Imagine if Caterpillar shut down and left Peoria. Imagine what would happen to the economy, the unemployment rate, the image of the region, and the morale of the citizens when the only jobs available are entry level $8/hr jobs (that’s the case in Lansing right now)

I just saw a soundbite with the Mayor of Lansing who said outgoing Republicans are seeing this as a way to finally break the UAW and maybe even get rid of it. If Detroit dies, the UAW goes with it. The foreign manufactures have been pretty successful at keeping the union out.

Like I said in my original post, no bailout should come without concessions from the UAW including the power they now wield. The fact is, GM still sold more cars than any manufacturer in the US last year and GM and Ford still produce more hybrids than Honda and Toyota. I’m not saying the UAW shoulders the blame here, but they are a part of it. The reason you don’t see Toyota, Honda, etc. struggling is because there is no unions in those plants. I’m not advocating that unions should go away either, but they carry too much power and they need to be a part of this solution. I know it’s hard to see from 300 miles away and six months ago, I would have been with you, but seeing it first hand has changed my mind.

Let’s not get carried away. Yes, many plants would likely close during reorganization and certainly many jobs would be lost. That’s where government could and should step in … to help people, not bloated, inefficient corporate structures. These companies may be – SHOULD be – significantly transformed, but they will not fall off the Earth.

I don’t disagree that this is the automakers fault, but it’s also the UAW’s fault. UAW in Peoria, take notice of what’s going on here. Just because Caterpillar is enjoying profits right now doesn’t mean they should share with you. When they hit hard times, you’ll be happy they “hoarded” their money when they don’t have to lay your sorry, uneducated, overpaid ass off.

The compromise needs to include a restructuring of the UAW contract. Wages are too high as is health insurance. The UAW says they’ve already conceeded. So what I’m hearing is they would rather be out of work than open up negotiations. There needs to be a loan, but there needs to be conditions. GM’s CEO needs to step down and the union contract needs to be opened. Be happy you have a job at all….I’m going on 8 months picking up odds and ends whenever I can.

Yeah Tesla needs a leg up. They had plans for a more family friendly electric or hybrid vehicle but had to suspend development cause of the financial mess that has unfolded.