Union leader: Workers must gain if autos recover

[Omaha Steve]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UAW_KING?SITE=NJMOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

May 11, 6:29 PM EDT

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) -- The man expected to become the next president of the United Auto Workers says workers should share in the profits if the auto industry recovers. But he also wants to make sure Detroit automakers stay competitive.

UAW Vice President Bob King said Tuesday that unionized workers each gave up $7,000 to $30,000 per year in concessions to General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC as the companies ran into financial problems last year and in 2008.

The union, he said, made tremendous sacrifices that helped all three automakers through a crisis, working with company management to make the automakers competitive.

But often after a crisis passes, management forgets about the sacrifices, King told an auto industry conference at the Detroit branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

If U.S. auto sales return to pre-recession levels of around 16 million per year, King said all three will see "astronomical" profits.

"Equality of sacrifice, there's got to be equality of gain," he told the group. "It's our responsibility to make sure that in that turnaround, our members are treated fairly."

FULL story at link.

[Kolesar]

1. Goodbye, Gettlefinger, or should I say good riddance

He endorsed Paul Hackett just to stick it to Sherrod Brown in 2006.

[Scuba]

2. Gain????? ....

... Good luck to autoworkers trying to gain from the industry's profits. Union-busting has never had a better ride than this one. The Mercury Marine Union in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin was forced into major concessions to save their jobs (and their community).

Now Harley Davidson is using the exact same tactic.

Here's the recipe...

In a large pot (need not be clean)

Add one large threat to move jobs to ______________________ (select one from: China, Mexico, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Philipines)

Add a medium dose of taxpayer dollars to the companys income to get them to stay...

Add tax breaks for any jobs created...

Stir in a low corporate tax rate for business-friendly flavoring...

Add a dose of Corporate-sponsored Supreme Court rulings...

Blend until Union cries "Uncle" or disband, whichever comes first.

Serve dividends to shareholders if your official set of books shows a profit (HD) or...

Serve bonuses to management if your official set of books shows a loss (Mercury Marine).

Make sure your real financial condition is kept a secret.

Fight against a national health insurance plan, as it would give workers more security.