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When he discusses the problems of our automakers, he never mentions the the role the UAW plays in the demise of those companies.
It shows that he is either:
A) playing politics and paying back his union supporters
B) completely ignorant
I'm not willing to accept either. The Union is not the only reason for the current crisis, but it sure as heck is a big part of the problem. There are plenty of honest Union members in Michigan that aren't afraid to say it, either.
When he discusses the problems of our automakers, he never mentions the the role the UAW plays in the demise of those companies.
:
I've been observing American automakers struggle for most of 1990s, and not once did it occur to me that UAW ought to be blamed in anyway. When was the last time you blamed (non-union) employees of a large corporation that went under? Let me guess... never!
It appears to me republicans believe in trickle down theories only when money is involved. When it comes to blaming someone for something, it starts at the bottom.
We could blame workers (union or not) for shoddy job, which I have, but decisions around vehicles, brands, expansion, new facilities, revival of old etc rest in the hands of the top management. And nothing but sheer incompetence has spewed for at least two decades since I have watched these automakers closely.
When he discusses the problems of our automakers, he never mentions the the role the UAW plays in the demise of those companies.
It shows that he is either:
A) playing politics and paying back his union supporters
B) completely ignorant
I'm not willing to accept either. The Union is not the only reason for the current crisis, but it sure as heck is a big part of the problem. There are plenty of honest Union members in Michigan that aren't afraid to say it, either.
The answer is A. The union benefits are totally unreasonable and out of whack compared to non-union worker's benefits. In fact, they're outrageous.
Ignore the extreme leftist called EinsteinsGhost. Extremist's opinions can't be taken seriously.
"Unions have destroyed our manufacturing sector" would be a good start.
Unions force companies to pay wages and benefits that are artificially higher than market value. All unions will eventually either compromise to keep jobs here or bankrupt the company they work for. Period. It's pretty simple.
"Unions have destroyed our manufacturing sector" would be a good start.
Unions force companies to pay wages and benefits that are artificially higher than market value. All unions will eventually either compromise to keep jobs here or bankrupt the company they work for. Period. It's pretty simple.
"Artificially higher"? I would like you to elaborate on that, and how you arrived at the conclusion.
Having said that, when did UAW become an issue? Could you name 2-3 poor decisions that the top management has made as it pertains to these automakers over last two decades?
"Unions have destroyed our manufacturing sector" would be a good start.
I would not completely blame Unions. They started out serving the best intrests of the worker, now it seems they are only doing it to save their own hides... Either way, Obama cannot afford to alienate Union members who won the entire Midwest for him. That is why such an effort was made to save AIG over other banks - AIG holds the most Union pensions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by michigan83
"Unions force companies to pay wages and benefits that are artificially higher than market value. All unions will eventually either compromise to keep jobs here or bankrupt the company they work for. Period. It's pretty simple.
On a standard supply/demand model, you are correct, it forces employers to hire fewer people, or cut everyone's pay (which does not usually happen). That is why raising the minimum wage to help out the poor actually hurts them - Employers are less likely and less able to hire. Anyone who took a basic economics course knows that price floors and price ceilings screw up the market equilibrium.
The only blame I place on Unions is the fact that they drove so many industries overseas. And now goods manufactured here in the US do not stand a chance in the world market due to the difference in price.'
The problems with the automakers are too numerous to list here.
I've been observing American automakers struggle for most of 1990s, and not once did it occur to me that UAW ought to be blamed in anyway. When was the last time you blamed (non-union) employees of a large corporation that went under? Let me guess... never!
It appears to me republicans believe in trickle down theories only when money is involved. When it comes to blaming someone for something, it starts at the bottom.
We could blame workers (union or not) for shoddy job, which I have, but decisions around vehicles, brands, expansion, new facilities, revival of old etc rest in the hands of the top management. And nothing but sheer incompetence has spewed for at least two decades since I have watched these automakers closely.
I think the unions play somewhat of a role, but I listened to a well-respected (and conservative) automotive expert the other day that blamed most of the problems for GM on the very things that EinsteinsGhost has noted.
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