A tale of two systems: many readers don't believe it

Dec. 22, 2011 — I’m startled that you’ve failed to address the crux of the issue in this article: Why can German auto companies still turn a profit while paying more for labor? Are the German workers more productive? Are there less of them for a given job/role than in American factories? My guess is “yes” to all of the above, because there is no other logical answer. Having toured several German automotive factories and then seen the contrast in the typical UAW worker, I’d take the German (actually, most of them are Turks and Hungarians) workers any day, and pay them accordingly. The answer for American auto makers is likely that they need to increase pay, but also have stricter requirements for workers — then and only then could they follow the German model.

 — Shane Kleinpeter, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Dec. 22, 2011 — This article did indeed present an interesting juxtaposition of two very different approaches to labor relations. What was missing, however, was a connection to the very distinction that the authors sought to explain: why are German car-makers, with twice the wages of their North American counterparts, more profitable? Nowhere in the article was the context of profitably explored: what’s the labor cost per vehicle in each country? Are there other costs borne by U.S. automakers (like pensions and health care) that their European rivals don’t face? And, let’s face it: we’re comparing premium-priced, high-margin luxury vehicles (BMW, Mercedes-Benz) to family sedans and mini-vans.

 — Ian Gillespie, London, Canada