It's kinda' "balls-zee" for Toyota to make such a claim IMHO, regarding it's plant workers, when THEY'RE the ones who
"CHOSE" the areas to erect the 2 plants, which were mentioned in the editorial. Not to mention... that it's an outright insult!!
Had they made this claim, while
searching for potential sites here in the states, then their statements "might" have lent themselves, to a little more credibility.
As it stands though... I see these comments as nothing more, than a
COP-OUT on Toyota's part!
IMHO, what Toyota was actually "looking" for, when they chose the deep south, for the 2 plants mentioned, was
LABOR COST... PERIOD! As most of us already know, especially those of us here "in" the south (self included), is that... better than 50% of the blue-collar workforce, is now comprised of an immigrant sect. Most companies as well as state municipalities, will hire an immigrant worker, in a New York minute, because they'll work for "HALF" what most Americans would. Why can they do that? Well, most immigrant workers don't have to "pay" the kind of taxes "we" have to pay! Some "do", but a WHOLE LOT... "don't"! IMHO, I kinda' think that's "why" the unemployment rate is in the shape it's in at present. I won't take those comments ANY further.
Anyway, in these large corporations' minds, their saving themselves a $hit-pot full of money, by hiring workers who'll do the same job for less. It's that almighty BOTTOM LINE thing!
These corporations (including Toyota) soon begin to realize, that a language barrier (in some cases, not all) is present and it beings to impair the company’s ability to be productive, thus these companies have to implement
"pictorials" to teach some illiterate workers and that
probably is just the beginning! There are probably bi-lingual employees that have to hired at some point, or worse, a postion
created for an "interpreter", just to help with the communications gap! And so, the list of "growing" expendatures... goes on and on. It's a vicious cycle, which large corporations (like Toyota) have helped create here in America and the fact is...
THEY HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME, BUT THEIR-DAMN-SELVES. As I said in the beginning, I have to think, that the comments made by Toyota, are nothing more than a simple "COP-OUT"!!
Since there's ALWAYS been a
"stigma" (if you will) attached to those of us here in the south as being poor, dumb, and illiterate, as well as barefoot; Toyota chose to use that, as an "excuse" to complain about their
OWN shortcomings...
.
I think Toyota better accept their responsibilities... QUICKLY... before they end up in the same shape, which GM is in right now!
Just my 2 cents worth...
.