The UAW wasn't the only factor, but they sure as heck pulled the trigger.
5.56mm
Everyone has an idea how the big three can be saved including chapter 11 and a new start. I suggest four things that will get the big three back in business. 1. The government should immediately eliminate all 8 cylinder engines and replace them with small sixes and 4 cycle. 2 Reduce the union workers wages by at least 20 % and tell them if they don’t like it go get a job somewhere else. 3 Reduce upper managers and CEO wages by 30% to 40% depending on their level. 3 Reduce all pork including private jets and travel. 4 If all of these don’t work then the government should eliminate the import and manufacture of all foreign cars in the USA. If this does not get the hourly wage to manufacture cars by the big down to $48 nothing will.Its about time we stop relying on foreign countries to provide our important products. I might add that no one seems to know why it cost $48 to produce a foreign car in the USA and $75 to produce an American car using the same labor and paying the same taxes. If the other twenty seven dollars is needed to pay the big USA management wages then why don’t the big three fully change their companies to the identical structure as the smart foreigners? Its amazing the big three has lasted this long.