UAW shoots self in foot and skewers "Detroit Three" bailout package!

From what I read the wages earned by Toyota employees are similar to the UAW workers but the benefits and pension expenses create a noticable difference in the per employee costs between the two. While it's true that Toyota has a smaller pension program to fund, I do believe that the UAW should have been willing to make whatever concessions were necessary if they truly wanted to keep their members working. I also read that it'll be a matter of weeks before the automakers run out of money.

I'm going to take what may be a rather unpopular view here and actually defend the union workers, especially when compared to the Wall Street bankers. The Senate Republicans who led the charge against the deal, including Senator Corker from Tennessee, happen to all live in southern states where there are several foreign car manufacturing plants such as Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. These states all fought hards to get these plants to locate in their states, understandably so, and it would certainly be an advantage to these states if their competitors, mostly made up north in union shops, were to go under. Also, since the south is known for being anti-union it would certainly work to their advantage if there were no danger of the UAW trying to organize in their plants. The truth is the wages paid at these foreign auto plants are right in line with those paid by the Big 3. It could be argued that these workers are actually better paid if you compare the cost of living in Kentucky, Tennessee or South Carolina with that in Detroit Michigan. The biggest difference is in benefits, especially pensions and health care for retirees. The UAW has already made concessions in these areas for newer workers and were willing to compromise further from what I understand. I can't disagree with the UAW official who said today that there was no request for details of how the money would be used when it applied to the banking industry but in this deal the GOP offered the auto companies they wanted to micromanage the blue collar workers while not putting any pressure on management or comparing other aspects of the foreign and domestic/non-union and union plants' finances. I'm sorry, while I've always said there are some unions, including the UAW, who demand too much and should be more willing to make concessions and to compromise, in this particular case I see a real attempt at union busting with no real concern for the economy of the country in general. Annie

Awesome! So let the Big 3 go to Chapter 11 where all contracts are subject to review... including labor contracts. Finally, we have a reason to thank the thugs who run the UAW!