Posted on 11/15/2008 2:52:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Even as Detroit's Big Three teeter on collapse, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said Saturday that workers will not make any more concessions and that getting the automakers back on their feet means figuring out a way to turn around the slumping economy.
"The focus has to be on the economy as a whole as opposed to a UAW contract," Gettelfinger told reporters on a conference call, noting the labor costs now make up 8 percent to 10 percent of the cost of a vehicle. "We have made dramatic, dramatic changes and the UAW was applauded for that," he said.
Instead, Gettelfinger blamed the problems the auto industry is suffering from on things beyond its control _ the housing slump, the credit crunch that has made financing a vehicle tough and the 1.2 million jobs that have been lost in the past year. "We're here not because of what the auto industry has done," he said. "We're here because of what has happened to the economy."
Gettelfinger also called on Congress to act quickly on a bailout plan for the auto industry, saying action is necessary before President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January. He said if one automaker were to file for bankruptcy, the others may follow. He said the automakers would find it difficult to restructure under bankruptcy laws and instead could end up out of business. "Would you buy a car from a bankrupt automaker?" he asked.
(Excerpt) Read more at napavalleyregister.com ...
Crash, baby, crash!
Apparently the American public is will to fly on bankrupt airlines, besides no one was buying the Big 3's products when they weren't bankrupt.
Well, then it’s clear you’re not ready to assume the Presidency, because America has chosen for that office someone who CAN see why.
That's what's hard to believe since those "materials" are usually made in the US or China at the lowest possible cost.
It just isn't possible for Korean cars to be put together and put on the market at 25% less than American cars it being the case that Korea's automotive industry if not its total economy is thoroughly integrated with both the American and Chinese economies.
Somebody's trying to trick us!~
**Where did you get that figure? (72)
That’s absurd.**
Came from the UAW ... total cost to employ 1 person for 1 hour... paycheck, health ins etc, retirement,compliance with federal and state regulations.
This has been explained on at least 6 radio shows.
Remember Eastern Airlines?
Jimmy Breslin and the Machinist Union had the same attitude.
result, Eastern Airlines died, all the Machinists lost their Jobs.
This just shows the bailout should be contigent on a ch 11 reorganization which purges this UAW moron.
HOW MUCH does the HEAD of the UAW Make???
Not a good idea to bluff when the other guy knows you’ve got bupkes.
The leadership of the UAW has continued for almost all of its existance to support the democratic party, to promote democrats over Republicans, and to promote and support liberals over conservatives. They worked like blazes to get a democratic controlled Congress in 2006. They financed democrats running at every level, from mayors to President-Elect (spit) Obama. Well, now they got the democrats in charge like they wanted, and now they’re getting—and will really be getting—a democratic economy.
Sucks to be them.
Here in Alabama, we’re making Hondas, Hyundais, Kias Mercedes, and Toyotas. All union free and florishing.
We just picked up an Alabama made Honda Odyssey. Screw Detroit.
Good.... Then it’s their own greed that did them in.
That’s why I thought the Big 3 should have dumped the unions and headed South a long time ago.
The best selling car in America is no longer a GM, Ford or Chrysler product. It is the Toyota Camry made in Georgetown, KY. You would think the Big 3 would get a clue.
Socialism will always fail.
I love ultimatums. I hope they enjoy eating roots and berries.
F’ them. Try unemployment and starvation, @holes.
It’s these jerks that basically forced business owners to pay off enough elected officials to ram NAFTA through and not enforce our borders so they could get reasonable labor rates.
“Rebuild the industry without the (union) legacy costs”
Excellent idea.....all that union money can go into the workers ‘pockets and into better autos.
Exactly, screw the concessions anyway - let them go out of business and then we won’t have to worry about them anymore.
Then shut em down.
Be without a job.
We don't want the bill for YOUR SELFISHNESS.
Drawing that kind of line in the sand in the current economic atmosphere is ridiculous.
It would be like going to a relative for a loan and bragging about how my lifestyle is better than theirs...and I don't intend to change it. BUT...I will be back in a few months for another loan.
I hope if any bail out for the auto industry happens...it happens after Jan 20. Let it be a Dem boodoggle.
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