Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.A.W. Chief Faces Shrinking Auto Industry -Kill Wal-Mart
NY Times ^ | 6/23/05 | Danny Hakim

Posted on 06/22/2005 7:02:05 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

As a negotiator, Ron Gettelfinger, the United Automobile Workers president, is known more for the carrot than the stick. Just don't mistake him for easygoing.

This year, he briefly banned marines stationed near Solidarity House, the union's headquarters, from parking in the union lot if they drove foreign cars or had Bush bumper stickers. And in 2001, shortly after being nominated for the union presidency, he summed up his style in one word: "abrasive."

This summer, as he faces the fight of his union life in a showdown with General Motors, his penchant for compromising with the beleaguered domestic automakers is checked by a belief that his workers deserve their wages and health care benefits. Whether he chooses the carrot or stick will have broad implications for the future of the American auto worker and help determine whether the Big Three automakers can slash costs to compete against Toyota and other foreign rivals with lower labor costs.

Rick Wagoner, G.M.'s chief executive, is betting he can force Mr. Gettelfinger to blink. Fighting for his job after G.M.'s $1.1 billion first quarter loss, Mr. Wagoner is threatening to make steep cuts to the health benefits with or without the union's support, a hard line that has puzzled some analysts.

Mr. Gettelfinger, a 60-year-old former marine, says he is willing to offer some help to G.M., but will not be pushed into a corner and will not re-open the company's labor contract before it expires in 2007...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: generalmotors; gettelfinger; news; uaw; unions; walmart
What about benefits?
1 posted on 06/22/2005 7:02:05 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

GM is dead, rotted from both the top and bottom. The UAW needs to be thinking about what it will be like when Toyota is the most powerful domestic car maker.


2 posted on 06/22/2005 7:17:40 PM PDT by AlbertWang
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

did ford announce cutting 1700 white collar jobs today ?

gm and ford are in big trouble


3 posted on 06/22/2005 7:27:25 PM PDT by staytrue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AlbertWang

right.

for decades gm had an over-bloated management.

for decades gm gave into the unions' whims.

in order to survive gm and ford may need to dump their unions' legacy costs.


4 posted on 06/22/2005 7:30:56 PM PDT by ken21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

A fine example of how unions slowly erode a company's competitiveness and ability to do business. Eventually, the union thugs lose their jobs asking "How did this happen?"

You did it to yourselves, you did it to yourselves...


5 posted on 06/22/2005 7:34:36 PM PDT by bolobaby
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
G.M. spends nearly $6 billion annually to provide benefits to 1.1 million Americans and has two-and-a-half retirees for every active worker. More important, G.M. spends about $1,500 for each American vehicle on healthcare, an amount believed to be roughly $1,000 more per car than Toyota.

Little wonder why GM is in trouble.

6 posted on 06/22/2005 7:40:47 PM PDT by bfree (PC is BS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Here's hoping that a solution will be negotiated that will satisfy all sides and keep the company afloat.


7 posted on 06/22/2005 7:45:59 PM PDT by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bfree

GM will eventually file bankruptcy in order to dump its retirement and medical benefits onto the federal pension guaranty program which is funded by us taxpayers.


8 posted on 06/22/2005 7:53:58 PM PDT by biff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
This year, he briefly banned marines stationed near Solidarity House, the union's headquarters, from parking in the union lot if they drove foreign cars or had Bush bumper stickers. And in 2001, shortly after being nominated for the union presidency, he summed up his style in one word: "abrasive."

I would sum up his 'style' as stupid.

9 posted on 06/22/2005 8:04:43 PM PDT by Rummyfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: staytrue
"gm and ford are in big trouble"

They can make excuses but they only have themselves to blame. Funny they are a microcosm of the US. Sign anything, worry about paying it down the road.

Promise anything to keep things rolling, no matter what the future costs.. worry about it later, it will be someone else's problem.
10 posted on 06/22/2005 8:09:30 PM PDT by JSteff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: biff

"GM will eventually file bankruptcy in order to dump its retirement and medical benefits onto the federal pension guaranty program which is funded by us taxpayers."

It *should* be funded by union taxpayers.


11 posted on 06/22/2005 8:10:37 PM PDT by bolobaby
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

on union thuggary with commentary
http://www.neoperspectives.com/unions.htm


12 posted on 06/22/2005 8:13:52 PM PDT by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/canadahealthcare.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
How is Wal*Mart involved in this? I find no reference to them in the article.
13 posted on 06/22/2005 8:57:53 PM PDT by upchuck (If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

What/where is the Wallie connection?


14 posted on 06/22/2005 10:50:50 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson