Source: http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/02/incredible-letter-from-ceo-of-titan-to.htmlDear Mr. Montebourg:
Goodyear
tried for over four years to save part of the Amiens jobs that
are some of the highest paid, but the French unions and French
government did nothing but talk.
I have visited the factory a couple of times. The
French workforce gets
paid high wages but works only three hours. They
get one hour for breaks
and lunch,
talk for three, and
work for three. I told this to the
French union workers to their faces.
They told me that's the French way!
The Chinese are shipping tires into France - really all over Europe -
and yet you do nothing. In five years, Michelin won't be able to produce
tire in France. France will lose its industrial business because
government is more government.
Sir, your letter states you want Titan to start a discussion.
How stupid
do you think we are? Titan is the one with money and talent to produce
tires. What does the crazy union have? It has the French government. The
French farmer wants cheap tire. He does not care if the tires are from
China or India and governments are subsidizing them. Your government
doesn't care either. "We're French!"
The US government is not much better than the French. Titan had to pay
millions to Washington lawyers to sue the Chinese tire companies because
of their subsidizing. Titan won. The government collects the duties. We
don't get the duties, the government does.
Titan is going to buy a Chinese tire company or an Indian one, pay less
than one Euro per hour and ship all the tires France needs. You can keep
the so-called workers. Titan has no interest in the Amien North
factory.
Best regards,
Maurice M. Taylor, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
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