Labor costs the Detroit Three substantially more per vehicle than it does the Japanese. Health care is the biggest chunk. GM, for instance spends $1,635 per vehicle on health care for active and retired workers in the U.S. Toyota pays nothing for retired workers - it has very few - and only $215 for active ones . . . Contract issues like work rules, line relief and holiday pay amount to $630 per vehicle - costs that the Japanese don't have. And paying UAW members for not working when plants are shut costs another $350 per vehicle. -- Fortune magazine, January 26, 2007
Obama and Biden will strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions. He will fight for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Obama and Biden will ensure that his labor appointees support workers' rights and will work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workers. -- Official Obama website statement on labor [emphasis added].Story Continues Below Ad ↓
Lost amidst the mutual finger-pointing over responsibility for the financial crisis is one incontrovertible fact. Under a President Obama, the unionization of America's economy could soar, thanks to the combined effect of the legislation he would sign into law and those labor-friendly appointees he would name to oversee union elections and other matters. And while the blame for the possible demise of GM and other American automakers rests partly with feckless, uninspired management, a good measure is rightly laid at the feet of American unions who pushed a variety of contract provisions that have left the domestic industry uncompetitive with foreign manufacturers.
Let's talk for a moment about that "Employee Free Choice Act" whose passage Obama promotes and that, with a compliant Congress, would almost surely be passed into law. As I wrote last month, its very name is "double-speak that would make the commissars at Orwell's Ministry of Truth blush." Far from promoting free choice, it would go a long way to destroying it. The law would end a worker's right to a secret ballot in unionization elections, to be replaced by a "card check" system in which the vote of each individual would be published.
Almost two years ago, that same Fortune article cited above questioned "the continued survival of the U.S. [auto] companies." Now Obama wants to let unions do for the rest of the economy what they did for GM. Will the MSM take note? What are the odds Bob Schieffer quizzes Obama on the "Employee Free Choice Act" at next Wednesday's debate?
PS: Guess who announced this week that they're launching a $3 million ad campaign on behalf of Obama?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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The imposition of
October 10, 2008 - 06:50 ET by MidAmericaThe imposition of unions on companies will lead to further loss of US jobs. I was an active union member for thirty years and saw first hand the destructive effect on worker attitudes that being unionized did. Young workers started out as eager and productive and in just a few years they were like all the rest, do as little as possible, gripe and bad mouth the company that hired them.
When I was in college I
October 10, 2008 - 07:17 ET by sublight68When I was in college I worked summers for my hometown Department of Public Works. The full-timers, all union members, spent more time filing grievances than doing their jobs, complaining about anything and everything.
This is how ridiculous it was. I could drive myself to a job site in a borough pickup, but I couldn't put a weedeater, rake or even leaves in the back. That constituted "hauling", which by union rules could only be done by a union member.
So, I'd drive to a park, wait for someone to drop off my equipment, and when I was done radio for someone to come pick everything up so I could drive to the next job.
And this was just a small town DPW. I can only imagine the nonsense that goes on in the UAW and other big outfits.
One summer when I was in law
October 10, 2008 - 07:33 ET by Mark FinkelsteinOne summer when I was in law school I got a summer job as a post office letter carrier. It took me a couple hours to complete my route. I'd return to the station and punch back in. After a few days of this, the union rep took me aside and told me to go home at the end of my route and not show up back at the post office till 3 PM, because doing my route too fast could lead to routes being lengthened for regular carriers.
Part Time Flexible.
October 10, 2008 - 09:13 ET by KarmaAs a PTF for a few years at a local post office, I can relate to your experience, Mark. I was never asked to go home and return later but, the regulars, all friends of mine, would regularly tell me to slow down. I attributed some of this attitude to belonging to the union and also some to being a government employee. Overall though, they did a good job.
Wow I missed out
October 10, 2008 - 10:03 ET by well99I was in a union in processor plants.When I worked in one we didnt get lunch and that was 12 hrs a day pounding freight cars with a sledge.It paid good but you earned it.Must be a Northwest thing.Slackers didnt worry about the boss it was the other people working who would put a boot in their butt.
socialism here we come.
October 10, 2008 - 06:51 ET by GatorgradSadly it's true. Socialism is on the way. For years Democrats have waited and planted these seeds through poor education of the masses and a coordinated effort of blame the republicans for everything. Unfortunately the, roll over and act like people will figure it out on their own, Republican stragedy has failed. The country club Republican is dead.
As a side note..... I find it interesting that the Democrats, whith great expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act in the 90's, have done what others could not. Namely, the Democrats acomplished what Osama Bin Laden failed to do and that was bring down the U.S. economy. Osama struck at the symbols of our economy. . . Democrats struck at the heart.
At least we increased home ownership for first time buyers! (Insert sacrastic tone here)
Funny thing
October 10, 2008 - 07:02 ET by well99George McGovern is opposed to doing away with the secret vote.He was on a commercial against it.I've been a union member and it's bs to take away someones right to cast a vote in secret.Only communist would support taking that right away.
Obama has it backwards.
October 10, 2008 - 07:18 ET by OBQuiet"Obama and Biden will strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions"
What they will do is strengthen the ability of unions to organize workers by allowing workers to be intimidated.
Management Shares the Blame
October 10, 2008 - 07:22 ET by BW222I am an automotive marketing consultant who has been in the business for more than 20 years. At GM there's plenty of blame to go around to both the unions and management. The $1,600 differential is not only for current and retired union members, but current and retired white collar workers too. GM doesn't have the nickname "Generous Motors" for nothing. Employees had benefits no one else could match.
But management made lots of bad decisions that opened the door for imports. Remember the J-body when every brand in the GM line had the same basic car from the Chevrolet Cavalier to the Cadillac Cimmeron?
BW222
About 30 years ago, the
October 10, 2008 - 07:33 ET by rimskyAbout 30 years ago, the janitor in the office where I worked, a rather odd, but friendly fellow that would give you the shirt off his back, persuaded me to become a member and donate to the National Right to Work Committee (link). I donated a nominal amount and joined.. mainly just to get my friend to stop bugging me about it. Well, when I received my first newsletter I was shocked! The stories of union thugs and the immunity that they had.. and obviously, will still have if Barry is elected.. is beyond description. I would urge any and all to visit the link above and become edified.
Been to the site earlier this week for the first time...
October 10, 2008 - 07:42 ET by HeavyChevyand just joined myself.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
The NRTWC has been around
October 10, 2008 - 07:59 ET by rimskyThe NRTWC has been around for a long time, but you never hear about them! They are steadfast soldiers in the fight against forced unionism and they deserve to be heard from. The MSM won't give them a second of exposure.
When I used to do network for a retailer...
October 10, 2008 - 07:42 ET by HeavyChevymy company used to send us techs all over the US and I always dreaded going to the union heavy states. One time I went to one particular state where before I could set up the computer equipment I had to run cat 5 cable to each piece of equipment-pretty simple job been doing it all my life no biggie.
Well the local Union quickly found out stating that it was an electricians job because of the dangers of electrocution -its freaking CAT 5 cable!- anyway to assure my safety (take that anyway you want) my company was forced to pay some local schmuck 90 bucks an hour to sit on his @$$ while he was drinking coffee and reading the paper watching me run low voltage Cat 5 -as an "observer" bragging how much cash he rakes in and the new F-150 he bought.
Unions are awesome...NOT!
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
The Stock Markets have voted.
October 10, 2008 - 08:04 ET by ACLUSUXThe Stock Markets have voted. Regardless of the “polls” it is a resounding “Not Obama!”.
If you own a company that is still paying dividends, your tax will increase. If you are receiving an inheritance, you are going to loose half. If you’re a small business owner, your cost you are going to have increased and there will be little growth.
The markets vote on experience, not hope.
More than a coincidence...
October 10, 2008 - 09:03 ET by ledurchiACLUSUX seems to be on to something. Why is it that the more likely that Obama is to be elected president, the harder the market falls?
As for unions, I've belonged to 2 independent unions in large companies. The unions were the only way to curb the abuses of mid-management. There are many employees in the workplace who do not possess type "A" personalities, do not fend well, and thrive when afforded this protection. Supervisors are human, and just like everyone else they have their bad days. Some are worse than others but with the cushion the union affords, personality conflicts can be minimized and production remain unaffected. The existance of a "good" union in the situations I've witnessed seemed to benifit the companies as much as the employee.
In the BEGINNING there were lawyers Suing Mortgage Lenders4-6-98
October 10, 2008 - 08:59 ET by JayTeeHot Air has Andrew Cuomo on tape saying (after successful lawsuit) as Clintons HUD director....Its risky but it is ok..
Lawyers / Congress / Democrats on VIDEO . . . EVEN THE MSM CANNOT DENY ....They can NOT report it . . . but The NEW MEDIA IS!!
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
What I find terrible interesting
October 10, 2008 - 09:09 ET by dvdaughtryReally its disturbing.
I am from Northern IL and unions are prevelant. I also grew up in the Church and as you may assume, many of the members were union members (electric, teachers, etc).
Obvioulsy they vote Democrate, but here's the hitch I see: being Christian, they do not support abortion, many are hunters and yet they still vote for the Dems.
But the Dems take care of their pocketbook and they look hypocritical all the way to the bank.
It's a brainwash of monumental proportions.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
EFCA and Privacy
October 10, 2008 - 10:00 ET by NorthCoasterThe EFCA will destroy an employees right to privacy and allow pressure and coercion to occur when a union is attempting to organize a shop. There is no problem today with a union collecting vote cards to allow potential members to vote on whether to allow the union into a shop. The key provision today allows for a secret ballot just like local and national voting in elections. This feature should absolutly stay a part of our labor relations laws. Financially dependent, weak and malleable people could be easily harassed into signing a card under the EFCA. Having worked in union environments on both sides of the business. I know of people that would sign a card for reasons other than personally wanting the union to cover employees in the shop.
The "good fellas"
October 10, 2008 - 12:27 ET by Roscoe MendagoThe domestic, unionized auto manufacturers have turned into nothing but health care and pension providers, what happened to the task of building cars and trucks? Unions kept extorting more and more from each contract, with no consideration to the health of the source of the largess. Also with Michigan and its high taxes on business and individuals, it has stifled the auto industry, allowing non-union manufacturers to prosper elsewhere to the detriment of the citizens of Michigan. Who's prospering, the "good fellas", the union heads, the Chicago types, not union members, they're just loosing their jobs.
My advise, leave Michigan, move to Tennessee and work a non-union job.