UAW to get minimum wage?

I personally think we're already in a depression and will be there until people realize that they can't continue to live beyond their means and quit living on credit. This is what has caused much of the immediate problem - banks are failing and there is not credit, so people can't buy anything. UAW isn't doing it's members any favors - they won't make wage concessions to get government money for the automakers, so they won't get the money - these people will completely lose their jobs instead of just getting reduced wages. GM, Chrysler and Ford pay wages at least 3X higher than Honda or Toyota.

Recession isn't just coming. It's here. In a discussion I started today on the subject of the unions rejection of reduced wages (see the discussions I started), one of the responses quoted some very scary figures about the rate of pay of hourly paid workers in the automotive industry. I believe that the industry has been living in cloud cuckoo land for some years (if the figures are to be believed). It seems to me that if the unions cared more about preserving jobs for their members (as opposed to protecting their lifestyle), they should not have rejected the suggestion to reduce pay rates. What they have done, in fact, is to put the jobs of ALL their members on the line by causing the Government's bail-out plan to fail. In the long run, the Unions will find that they have no members to support; Detroit and Chicago will become no-go areas, due to high unemployment and escalating crime rates and the cost to the taxpayer of benefits to the unemployed (and the associated administration costs) will be FAR higher than the $17.5m which was proposed (though there was no guarantee that that bail-out would have worked). I believe that NOW is the time for everyone to revise their ideas about what economy is really about and whether the capitalist system as we know it is not really dragging us all into the dirt. I ought to stress that, by saying this, I DON'T think that Communism or Socialism, in the sense that it exists at present, is a bright answer, either!

I'm not sure if a depression is coming in the "official" sense but I'm afraid it's going to look and feel very much like a depression. It was announced this morning by the White House that they're now willing to use funds from TARP to help the Big 3 stay above water for the time being. I guess the details have yet to be worked out, but it looks like they're going to get some relief for now. Workers at Honda and Toyota plants earn wages comparable to those at the Big 3. The average hourly wage is between $27-30 for all of them. However, I can see why the Republican Senators from the southern states where most of the foreign auto plants are located want to bust the unions. That will definitely bring more jobs to their states and eventually the wages will fall considerably if they have no competition from union shops and no worries about the UAW trying to come into their plants. I agree, concessions are necessary especially in tough economic times such as what we're in now, but busting the unions is something I'm very much against. I'll side with even "overpaid" working people before I'll side with greedy and ruthless management any day of the week! Annie

The UAW shot itself in the foot with its unwillingness to go down with the wages before their current contract expires in 2011. That broke the bailout deal for the senate. What is it with these people that they don't get? Is it preferable not to have a job compared to earning less? Their jobs would have been safe for a while longer. Did they really think they would get the bailout deal by being so stubborn? When their unemployment runs out, I'm sure they'll kick themselves that they didn't take the deal. As to the depression... we haven't really reached that point yet, but most likely will, if the greed continues like this. People are not willing to make the cuts but they'll be forced to eventually. IMO, people are praying it doesn't hit them, that they'll keep their job, pay, benefits, as is... They are willing to sacrifice everybody else and will push and push just to keep their own. In this case the UAW people will pay the price.

Personally, I think all of the UAW members should be participating in an unauthorized work stoppage, demanding that the UAW make the necessary concessions to save their jobs, but for all I know they're as delusional as the union. The UAW is showing it's members how little it cares about their wellbeing and their futures. I don't believe we've reached Depression status yet but we are in a Recession, along with several other countries. Paying off...or paying down...credit cards is something that everyone should be doing. Stocking up on nonperishables is a good idea but I'd personally take that one slow. Food prices rose along with gas prices but they seem to have leveled off since the price of gas went back down. I doubt we'll see more increases for awhile yet...but I'm not always right, despite what I tell my kids.

There is no doubt that the depression/recession that is coming will be worse than the one in the 1930's but it doesnt have to be that way. It is because we are all spoiled and rely so much on technology and things of our culture. You should really prepare yourself and your household for what could come. If your not able to grow your own food start stocking up on extra can goods they usually last 2 to 3 years. Start changing how you view the world and realize that you may need to go back to older generations in order to survive. So my theory is start preparing yourself for the basics. This means educations stock up on the things that are needed. Candles, matches, lighters. Oil for lamps or heaters. You never know what will happen and it want hurt to be prepared. You can buy canned meats and beans. Our economy can't keep going on like this and they can't keep bailing people out because they dont have the money. So while you have a job go ahead and stock up. I dont feel there is no use in saving all your money because it may not be worth anything. So go ahead and spend it on things that you can use now if times get bad or later. I mean you spend it on canned goods and things of need its kind of like saving. My best advice is start letting go of worldly things and start preparing for the basics. No one knows how long this recession/depression could last.