Labor Killed Detroit? Not So Fast

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I blame labor for the part of the mess the Big 3 are experiencing. but I blame the CEOs more. Im sure they are pulling in way over 75 dollars and hour.

of 10:53AM January 06, 2009

Sad to say but I believe Americans would be better off in the long run if Detroit's salaries, benefits and working relations with management were brought back in line with the rest of the country. Reorganization under Chapter XI is the less bitter pill to swallow

Kathy of FL 7:23PM December 17, 2008

You'll never see a middle level manager attending meetings for the CEO. Why, because then it would become obvious that you could pay the competent, middle manager far less and get rid of the CEO! The only difference is union rules vs. job descriptions, yet they both yield the same reults, everyone gets to keep their job! Never been a union member, yet I support them 100%.

Go UAW of KY 10:59PM December 14, 2008

Get out our old history books, the UAW came into being under violent confrontations, and will go down under similar scenarios. do not underestimate the sons and daughters of people who stood in front of machine guns in 1936 This will not be pretty,but rest assure events not seen in many years will happen

glenn of MI 6:05PM December 14, 2008

If we gave800+ thousand million to the banks - I think they should be able to loan the 3 the money thry need!!!!

over 60 of TX 4:43PM December 14, 2008

Only bad news is news. "If it bleeds it leads". A story about a union doing it's job
is boring, not sensational and as such is not news. But, if a union leader is corrupt,
ah, now there is a story. Unions today are only news is somehow they fail in some way.
To those who have never been in a union and seen the democratic process of it at work only
know what they see or hear in the news and as such have a distorted, inexperienced view or
incomplete view of them. Some predisposed anti union people get jobs in unions, reap the hard won pay and benefits of them, then complain and moan about them. Usually though, they
are unwilling to to go work for less pay and benefits a similar non union company will
compensate them with in order rescue them from their misery of being in a union.
Many do not know why unions became a reality. They were not as a counter to capitalism
but as a counter to boundless greed and cronyism ala Enron etc.
Also, it is a fact that the Ku KLUX Klan's first targets were Catholics and unions. The
racial aspect of it came later. In some ways even the cowardice of wearing a hood showed
more courage then than present day. Today, these same ideas are fostered by less direct
methods by those waring suits instead of hoods and their weapons instead lynch ropes are
merely a pen with which they sign away your pension (if you are lucky), 401k etc.

Chris of TX 9:37PM December 13, 2008

Maybe not, but they are the poision that is stopping them from being profitabale! Bad management is the other issue!

whs806 of TX 12:39PM December 13, 2008

We don't need that which makes the industry non competitive in the global economy and we don't need businesses that are too big to fail.
Unless we want to turn the industry into a permenantly goverrnment subsidized intitlement, divide the companies into smaller entities that must compete or fail. Sink or swim. If they can swim with the union fine, If not, sink.

Ray of TX 1:12PM December 12, 2008

Although as a couple of these comments have pointed out, unions increase costs due to inefficiency and lack of flexibility, Detroit's real problem is poor quality. Just ask a mechanic or read the Consumer Reports automobile issue. Their cars break down and fall apart. Until they can make better cars and convince the American people that they are, they aren't going to do much better.

Dan of AZ 10:12PM December 11, 2008

WHat is the UAW going to do, other than sell out the next generation of workers, if there will be a nest generation. What is the UAW going to give back to the membership? Are they going to trim the number of "Officials" who are paid a generous salary? Are they going to reduce the dues collected each month from the sweat of their membership? I wouldn't count on it. The Union Officials are just as fat and lazy as the politicians and CEO's. What is the purpose of having so many delegates, so many Union Bosses? Just to have another barrier between the working middle class and those that rule them.
So fight on Union Bosses, keep your do nothing paychecks, and free trips to conventions. Keep on leaching of the back of the workers that you care so much for.

Spuse of a UAW worker of MI 9:27AM December 11, 2008