It is dishonest to pretend that a UAW worker is making $73.00 per hour. It’s an out and out lie. As for legacy, the union assumes such costs right now in 2011-you need courts to change pensions. However, part of the deal in the senate included the UAW taking over legacy now; the car czar would have teeth to make this work. The UAW would receive equity instead of cash for the contributions made by their members over the years-this is a big concession. so quite lying; you hate the union. I get it. Just admit, you hate the union more than you love your country. An America without an auto industry is an America on its way down. We need to rebuild our manufacturing base not become a pathetic, dependent nation.
Grow up. It's not just about you.
Legacy costs are a part of the contract with the UAW. By definition, they are a cost of UAW employees. You seem to be engaging in strategic ignorance about this.
As for legacy costs, in this context there are two: pension and retiree health care. Pensions are as of now fully funded. Nothing would change here.
The other, retiree health costs, are nowhere near fully funded. That's where the VEBA comes in.
Changing the funding source for VEBA would require judicial approval...in ordinary circumstances. Congress makes the laws, and could make approval irrelevant.
It should be apparent to anyone following that if the definition of a lie is to give a misleading impression, just about anything the UAW says is a lie.
This VEBA will be operated by the union...but funded by the companies. This is how the union "takes responsibility" for retiree halth care.
The UAW would receive equity instead of cash for the contributions made by their members over the years-this is a big concession...
Contributions? You're arguing that there was actual money contributed? It's a part of what is called "legacy costs" currently, because it wasn't funded on a forward basis. That's where the $73/hr number comes from.
These "contributions," therefore, are a fringe benefit which you've previously argued wasn't actual compensation...or sometimes pay, as you seem to fudge the difference when it suits you.
You exhibit the symptoms of a person in denial.