It seems to me that the mid 1950's was when American industry started down the long slope to oblivion. The unions were living high off the hog, management was reaping incredible salaries and bonuses, and those perks had a cost which would prove to be the downfall of American heavy industry. With each increase in manufacturing costs, the price of the product went up, up, up, and up. Bottom line: Overseas manufacturer were salivating at the thought of bringing in their foreign made products at prices that were too good to resist. "BUY AMERICAN!" became the battle cry. American unions along with American industry tried to tell us that the imported products were inferior to American quality. U.S. Steel Corporation's Fairless Works urged their employees to buy American made automobiles. It was too late. At one point in the glory years of U.S. Steel Corporation, my neighbor took advantage of a 13 week paid vacation, a union perk that was apparently negotiated during "the good times." In this year of 2009, and as this is being posted, the huge expanse of property which once housed this beautiful automobile parts manufacturing plant, and turned out Grumman Avengers during WWII, is growing over with weeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment