I usually stay out of the political talk, but here goes...
I worked at one of the foreign automakers for 4 years. It ain't no great shakes. Down to 1 shift, 4 days a week there now for the ones who are left. whohoo! Creditors for the employees don't care that they are making less than 40 hrs a week. They want to be paid. Now, they are off for nearly 3 weeks, most of which is unpaid. Of course, there will be just enough holiday and bridge days to deny them unemployment. Of course, the foreign automakers are profitable. Non union workers means non union benefits. So which is better, the company being unprofitable, or the worker not having any money to make the bills. You may ask, how this affects me since I no longer work there? Well, my wife still works for them. So I am left holding the bag trying to make the payments. Now, when the big 3 goes under, we the taxpayer will be responsible for the retirees. Would you want to suddenly lose the benefits you had and have to live on much less? I wouldn't. But that's 'letting the market work.' The so called pension guarantee will not pay much in the way of what they were promised in their contract. It may be that it was way too good a deal , but, it was a deal. If the gov't came along and took money out of any of our savings, we would be squealing too. Let's be honest here. If the big 3 reorganizes, wages will be cut. How many of you are willing to take a huge cut in pay for the job you are doing now? Remember, it's for the good of the country. I am not now, nor have I ever, been a union member. BUT, I don't look at them as being greedy or arrogant. I look at them as trying to provide for them and theirs , just like I am trying to do.
Just stirring the pot...