UAW & GM, Screwing the Middle Class

Cross posted at Politics and Critical Thinking.

Questions have been raised about the intentions of the Senate Republicans and their opposition to the Auto Bailout for Detroit. My first question is, “What opposition?” They were more than willing to extend the “lifeline” of credit to the embattled auto-makers, but, it required certain concessions by the UAW, which they were not willing to give. Of course the Moonbats and Unions are now using the populist rally cry, “Republicans hate the middle-class.”

Ron Gettel-Giving America the Finger, is a self-serving criminal who is putting the needs of about 140,000 auto-workers (Despite the propaganda of GM employing 250,000 people, this is how many they actually employ here in the States.) ahead of the rest us. But the dullards on the Left are to thick to see that and jump right off the cliff, as usual. Furthermore, this collectivist-scum has the nerve to talk about protectionism and preach solidarity?

Back in 2007, the UAW renegotiated its contract with GM and walked away smelling like a rose. Here are some of the details.

USA Today-The deal includes GM's top priority in the negotiations -- shifting most of its $51 billion unfunded retiree health care obligation to a UAW-run trust. GM would pay about 70 percent of that obligation, or $36 billion, into the trust, called a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA, the person briefed on the talks said.

Wages would stay the same for the length of the four-year deal, but workers would be given a bonus of $3,000 once the contract is ratified and then bonuses of 3 percent, 4 percent and 3 percent of their annual pay each year for the last three years of the contract, said one person briefed on the contract details.

The agreement did nothing to eliminate the JOBS bank. This controversial program pays UAW workers full salaries, who have been laid off, to sit on their asses after collecting unemployment insurance.

Now look at the cost of how much this “union welfare” is costing the average middle class consumer.

CNN Money-Health care is the biggest chunk. GM (Charts), for instance spends $1,635 per vehicle on health care for active and retired workers in the U.S. Toyota (Charts) pays nothing for retired workers - it has very few - and only $215 for active ones.

Other labor costs add to the bill. Contract issues like work rules, line relief and holiday pay amount to $630 per vehicle - costs that the Japanese don't have. And paying UAW members for not working when plants are shut costs another $350 per vehicle.

Grand total to the consumers, an extra $2,615/car for subsidizing the whining welfare rats. GM is only more than happy to keep them on tit so long as they are getting their profits. Figure this extra cost into financing and I guarantee it makes GMAC a little extra scratch.

So, where is the indignation for the average American? Where is the Left’s populist outcry about how Un-American this is? Why isn’t anyone talking about how we are being taken advantage of GM and the UAW? And now these crooks want us to bail them out because they are greedy, over-bloated, lethargic, and thoughtless? So, who really hates the middle-class?

Despite most in Congress's better judgment they were willing to help them. However, it came down to $3.oo/hour less and they wouldn't budge for the sake of their country. This entitlement attitude is exactly what has brought most of this on. They are what is wrong, let them fail.

Also, this is what we get from our so-called unbiased media when we need the proper information, not propaganda for the UAW.