VIN beginning with “1,” “4” or “5” identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; “2” identifies a Canadian-made vehicle. Not all vehicles made in the United States or Canada are made by union-represented workers. The Toyota Corolla, for example, is made in the United States by UAW members, but the Canadian model is made in a nonunion plant and other models are imported from a third country. To be sure you have a union-made vehicle, buy one of the vehicles on this list."

So Dave says that if Toyota builds a hybrid plant in the US it will be non-union, but is that necessarily right? If they've built a UAW plant in the past, then could they be planning something similar this time? It's my understanding that the Camry hybrid is going to be built in Kentucky, although it was all speculative in the story I read. I didn't see the Camry on the UAW list now, but since the rumored hybrid Camrys wouldn't be built here until October, it is hard to say. Still, I don't know of any reason why there wouldn't be unions in Kentucky.

There are some appealing-good vehicles on that list.
Maxx
Vibe
Chevy truck
Dodge ram
Escape Hybrid
Corolla(some)
Tacoma( some)
This is a decent showing.I would have to look long and hard to find a European made vehicle that I would pay my money for.
There are lots of Japanese, or Japanese USA made vehicles,or Japanese Canadian vehicles that could get my money.
One of my three is UAW vehicle-a Prizm- it was made with the "old Corolla" at that joint GM Toyota plant that now produces some Corollas,Vibes etc.All the vehicles from that plant have been winners.
The overwhelming advantage that the Japanese USA manufacturers have isn't their "get production methods-Japanese know how" or that they instill some sort of "Japanese work ethic" in lazy USA workers-that is all BS.Our workers are usually slightly more productive than Japanese workers.
THE HUGE ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE JAPANESE BUILT THEIR PLANTS IN LOW WAGE NON UNION STATES. They can produce vehicles for $1000 lower labor cost than GM-Ford etc.The greatest managers and workers in the world couldn't overcome that advantage. It is impossible for GM to catch up, and it really isn't anyones fault. No one would ever agree to a 50% cut in wages benefits to save future jobs-it just won't happen.If you have been living on the equivalent of $65000 wages benefits, would you accept $32000 to save a job 10 years down the road?NO!
It isn't the UAW fault, they are just doint their job-same for the workers.It is probably why the management stuck with hig profit SUVs for so long.It was the only class of vehicle they could sell at a good profit to offset their labor-benefits- costs.
The result is GM shutting down plants and going "offshore"while slowly whittling down wages-benefits. While this is going on the Japanese USA manu will slowly have to increase their labor costs.By the time the two meet, there will be very few traditional USA company auto plants in the USA.
It is mean bit of economic reality.This Global economy stuff is lower USA wages, while making goods cheaper. Unfortunately it is turning us into a two tiered country without a big middle class. A manufacturing job used to mean you were at the upper end of middle class-no longer.
Oh well,Charlie
PS I'm pretty sure GM has contract limitations that prevent it from a wholesale move to Mississippi,Al,Ky,La ,ARK.etc.

Hmmm...I'm just the opposite, I would rather buy a "free market" vehicle before a union one. Not saying I wouldn't buy an American vehicle, but just one made in the south (where there are not many (if any) unions).

I don't think a business should be bullied by its workers and their union. At the same time, I don't think a business should bully it's employees. If you don't like your job, company, boss, quit. That is what I live by. I have actually done it twice in my life. (I've only had 4 jobs total)

19,900 miles and (slowly) counting

I'm with you on this. Won't go out of my way to buy union, and would NEVER join a union. There's a reason union membership is continuing to drop, they are bad for business. Now Credit Unions, that a different story, I'm all for them.

[quote=phoebeisis] THE HUGE ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE JAPANESE BUILT THEIR PLANTS IN LOW WAGE NON UNION STATES. They can produce vehicles for $1000 lower labor cost than GM-Ford etc.The greatest managers and workers in the world couldn't overcome that advantage.


I didn't know Ohio was a LOW WAGE NON UNION STATE!! kevin "IBEW local 66"

2004 silverblue 5 sp.

Bad for business? Like Enron or Worldcom? opps no union there, my bad.kevin "IBEW local 66"

2004 silverblue 5 sp.