Short Work Week at Volkswagen
Late last fall Business Week reported that workers in the Volkswagen factories in Germany will now be working a 33 hour work week.
Volkswagen is like a state unto itself, where the laws of economics don’t apply. In Volkswagen land, otherwise known as Wolfsburg, Germany, a new labor agreement signed Oct. 6 by management and unions calls for a flexible workweek ranging from 25 to 33 hours, instead of the current 28.8 — a four-day regime VW inaugurated in 1994.Gail Edmondson
Business Week
Most of us would give our eye teeth to work a 33 hour work week. Can you believe that this action by Volkswagen is actually increasing the work week, up from the 28.8 hours that most factory workers have been working since a 1994 policy that adopted that even shorter work week?
Wow.
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It’s hard to believe that VW can be successful with such a short work week. With a standard work week the American auto manufacturers are still in trouble. I guess the business model in Germany is different.
The reason American car companies are in trouble is because they have long ago entered into UAW agreements that have essentially turned them into health car providers for retired and/or otherwise elderly workers with car companies attached. Interestingly, Toyota and Honda American operations don’t have this problem. VW Germany workers have their health car paid by the State via taxes, yet they get a minimum six weeks vacation and a shorter work week while the higher ups enjoy plenty of luxury fringes. This is why even the cheapest VW’s cost $20,000 and most of the cheaper models offered in the USA are made in Mexico… Americans would buy even fewer VW’s if they were all made in Germany because even the cheapest Rabbit would cost $30,000! The once mighty VW is a car company of the past when it comes to value. Now, why on earth would anyone buy a VW on value when they can buy a Toyota? All the German car companies are in trouble because labor costs are high and productivety is low. To compensate, the cars are slapped together and it shows up in poor reliability and low resale values. Replacement part prices for poor quality items are obscence and the dealers gouge the hell out of you once the car goes off warranty. Value is what you get for your money; I love German cars, but I don’t think I’ll ever buy another because the value just isn’t there!
I have a vw bug made in mexico and need to replace the dash and a few other parts and can’t find a reliable source for parts. Any help would be appreciated.
robert
Desperately searching for a reliable source for vw bug parts for a car made in mexico. Original sale date was 1983. Any assistance will be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Robert
where can i find/buy an old style mexican made bug 2000 - 2003 in u.s. thanks for your help