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Reuters reports that gunmen shot and killed a union leader at Toyota Motor Corp.’s Venezuelan unit on Tuesday, a few weeks after the Japanese automaker said it might leave the country because of chronic labor problems. “Labor disputes and strikes have become frequent in Venezuela. In January, two workers were shot to death as police broke up a protest at a vehicle assembly plant for Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co.”
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So even in Chavez’ “worker’s paradise,” they’re taking down union leaders. Of course, both Venezuela AND Toyota have to gain from this incident. Toyota needs to strongly condemn the killing or risk being considered implicit in it and should leave.
I imagine that the announcement to leave was already set in stone from the jump. This simply validates Toyota’s decision to bail.
It wasn’t shot at Toyota factory… it was in one of the cities neighborhoods.
Yesterday some “people” went and made some “mess” in Toyota’s factory administrative building and some employee and factory cars that were parked in the lot.
I don’t know why he was shot, but I think I read somewhere locally that he was one of the supporters for starting the factory again…
@akitadog
This is very far from being a “workers paradise”, and will get worse with some laws the government is cooking.
By the way, the new FJ70 front end is FUGLY.
I want one of those jungle equipped Landcrusiers! That snorkel is great. The fat cats who drive them must be living good down there with their 58 cent a liter diesel!
So how DARE those workers want to make their standards of living higher!?! Bow down to the corporation peasant worker, they own you!
Actually they’re gasoline powered, 4.5lts DOHC 24V blah blah blah… and gasoline here is like 5 cents a liter for 95 octane.
They’re also pricey…
Stingray “This is very far from being a “workers paradise”, and will get worse with some laws the government is cooking.”
It was an attempt at irony. Ironically, it didn’t work.
It’s just that for as much of a socialist Chavez claims to be, his actions show that he’s just a typical Latin strongman. His methods of power-consolidation and “influence” are very Putinesque.
That’s a snorkel, interesting. Do they often have to traverse 3 foot high water?
They are almost as screwed up as the US. Their fisherman make more money selling their boat fuel to their neighbors than trying to fish. They can buy diesel for 5 cents a gallon, motor over the Windward Islands and sell it for $3 a gallon. Nice profit and sure is easier than fishing.
Not to ignore the murder here, because obviously that’s tragic…
But I want me one of those trucks.
Deja vu… I think I’ve seen this movie before. It starred a guy named Allende and another named Pinochet. When does the Venezuelan 9/11 come?
–chuck
You see that pickup bed? Do you see it?
Learn.
I’m surprised any companies are left in Hugoland. Since he helped himself to so many foreign operations you would think it was time to get out while you can.
How do I get me one of dem Toyotas?
according to Wiki they were never sold in North America
just so you know, the base cab chassis model where I am is about the same price as a base Mercedes C200 sedan
they are priced for mining, forrestry and agriculture use which means no tax
if you as a private person wants one they are massively expensive
strangely there’s an Indian Mahindra that is similar in concept that is about the same price as a basic Nissan Versa… same safety standards I expect
soon there will be a few Chinese light trucks in the same vein
same safety standards I guess (2-3 ncap stars)
“psarhjinian : May 7th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
You see that pickup bed? Do you see it? Learn.”
Is this a request?
or
Should I think T6?
5 cents a liter…
Hugo’s a dick but he stood up to Bush and at 5 cents a liter, I might even be able to afford to drive my Stingray.
Do the cops in Caracas still ride GoPeds?
Don’t know what a GoPed is…
They usually have Yamaha all terrain motorcycles. And some police departments here use LUV Dmax or Optras for patrols. Also Corollas. And the national guard uses mostly FJ70s… but the one that is for passengers. Those wheels in the picture are for tube type tyres, and I’ve heard locally that the ring that locks the tyre goes off easily, so users change the assembly for tubeless wheels and tires.
@chuckgoolsbe: it nearly arrived in 04/11/02, but the people that did it was brutishly stupid. I don’t see such action coming anywhere soon.
By the way, socialism SUCKS. I’ve read in many sites the gringos whinning about that, but you really, really don’t have an idea.
To the FJ70 lovers: you can get one in Aussiesland, Japan and some other countries.
GS650G :
I’m surprised any companies are left in Hugoland. Since he helped himself to so many foreign operations you would think it was time to get out while you can.
There are still a lot… but if you are in the food, energy, minerals or other “strategic” industry (for the government)… pon tus barbas en remojo.
I think any company still making money is ripe for being taken over down there. Who is going to tell Uncle Hugo no?
GS650G :
I think any company still making money is ripe for being taken over down there. Who is going to tell Uncle Hugo no?
You can tell him no… but… you will have the military at your door in no time.
Any company… as yet, I don’t think so. Before “nationalizing” a company, he appeals to the usual populist “reasons”: sovereignty, strategic, mother f@#$%& capitalist exploiting poor workers and so on.
Prime candidates, as I said before are: food related (factory or land), oil related, metals, energy, communications, TV (in which case it gets closed), Radio (same as TV), banks… Auto industry is not “attractive” right now.
A factory that produces pens for example, is not a strong candidate, unless it goes bankrupt or becomes for some obscure reason strategic.