Union Says Cheney No Friend of Manufacturing

[UpInArms]

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200601%5CNAT20060106d.html

(CNSNews.com) - Unhappy with Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to a Harley Davidson plant in Kansas City, Mo. on Friday, the United Steelworkers union claimed the Bush administration has "done far too little to help workers in the nation's manufacturing sector."

The group noted a decline in manufacturing jobs in the country over the last five years, particularly in the auto industry, referring to recent widespread layoffs at General Motors and Ford Motor Co. and the importing of steal piping from China.

"Crediting Dick Cheney and this administration's policies with the success of Harley Davidson or any other American manufacturing plant, is like awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to China for its actions at Tiananmen Square," said David Foster, district 11 director for the United Steelworkers.

Foster called Cheney's visit "absurd." The Bush administration has the "worst record of manufacturing job creation since Herbert Hoover," he said. "The idea that Vice President Cheney could go to Harley Davidson, a brand-name American company, and wrap himself up with the Harley Davidson logo just strikes me as the height of hypocrisy.

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[still_one]

1. I wonder who they voted for in 2000 and 2004

Clinton was no friend of theirs either. NAFTA was the start of screwing labor in this country, but compared to what is being done to them now, there is no comparison

[noahmijo]

2. Japanese automakers are far more of a friend to the American worker

than so called American automakers.


I'm patriotic therefore I'll never buy a car from an American company again.

[Lefty48197]

7. Are you serious?

American auto workers are some of the best paid blue collar workers on the planet. They also have the just about the best benefit packages, including health care and retirement funds. Every worker deserves to be treated so badly...

[noahmijo]

10. Japanese automakers have plants in Ohio

and have yet to have massive layoffs. They've also yet to be put on the spotlight for any questionable labor practices.

Hell even BMW has a plant in North Carolina and has a policy that revolves around the idea that if their workers help build them they should also be able to afford them.


How many layoffs has GM and Ford had yet?

Plus I dunno what massive benefits you're talking about-I got an aunt that works for GM who has been laid off twice already (and she does administrative work not blue collar work)


American automakers all of them can kiss my ass with their shoddy labor practices and their shitty cars.

[Lefty48197]

13. Here's what I was talking about:

The scores of thousands of homes in the Detroit area that are, and have been owned, by union auto workers. Workers that would never been able to own homes if it weren't for the high pay that Detroit autoworkers have always received.
Compare the 40, 50, or 60 thousand dollars per year that the autoworkers make with the wages made by other factory workers in America.
The union even negotiated the "jobs bank" whereby laid off autoworkers still draw 90%+ of their pay while laid off.

[JusticeForAll]

15. mmm Mitsubishi in Illinois, 2001

OK I'm grabbing a somewhat dated case to prove a point...and yes it's not Ohio, but if it happpens in one state it may also have happened in yours, too.

All companies have room to improve...few, if any, have removed themselves completely from the possibility of the spotlight turning toward them. All it takes is one sleazy Republican manager with a grudge to make an entire company, previously viewed as good, bad.

I wouldn't believe that any of the majors (in any industry) as 100% compliant with labor practices...written policies may be in place, but policies need to be followed by fallible people.

I know firsthand, on the defendant side...

[Olney Blue]

3. It was PR for Cheney's new movie: Sleazy Rider

btw, can a hog ride a hog?

[area51]

4. "...worst ... mfg. job creation since Herbert Hoover"

Actually, Bush has the worst any-job creation record since Herbert Hoover; it's part of the reason I call him GW Hoover.

[pnorman]

5. This is a tremendous surprise to me.

That website tries to palm itself as just a "middle of the road conservative" site. But it's actually a lot more. And it's "slant" is almost completely anti-union. Scaife money is involved, and here's a little more detail on it and related groups: http://www.cephasministry.com/church_and_state_cornweb_primer_1.html

Thanks for that find.

pnorman

[Hotler]

6. Dick went the wrong place....

he should be going to the biker rallies and hob-nob with the baby boomer repug wanna-be bikers. Most of them are flag waving, in your face for this president, for this war, march lock-step, kind of group. $20,000 for a bike, $5,000 for leather and swag, two hours to get dressed, and 15 minutes to ride to the bar.

[Sadie5]

8. Noahjimo is all wet

Go ahead and buy your Japanese car. Think about every time you buy foreign cars you are putting an American worker out of making that money.
On Cheney's visit:I'm surprised that the union didn't tell the workers not to attend or boo and hiss at his speech.

[Canuckistanian]

9. American workers ARE making the cars

This isn't the 70's any more. Honda cars bought by americans are all made in the U.S. by U.S. workers.

[noahmijo]

11. And you're all stupid

My Honda is FAR more American than any Big Three POS that you can think of or have.

EVERYTHING in that car was manfactured by American hands in a plant in Ohio except for the engine.

Toyotas are manufactured in West Virginia

Lemme pop the hood on your Ford or Chevy and let's take a look where the components in that car was made.....


Oh and uh how many layoffs you think a member of The Big Three will have this year?


Lastly you ever see a broken down Japanese car on a road trip? Into motorcycles? I've owned Harleys and I've owned Hondas and I can tell you right now when you ride Japanese you never have to worry about keeping a toolkit with you.


So tell you what keep buying "American" pieces of shit cars with parts made with Mexican and Chinese labor if that's what makes you feel better. I know times like these it's great to have that 19 mpg mileage going for ya.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

12. LOL

I know exactly what you mean! :yourock:

They go out and get all that gear and think their some tough badasses but they'd shit themselves and have a heart attack if a real biker even came 100 feet near them. They see all those stupid american chopper and orange county chopper shows on TV and go play make believe. I once was driving with a now ex-girlfriend and one of these republic wannabe bikers cut me off, I hell out window of my car what @#$$##@$ was his problem, he takes off like bat out of hell away from me scared, she's like your either crazy or have no fear. I explain to her what type of biker that was then later that day I drive past a real biker gang clubhouse and I say those are the guys you don't say nothing to and don't make eye contact with if your smart.

[hollowdweller]

14. Yeah the "rich harley riders" seem funny to me