Before you bag on Toyota (and maybe other manufacturers), you should read this:
http://edgehopper.com/what-toyota-knows-that-gm-doesnt/
Executive summary: Toyota hasn't laid any full-timers off in the US since 2006. They have their workers take classes, do drills, etc. in hopes that they'll be productive and happy when the production lines start rolling again. Estimated cost? $50mil, or one CEO golden parachute.