Buffalo News – Auto plant thrives in Buffalo (Buffalo, West Virginia, that is)
It amazes me that people are still “discovering” Toyota. Good article, I won't comment much other than to point out this interesting quote:
“Analysts said Toyota is afraid of only one thing.
“They're frightened to death that America will turn against them for overtaking the U.S. market and putting American auto workers out of work and some companies out of business,” said Meyers, who now teaches at the University of Michigan.
To counter that, you'll find Toyota ads on television and in Newsweek and the New Yorker, touting the wonders of its plant in Buffalo, W.Va.
“What makes the story so exciting is that quite a few of Toyota's plants are growing,” the print ad says. “Just like the one in Buffalo. Just like the company called Toyota. It's a true story, a happy story, and best of all, a story with no end in sight.””
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I HAVE LIVED IN WV ALL OF MY 49YRS AND AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE THE TOYOTA PLANT IN NEARBY BUFFALO WV. MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPANY IS THEY HIRE PEOPLE FROM MANPOWER AND THESE MEN AND WOMEN WORK FOR HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES OF TOYOTA GETS PAID. WHEN TOYOTA OPEND UP THERE HIRING THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AS CONTRATORS COULD NOT PUT IN FOR ONE OF THESE JOBS. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN THERE OVER A YEAR! THIS IS NOT THE AMEREICAN WAY, THE TOYOTA COMPANY OF COURSE DOES THIS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PAY THESE PEOPLE $10 AN HOUR AND THEY CAN ONLY WORK THERE FOR 2 YRS AND THEN THEY HIRE NEW PEOPLE FROM MANPOWER. MY SON LOVES WORKING THERE AND HE DRIVES ALMOST 2HRS. TO WORK BUT IS NOT SURE IF HE WILL HAVE A JOBE COME 0CTOBER.
HOPE MANAGEMENT LOOKS IN TO THOSE THAT REALLY WANTS TO STAY THERE. THANK YOU
I understand what you’re saying. As much as many of us study Toyota and attempt to emulate them, they aren’t perfect.
The idea of just rotating through temps/contract workers every two years seems to conflict with the concept of investing in people and treating them like an “asset.” I can understand using temps, but it seems like there should be a path to being a permanent employees available.
It is now 2011. Toyota still only hires through Manpower and still works those employees for two years and then lets them go. It is much, much cheaper for Toyota to do this. They can pay Manpower $25.00 an hour for these employees and still save about 100%, while the Manpower temps receive only a quarter of what full time employees receive, which is about 12 to 14 an hour. Manpower employees do not have benefits. Full time Toyota employees receive around $25.00 an hour, plus benefits. This comes out to close to $50.00 an hour. Don’t get fooled by a corporation that claims to “care” about their workers. The bottom line for any corporation is always the bottom line.
It is now 2013 and Toyota in Buffalo,WV pays 16.00 a hour. They only hire through manpower. While Toyota in Georgetown, KY pays 17.10 and Hires Through Kelly Services.