I wondered when the UAW would rear it's ugly head in this bail out circus

Maybe the GM CEO could donate part of his multi-million dollar salary to help pay the pension benefits to retirees - or the could sell that multi-million dollar private jet that he used to fly to Washington yesterday!

This was not caused by just one thing. It was caused by 1. Auto executives fail to stay competitve and change with the market, not to mention wasted money on private jets and what not. 2. The UAW failed to make concessions to help keep the companies competitive. 3. Americans did not support their own country by "buying American", not just in cars but in all other products too.

The UAW, like the companies that their members work for, is too big and too far gone to be able to handle any pay cuts or belt tightening at the top level(s). But I think that they should be made to suffer like the rest of us until such time that the can better manage themselves. Giving people that have been laid off Gettelfinger can't point one finger at anyone except the outfit he is heading up. His outfit has held us hostage for too long, and we can't afford the ransom any longer.

The economy is only the last nail in the coffin that the big 3 got themselves into all by themselves. For years they simply did not produce what consumers wanted. Their vehicles cost more and had less to offer and not just in what comes in extras but also in terms of safety and gas mileage. They cast aside consumer complaints and service was terrible. They even cast aside plans for more a plug-in thinking that this is not what the market wants. They fully deserve this. And while I feel sorry for the employees, the UAW is part of the problem. Gettelfinger is not ready to make any concessions. He will not renegotiate or anything. Not even admit fault. They pressured through a new contract when they knew that the automakers were struggling, even put on a strike. He needs to go and ask his members. Something tells me they rather have a minor pay-cut than no job at all. Right now everybody has to work together and make this work. Not just hold out the hand and demand the money from the government. I fully believe, even with the economy intact the big 3 still would face problems. They have been struggling for quite some time, even when things were still good. That they failed so quickly in this economy just shows the mismanagement they have done. And yes, Gettelfinger blatantly went for more, even when he knew that the industry was doing bad. The UAW is part of the problem. But he is not big enough of a man to admit that they made a mistake. He would be out of his job there, wouldn't he? ;)

Well, my next door neighbor works for one of the Big 3 and he was laid off for several months this past spring and while he was off we talked a lot. He was telling me that the new hires top out at a little under $16 an hour and do not have the same good medical benefits as the other contracts. I hate to say this but I'm actually for giving that auto workers the loan as long as their CEO's are either fired or take major pay cuts. I was up watching television in the middle of the night and there was an economist on saying that for every auto worker that loses their job 10 more employees from other industries lose their jobs. It was also estimated that in the first year three million auto workers will lose their jobs.

You are right. UAW has responsibility in the crisis.