UAW Conceded No Base Pay, Health, or Pension Benefits in GM, Chrysler Bankruptcy

Newsbusters ^ | October 12, 2009 | Tom Blumer

[libstripper]

[Full title was edited to comply with space requirements, here's unedited version:]

"Well-Kept Media Secret: UAW Conceded No Base Pay, Health, or Pension Benefits in GM, Chrysler Bankruptcy Run-ups"

A New York Times article by Nick Bunkley on Friday targeted for print on Saturday about the status of contract talks between Ford Motor Company and the United Auto Workers piqued my interest in a previously neglected but important matter.

Ford and the UAW are apparently close to an agreement. In describing what Ford workers are being asked to give up, Bunkley wrote the following (bolds are mine throughout this post):

Ford executives have said the company needs more concessions to keep G.M. and Chrysler from having an advantage.

.... The deal that U.A.W. workers at Ford approved in March got rid of cost-of-living pay increases and performance bonuses through 2010 and eliminated the jobs bank program, which allows laid-off workers to continue receiving most of their pay. In addition to those concessions, G.M. and Chrysler workers agreed to work-rule changes and a provision that bars them from striking.

What? From press coverage at the time, you would have thought that unionized GM and Chrysler workers made ginormous, humungous, unprecedented sacrifices to enable their companies to get through bankruptcy and to emerge as lean, mean vehicle-making machines.

Uh, no.

[libstripper]

Duh, big surprise from the Illegal Alien. One more compelling reason NOT TO BUY GOVERNMENT MOTORS VEHICLES.

[tractorman]

I just bought a brand new UAW rifle.
It doesn’t work and you can’t fire it.

[Frantzie]

GM’s sales quarter by quarter keep sinking. The UAW killed GM and Chrysler. They will try to kill Ford next. It is the UAW’s nature to rob, leech and destroy. .

[AmericanVictory]

Walter Reuther’s communist legacy comes homoe to roost. How’s the hopey changy Marxism going union dupes?

[brownsfan]

“GM’s sales quarter by quarter keep sinking. The UAW killed GM and Chrysler. They will try to kill Ford next. It is the UAW’s nature to rob, leech and destroy. .”

I agree. I think the UAW will do all it can to destroy Ford. I have some Ford stock and I’m wondering if maybe it isn’t time to take my profit and move along.

I won’t buy a post take-over GM or Chrysler.

[April Lexington]

I looked at the new Buick La Crosse over the weekend. Ugly sheet metal and a cheap, Pontiac looking interior that looks like it was made in China. Can't wait to see how they screw up the Caddy. I'm in tears. Successful Americans should drive American luxury cars. Unfortunately, Successful Americans can see what kind of crap they are.

[goseminoles]

Was it that bad looking? I’ve looked at it online and it looked really nice. It was 40,000+ though...

[jimfree]

The bondholders and shareholders have nothing more to surrender. Unions must yield in the next round.

[Frantzie]

I was listening to two semi-lib NY’er local brokers on the radio pitching stocks. they were talking about how GM and Chrysler will eventually have IPOs and will do well because their costs have been reduced. I just laughed and knew they were Obama stooges.

GM and Chrysler are over - stick a fork in them. Mercedes (Daimler) could not turn them around. GM was making progress thanks to Bob Lutz who had also patched up Chrysler.

It is over for GM and Chrysler. Too much competition, UAW, too many issues now and they no longer have economies of scale.

UAW will try to destroy Ford.

[April Lexington]

It looks cheap for a $40K car. The interior has that over designed graphics look made famous in late model Pontiac. A cartoon dashboard and an arm rest that climbs halfway up your arm. Very uncomfortable on any length of trip. The body is a style preference thing but the one I saw had wavy sheet metal on the sides. Overall, its a heart breaker. GM should build the BEST cars. I doubt, however, Obama, the Canadians and the smelly socks crowd at the UAW care about quality. Its all about pension and benefits now and I’m not supporting that by buying a substandard car for $40k...

[April Lexington]

I was listening to two semi-lib NY’er local brokers on the radio pitching stocks. they were talking about how GM and Chrysler will eventually have IPOs and will do well because their costs have been reduced. I just laughed and knew they were Obama stooges.

The young liberal crowd has really drunk the Kool Aide on this one. GM is losing market share and is running in the red AFTER emerging from bankruptcy. Not a good sign. The ad campaign seems to be bold and fresh but the cars simply are not competitive. A $40k La Crosse or a $12K Hyundai when the Hyundai is the better car???? Cigar chompin union cavemen and governments simply cannot be successful in a competitive global market. Even the government controlled German and Japanese car companies will eat their lunch because they understand global markets...

[steveyp]

I’m in the market for a car in the next 9-12m (responsible citizen, tax payer, no cash for clunker qualifier). Of the cars I’ve bought over the last 13y (new and used) I’ve never even driven to look at used cars on a Ford/GM/Chrysler lot.

Kill the UAW and I’ll take a look.

[goseminoles]

Thanks for the heads up..

[April Lexington]

You are welcome. But... I wish it weren’t so...

[caver]

“The young liberal crowd has really drunk the Kool Aide on this one. GM is losing market share and is running in the red AFTER emerging from bankruptcy.”

One thing that I have noticed is that the young liberal crowd do not drive GM, Chrysler or Ford. The young libs will do in the big 3.

[Cyclone59]

Successful Americans should drive American luxury cars. Unfortunately, Successful Americans can see what kind of crap they are.

Respectfully you are very wrong on two levels:
One, why does one need to be required to step up the the luxury level in order to get quality?
Two, successfull Americans should buy what is best for their money, and if that means a non-American brand, then so be it. Competition means that the loser will do something about it (hopefully) to earn the business back.

[goseminoles]

It is what it is. I’m sitting at a Saturn dealership playing on my Blackberry. This isn’t my chosen profession but it is where I am right now. We sold 12 cars last month. Vastly different from Kia and Hyundai just down the street. I would personally buy Toyota or Honda if I were to buy a new car. But I can’t afford one. Because I work at Saturn.

[April Lexington]

I understand your point. I've always looked at driving American luxury as a patriotic act. Unfortunately, the cars tend to be crappy and I've supported the UAW far too long. I have WANTED to believe that America produces the best cars and I have WANTED to believe that I was driving American, standard setting, Luxury. I know I am a romantic old fool and that German and Japanese cars are light years ahead of American cars in technology and style. Sentimental old fool I am. Like the old British guys who drive WORSE in a futile attempt the preserve the glory of the past.

I can assure you of one thing, though.... I'm driving my LAST Caddy until the government and the UAW are out of the equity. That BMW 5 Series is looking mighty tempting since the last German election....

[April Lexington]

I hear they are closing Saturn?

[April Lexington]

Good point. Why invest in an IPO in a company who’s products you wouldn’t buy? Wall Street is crazy these days...