.....30 days to get those union concessions....

[amborin]

"30-Day Deadline
Manufacturers have until April 30 to get concessions from union workers and creditors...."


snip

"....In deciding to urge Mr. Wagoner to step down, the Obama administration seemed mindful of the public’s growing outrage over bailouts of private companies, as well as the bonuses paid to employees of A.I.G.

Mr. Obama is well aware that he cannot afford to give the appearance of using tax dollars to reward executives who have done a poor job, and he began signaling as early as last week that he would take a tough stance with the automakers.

In a question and answer session at the White House on Thursday, the president said there had been “a lot of mismanagement of the auto industry over the past several years,” and declared that more government help would be contingent on the companies’ “willingness to make some pretty drastic changes.” "


snip

<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/business/30auto.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper>



help me out here.....

so, we're using the excuse of 'let's not generate any more public outrage' as our cover while we force UAW concessions and screw autoworkers?????

[liberal N proud]

1. Unions have to break contracts/Bankers don't

[marketcrazy1]

2. WTF!!

"Mr. Obama is well aware that he cannot afford to give the appearance of using tax dollars to reward executives who have done a poor job"" unless they are bank or insurance company executives!!!!!!!

[W_HAMILTON]

8. Hmm, good point.

I'm sure there's some excuse behind it, though.

The only thing that comes to mind is that the union and its contract represent WORKERS, whereas the contracts involving salaries and bonuses for exec's involve exec's -- those same exec's who make the decision whether or not to file bankruptcy, thus breaking their contracts.

Seems a little self-serving, no? Not that we didn't already know this.

[notadmblnd]

3. yep. that' s what it sounds like to me

we have to keep the bankers happy, they have the WH over a barrel. The auto workers... not so much, so fuck em, they can eat dirt and live under viaducts.

[BobRossi]

4. "We must make Mr. Bush's plan work".

"We sure can't seem to come up with any of our own". ><

[JDPriestly]

5. GM has to start working toward fuel efficient vehicles.

Energy independence is the cornerstone of Obama's vision for America. GM and Chrysler have obstructed our move toward energy independence for far too long.


This is not anti-union. This is anti-management of GM and Chrysler.

[amborin]

6. it is anti-union to list more union concessions as one of the

main conditions for any more bailout money

the UAW has already made huge concessions......

now they're after healthcare and pensions

the UAW fought bloody battles to win those benefits, for themselves, and for all Americans

sad to see the UAW under attack, when AIG passed along the bulk of its bailout funds to Goldman Sachs and others in the line up, including foreign owned banks; way bigger handout than the bonuses even

but, yes, we need alternative energy vehicles....and GM has Volt.....

[JDPriestly]

7. I agree about the pension benefits. As for the Volt, I haven't seen

any on the streets. Here in California people by hybrids mostly the Japanese hybrids.

[marketcrazy1]

9. GM spent nearly a billion

to develop the volt wich will not come to market until 2011? at an estimated cost of 35 to 48 thousand each!! ( unsubsidized cost )wich is not competitive with other brands and they will be even LESS competitive by the launch date. they will likely LOSE money on each volt they sell and at the very least will make NO profit on the car for years after it is introduced ( if it ever is ) the volt will provide no help to GM and I doubt it ever comes to market unless in very limited quantities...........

[amborin]

10. so has every other

electric car manufacturer

they're very expensive to develop
and slow to market

many, many problems with them....

frankly, i think hybrids will be here to stay, more dominant than electric can ever be

[amborin]

11. the Car Czars are Investment Bankers..

they made the decision about GM

and additional UAW health and benefit concessions are top demands