Novel Thought: GOP Senator Proposes Saving The Detroit 3 By Breaking The Back Of The UAW

You know what sucks about this idea is that when the union contract ends, the union leaders are going to go right back to the automaker and say, " we want a $2/year raise for the next 3 years"; they're going to do everything in their power to get right back to where they are now....or else they'll go on strike, and the companies can't afford that.

— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 5:18:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12   

I like the stock idea, but think 1/2 isnt enough. I think that all of their benefits should be tied to stock. This directly addresses what most of us think..ie, they should only get paid well if their product is doing well.

— 4x4rules (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 6:04:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

the UAW just has too much power

— Mate (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 6:10:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Agent 009, what is this overly blatant obsession with the downfall of the big three? At first, a few mentioned it, but now I do see it. If one was to check out your post, it would probably log 75% negative content about GM, Ford and Chrysler. Why even bother?

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 6:10:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Here's a thought, why not just get rid of the UAW and put an end to the story? I don't have any union and I work happy, what is it for seriously.

— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 6:14:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Its not UAWs fault. This country needs a new healthcare system. Japan and Germany have nationalised health care, if USA wants to compete they need it too. Makin USA into China were the hard working people get paid like 50 cents an hour is not the answer.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 7:42:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

DinamoR,
Canada has universal healthcare and a starting position at Honda pays $25/hr (intern student). This is less than what the UAW pays.

Pay is high but not disgustingly so, its the benefits and "work when you feel like it" mentality that the UAW/CAW are so hated imo.

I doubt the Big 3 would have any problems replacing all the union workers.

I work in an industry w/o a union and no union competition, they pay us fairly but our benefits are pretty darn good (more so if you have a family).

Unions are outdated and have driven themselves to the verge of obsolesence.

I remember when Boeing finally starting beating Airbus a few years back, one of their factories (wing plant I think) decides to go on strike.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 7:53:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The second condition should have been - UAW should be disbanded one way or another, or over a period of say six months, and the workers from the disbanded union workers be given priority to apply for a job if they still want a job at the big three, but the pay rates will be similar as the import-brand auto manufacturers.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 9:33:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

All of this from states that have transplants, it fell apart tonight, lets hope this isn't going to be as bad as I think.

— globaltrader (View Profile)

Posted on 12/11/2008 11:21:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

sorry...bailing out the UAW will not solve the economic problem...the fact that they don't want to vote for this waste of money is patriotic. The government needs to get out of the way and let things hit bottom, then we will start rebuilding. Will times get tough, sure, but at least our national debt will not be trillions of dollars...


They blame the unions of for telling their workers that they will fight for them, meanwhile taking advantage of those workers. Reading some of the crap that the UAW sent out pre election, full of lies. Sadly if those represented by the UAW can't find the truth themselves, i don't really want them buidling my car. I'll stick with my Toyota that was built in Kentucky, it's treated me quite well.

— GodfatherSHM (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 11:23:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

First, no one is bailing out the UAW. Stop this nonsense.

Also, its stupid to "start from the bottom". Why would you start from the bottom when you're already massively well built.

It's just about financials and the markets.

— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2008 3:30:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'd like to know how the govt. expects Detroit to pay them/us back when detroits about to die. And if they were to file for bankruptcy protection as suggested by this senator, don't bankruptcy get rid of any debt owed to the govt. and tax payers?

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 1:34:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Interestingly if you look at the "older" foreign car factories in the US (like Toyota) the workers there make comparable or higher average wages than the average US companies workers. But when you add in the benefits (which has a large built in retirement population... remember we had big auto manufacturing here since the 50s.. so lots of retirees) then it gets skewed. I find it interesting that there has not been similar calls for similar measures regarding the bank and insurance bailout. They got 20X what the auto companies are asking for yet they are still paying bonuses etc... couple news reports here --> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKIvmgvNl6zA&refer=home
and here ---> http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/17/executivesalaries-banking

Where are the calls in Congress to cut salaries for these bank execs etc..? It seems bizarre to me that we would let our last major manufacturing base go down the tubes. And really the execs in charge at the US auto companies have not been there that long... and things are turning around.. ie Cadillac is besting BMW in a number of prominent tests. Pontiac is offering a great 360hp sedan for low $s. The volt will be out soon... Yet we blame them for making SUVs etc.. in the 80s/90s/00s when we Americans were buying them buy the bucket full. I agree that the big three built some crap for many years esp late 70s through the 90s... but they are doing way better and now competing pretty well with Japan and Germany on desirable products and quality. It is unfortunate that the banks played funny money on so many loans and gas went to $4/gal all at once. Oh and one more thing... if you take out just labor costs (not the retirement/health care benies) it would lower the cost of US big three cars by about 1k. Don't get me wrong... UAW aint the greatest either... paying people to sit around playing checkers all day is just dumb, however they are not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is the one the banks created... and now nobody is buying cars... from US... or Japan or Germany... they are all down by huge numbers.

— valhallakey (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 2:21:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

In the end they will all go broke though... with the economy retracting so quickly.. the huge layoffs everywhere you look ---> http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/17/layoff-tracker-unemployement-lead-cx_kk_1118tracker.html
or here ---> http://layofftracker.blogspot.com/
Not many people are going to be buying cars... or anything else for that matter.

— valhallakey (View Profile)

Posted on 12/12/2008 2:29:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The reason repubs are going after uaw is not because this is uaw fault. its because they hate organized labor and now see a golden opportunity to go after it. never mind that 3,000,000 jobs are on the line, and the fact that they gave 350 billion to financial institutions in a blind of an eye. 14 billion for detroit is too much because they hate organized labor.

it is not surprising because repubs are the party that represents the big business interests, not the interests of the hard working people. if it was up to them the average american would work 3 jobs just to put food on the table. disgusting.

btw, workers in Toyota factories down in those southern states and indiana get paid a few cents more per hour than the GM workers. they just don't get the health benefits b/c Toyota is from Japan, and Japan like all developed countries in the world except USA does not put the burden of health care on business.

— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 12/13/2008 5:43:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You all need to stop with the polarization of republicans vs democrats. The fact of the matter is, we are all in a tough situation when three of the largest companies in the world are facing ruin at the same time. The fact of the matter is that no matter what you think of the bailout, it will not be a permanent fix. In less than a decade the big three will be right back asking Congress for another handout. The government should never get involved in business, it has been shown to cause more problems than good time and time again. When will we learn that we have to let the market take its course. Interfering now will only cot us more money over time without changing the final outcome. Let the big three find a solution that does not involve the government, whether that be bankruptcy, restructuring, liquidation, etc.

— LJ745 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2008 2:33:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1