An independent Chrysler: |
What's Chrysler really like these days?
(by an anonymous employee - "romuluss99")
We hear so many different stories from so many different execs it's hard to know what's nonsense and what isn't. The management Hoi Polloi are [even] much more judicious these days in shredding documents than in the past.
I can tell you that our dyno wing does as much testing on Asian engines as our own. The Wall Street Journal prints more info on the "joint ventures" than our execs are willing to share. Maybe they don't know anything either.
The Germans plan for the Chrysler group, in my opinion, is to eventually spin it off along with as much debt, union jobs, and pension liability as possible. Why else is Jeep Truck still not a part of C.T.C.? The whole point of building this place was to have both headquarters under one roof. If Bob Eaton was able to hide the Mercedes takeover for 18 months, it's scary to think what could be going on behind the scenes right now. Kerkorian is going to get his $3 billion, maybe that will be the catalyst to shake things up.
Don't believe anything you read, and only half of what you see; morale here is at an all time low. I have had 4 different managers in 16 months. My [area] has lost [four people], none will be replaced. That seems to be the mantra-more with less.....
Did anybody mention to you the bonuses that the grades 94 and above got this year? It was actually deferred from last year, but so what- a whopping 175% of their salary. Meaning, an exec who makes $200k got a $350k bonus. In the same timespan that everybody else got a $350 profit sharing check. Let's see, we get one half of one percent and they get 175%. Sounds fair to me. All the stress of firing all those good people last year deserves some kind of reward....
The webmaster of chryslertakeover.com wrote:
Right now, those who would preserve the status quo at DCX (Schrempp, Zetsche, Bernhard and the dozens of former Chrysler management people busy sucking-up to save their jobs) are doing a great job in the PR dept. Unfortunately, we're not.
However, it certainly isn't for lack of trying. Many of you have gone the extra mile, doing things outside of this group to help. That fact is not going unnoticed by myself or those within DCX...Chryslertakeover.com can no longer be viewed through DCX computers. No big surprise here, but I suppose it does say something about their fear of the "unauthorized" side of this story.
On a more personal note, another person wrote to say...
"I believe you have someone somewhere thinking about the real repercussions and the reality of the impact the [Kerkorian] lawsuit might have....good work...I can only ask and hope that you never sell out...it would be very easy for the company to come along and buy your faith/leadership....and you do have the torch right now....please don't give in...I would imagine they would make it tempting but the amount of American families that we can help are more important in my opinion..."
Let me tell you all something about my motivation, and why I can't be bought off.
First of all, I was brought up in a manner that says "care about your neighbor". Right now, I feel that I am aware of information that spells doom for a number of my neighbors. In my capacity at DCX, I am keenly aware of what's in the pipeline and I also interact with others who have similar knowledge. To sit by silently would be WAY out of my character. Secondly, I'm not easily bought off because I live well within (maybe even below?) my means. If you handed me 10 million bucks tomorrow, my ZIP code wouldn't change (I might buy a bigger house in the same city...) and I'd still have the same cars in the driveway (albeit with nicer paint-jobs, etc.). I'd probably eat steak and lobster more often, but that's about it. In other words, I lead a pretty contented life. If DCX falls apart, I'll survive; but I don't want to just survive, I want things to be better at the "community" level.
Enough on my motivation, let's move on to "What I know".
I know that there will be less and less need for American Chrysler employees in the coming years at every level; management, engineering, white collar, blue collar, you name it.
The signs are all there right now... DCX is NOT! NOT! NOT! focused on increasing Chrysler's share of the US market (and obviously not overseas). In fact, the plans of previous Chrysler people (Stallkamp, Gale, etc.) to get us up to 20% of the N.A. market are held up for ridicule at corporate meetings. (Dreamers, bad managers, etc.) Divisional profit numbers for the Chrysler Group are totally meaningless! It all goes to Stuttgart, and what comes back is determined by whatever goals have been set for the Chrysler Group. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS BY PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMPANY, MANY WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY "FRIENDS" TO OUR CAUSE.
What's good for GLOBAL DAIMLERchrysler is what's good for you, forget your outdated notions of "American Chrysler". THAT IS THE NEW MOTTO FOLKS! And you can even make a case for that, leaving sentiment behind. However, it also means that many of you will be without jobs, which WILL negatively impact the US economy to the betterment of the European economy. I'm not trying to be xenophobic (anti-Europe), but you all at least deserve to know the truth here.
All of this hype about "Bernhard is a car-guy, Zetsche is a turnaround expert" is such meaningless drivel that I don't usually bother to address the issue. Its only importance is the way it distracts the general public, and keeps our eyes off the real issues.
What's more sickening than watching the masses cheer for the "SRT" versions of outdated products at the end of their product cycles, while the bean-counters are hard at work figuring out a way to close Chrysler plants and shift production/engineering to the lowest bidder?
I've seen the next-gen Mitsubishi Galant, which will replace much of the Chrysler line-up, and folks in Sterling Heights, MI (home of the Sebring/Stratus) listen up... IT MAKES THE PRODUCT YOU PRODUCE LOOK LIKE A STONE AXE!
But why shouldn't it? It has gotten all of the DCX development dollars and talent while our own products have been starved for cash. Ironically, Mitsu wouldn't be able to design the next generation go-cart without DCX (mostly former Chrysler) cash. We have all funded our own demise.
How much more clear can I make this?
"I've seen the next-gen Mitsubishi Galant, which will replace much of the Chrysler line-up, and folks in Sterling Heights, MI (home of the Sebring/Stratus) listen up... IT MAKES THE PRODUCT YOU PRODUCE LOOK LIKE A STONE AXE!"
I still stand by this statement... But notice that I say "looks"? That's because underneath the current Sebring/Stratus (JR) is a very strong product, blessed with a chassis designed before DCX came a long and started hacking our design budget.
In other words, with some skillfully done detail changes (like a new exterior skin and revised interior) this product could remain a strong competitor for enough years to get the next version into production
These changes, while not "cheap," are a virtual drop in the bucket compared to the expense and effort of an entirely new platform. And they can be done quickly.
This is one of the prime reasons that I see the value to an Iacocca comeback. He's a virtual master at giving new life (and sales) to old platforms. Better yet, this time they won't all have to be spun from the old F/M/J and K platforms.
Ditch this ugly styling and concentrate on improved materials that the customer interacts with, and you will change the sales numbers on most of the current Chrysler line-up. Better marketing would help too.
So where does the money come from to do this? From that which is allotted to programs like telematics and other gizmos that are not necessary to sell to either of two opposite ends of the market:
Value minded (typical Plymouth)
Driving Enthusiast (think bare-bones Viper and a potential "old BMW" style image for Chrysler).
You'll never win the hearts of the techno-snobs anyways, (nor will we be very good at it) so let's not waste another dime on nav-systems and other flotsam.
Concerning the integration of "Mercedes" parts in the higher line Chrysler vehicles (LX)... Not nearly the issue that Zetsche & Co. make it out to be. In fact, I'm pretty sure that this is both a way of calming investors AND DISCOURAGING THE IDEA OF A BREAK-UP BY THREATENING TO TAKE AWAY KEY PARTS, SUCH AS TRANSMISSIONS.
Well, this is where the lawyers come into play. Ever hear of a licensing agreement? Either as part of a court settlement, or as a condition of stock purchase, these so-called Mercedes designs will remain in production at Chrysler facilities for as long as is agreed upon. A good example is the purchase of Rolls Royce by Volkswagen, which outbid BMW. At the time BMW was building many of the engines for Rolls, and after losing the bid to VW, they tried to pull out of the agreement (which would have crippled Rolls). The courts said "no", and thus most new Rolls Royces (now owned by VW) have BMW engines under the hood.
The idea of Chrysler becoming dependent on Mercedes parts is a red herring (for now). Jeeps and trucks (still the bulk of revenue) have been largely untouched by Daimler, not because of any benevolent love, but because they really don't know how to start cramming their parts in (for now).
Some options ("puddentain")
We are discussing two different methods of employee involvement in influencing Daimler...whether that influence is merely a voice in the company or ultimately separation remains to be seen...separation obviously is the preferred and ultimate goal but it's unclear whether it's achieveable...I think we can all agree that we have to start somewhere...with this in mind there are two methods on the table....
1) CREATE SOME KIND OF PARTICIPANT DIRECTED FUND (for lack of a better term) - whether that fund is a "investment" or an "donation" is open for debate. "Participants" could include employees, enthusiasts, suppliers or whoever might be interested in seeing Daimler and Chrysler separate entities. The Fund might have two possible directions:
A) One "Participant Directed Fund" option is to have it set up as an "investment" with the goal of share accumulation. Under this plan it's safe to assume that to be a significant voice to the company we need at least 10% of the float or 80 Million shares at a cost of approximately 3.6 Billion Dollars. On a smaller scale maybe we only need 1% of the company at an expense of 360 Million. I believe that this plan would get some participation but to what extent is the question. There are roughly 40,000 people in the "Chrysler Group" and I would guess that we would be lucky to get 10% to invest or who even had the money to invest.
B) The other option for a "Participant Directed Fund" is "donation". I personally would not give any more than $10-$20 for a fund of this nature because of a personal decision relative to the future of my position with DCMC, the Kerkorian lawsuit, and the reality of an attempted coup. Yes, I believe the Kerkorian lawsuit offers the best hope but I don't see a monumental contribution on behalf of the employees because I don't believe the values and motivation exist. In fact, I would almost bet that Daimler could claim losses, request/mandate employee concessions and the only the only resistance they would encounter would some employees that would quit. I am of the opinion there are few people left willing to fight city hall. Maybe instead of advertising the money goes for recruiting efforts for the cause. I.E. pamphlets touting "chryslertakeover.com" and the reasoning and benefits behind the cause. I'm referring to a professionally done pamphlet and not just a paper flyer. The other option is...
2) NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF SHARE PRICE - If the share price were to plummet to $20 - $25/share, Daimler would feel the heat from their own people. Last I read, DCMC was about 75% German ownership and 25% American. Not only that, a significantly lower share price might allow Kerkorian or some American with sufficient resources to establish a significant position in the company. At say $22.50/share a 10% stake in the company would be about $1.8 billion which is within reason and probably even attractive to Kerkorian. The question is how does one cause "deflation" of share price?
Of these 3 options I don't think option 1.A will work because it's an unrealistic amount of money to accumulate and I don't think that starting a "small" fund would get the attention of the moguls. They don't buy into the "aren't they cute" routine.
Option 1.B might generate a small enough fund to create some media attention to proliferate our story but like a say, I personally would only contribute so much. However if we got 500 people at $20 a pop that's 10 grand. There are other people here that work at the factories that have a better feel for the kind of numbers that can be generated there. I have access to fellow co-workers buy not nearly the numbers the factories represent.
Option 2 proposes an interesting idea but it needs input. I have my own ideas on how that might happen but it would be a bumpy ride.
I definitely don't have all the answers but I'm trying to inject some dialogue so we're at least talking about it and constantly brainstorming. Being affiliated with Daimler really has been disappointing and I'm shocked that Mercedes is manufactured by people of this nature. I believe that something will happen. I don't know what but something will happen. We just need to help foster the cause. Ideas and comments are welcomed with open arms.
