The UAW is a dying bunch of entitled parts hangers. Soon all automobile assembly will be in countries without the Union label. Sad that it is happening….not sad that the unions are dying.

The UAW was stupid enough to support Obama and the Democrats instead of supporting independent voices (not Republicans) for president and congress. The UAW and other unions are interested in shooting themselves in the economic foot. The Democrats talk tough on trade for about 4 minutes in order to get votes and then they return to doing nothing. Unless this idea of freeeee trade is stopped, reversed and most imports banned,(not just cars, but parts, etc), job losses will continue to mount until there are none left.

I want to personally thank all the idiots who voted for Democrats and Republicans in the last 5 electionselection when you had other choices. Thanks for continuing to screw the country up.

So you’re saying around 97% of the people in this country screwed it up? You sound super credible…. swamprat. You Communist.

Chrysler is not thinking about American jobs. They are thinking about make a profit one day and keeping the company running.
And there will always be tools still don’t understand that Obama actually wanted to keep American jobs in America.

A4 – Yes they did. Look at the jerks running the country. They voted these screwballs in over the last 20 years or so. It doesn’t matter if they are Republican or Democrat. The economy is in a mess. The dollar is crashing. Unemployment as at record levels. People are losing their jobs every day. That 9.8 percent unemployment figure is understated. Everything is made overseas. The trade deficit is still around $800 billion. You don’t think this is screwed up? Beam me up!

now , now boys , what did pelosi say everyone has to get a cut !

So… if the courts can settle bankruptcy cases, but the unions can still keep the factories open, what’s the point?

Yeah, the UAW is bad for trying to keep jobs in the USA.

Well it looks like you have a much better plan to fix it. Let’s hear it swamprat, here to save the world with your independent views. Oh enlighten us as to where the independents are hiding the magic pixie dust that makes it all better.

Dear UAW,

Assume for a minute you are Chrysler/FIAT and you see how the UAW is voting down cost cutting measures by Ford in plant after plant, making Ford’s manfacturing life even more difficult in a very tough market even as Ford is actually trying to bring manufacturing back to the USA.

Now UAW, if you are Chrysler/FIAT in that environment, and given the history of UAW’s adversarial interaction with business, how could you managerially justify not closing plants here?

I’d love a serious answer on that from a UAW supporter if there are any.

Love and kisses (good-bye),
Smegley Wanxalot

“A rising tide lifts all boats”

..unless you forget to lift the anchor

Armstealer, if YOU forget to lift the anchor, then it is YOUR fault. Not the tide’s, and not those who got off their butts and lifted their anchors.

like the focking care… they r a bunch of lazy ass bitchy mofos!

Smegley, it’s not your fault if you’re genetically predisposed to not lifting the anchor.

Johngalt, they need a pill for that.

Lol @ johngalt’s reference.

Smeg- I was referring to the UAW as the anchor.

UAW fighting to keep bankrupt Chrysler’s plants open, yet unwilling to work with FoMoCo, trying to make a go without banko, to come up with equalateral labor plan…smart. Screw them.

I find it odd that you UAW hatin’ Republicans, who support a party that has run us up to $11 trillion in debt, and this economy, are all faulting Obama and Pelosi.

Get a grip on reality TEA BAGGERS!

Maybe I have too much faith in the American worker, but just as we elect our government representatives to (hopefully) stand for issues we stand for and implement policies beneficial to our lifestyles, the UAW membership body elects and hires its representatives, too, and I’m having a hard time believing that all those frontline working men and women really don’t understand the ramifications at stake. I’d be willing to bet that every single one of them has friends and family members who work in the industry and have been laid off and are now looking for work.

I guess what I’m getting at is that it’s not collective stupidity that’s derailing the train, here, but rather a few “representative leadership” types considering only their own livelihoods pressuring a vote that doesn’t necessarily represent the best interests of the working masses as a whole.

Just sayin’…

Read “A Savage Factory” or “Rivethead”, both written by guys who worked in American auto factories. Not sure how much it’s changed since these were written, but you can certainly see why they would be in trouble. It was all about hitting the numbers every day and even the workers admit they were overpaid.

“Built with quality and pride by UAW members at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant”

That little gem is on the driver’s side rear window of my ‘06 Sebring. There’s one on my new Ranger too… I think it’s the Twin Cities Ford plant. This a minor point, but how many people care where there car was built… I mean right down to the specific plant. I suppose it’s kind of interesting information but it’s also something I probably could have gotten through my life not knowing.

What I really want to know is if they’re paying someone the full tilt union wage and benefit package to put that little sticker on every car or truck that comes down the line. I think that one probably falls under the category of stuff you’re just better off not knowing.

I disagree, Johnny. That little sticker is like a flashing neon sign that says
………………… “…. DON’T BUY ME … DON’T BUY ME …”

Hey Leftlane, I haven’t read those books, but I’m sure there is some bad stuff in there, BUT, that’s two peoples opinions.

EVERY occupation has a$$holes in them, but because these guys were in the UAW that “taints” everyone??? Come on people, the UAW made very good money because the Big 3 were making big bucks. When I started there in 1977, the very first contract we started giving stuff back. Way back then. But nobody will give them credit for that.

And yes, the company wanted the numbers, because the demand was just incredible. We couldn’t build them fast enough. And yes, quality went down, much like what is happening to Toyota.

I don’t know Smegley… I mean it’s likely my fate to always be a domestic car driving kind of guy. All I’m saying is I don’t particularly need the constant reminder that the guy who attached my steering wheel was probably on overtime making more than I do because his line buddy decided to call in sick and go fishing that day.

you actually admitted to sebring ownership? that takes stones, moosehead, big stones…

the lifespan of the auto unions mimics an empire…they served their place in history, helping the common worker stand up to a corporation that would take advantage of him, but at some point the tides changed and the unions became parasitic dead weight bent on self-preservation…their on their heels still, obviously, but maybe the writing is on the wall now…

And I might add to LWA’s prior very accurate assessment of unions …

the lifespan of the federal government mimics an empire…it served its place in history, helping the common man stand up to a big government that would take advantage of him, but at some point the tides changed and the feceral government became parasitic dead weight bent on self-expansion…it’s on its heels still, obviously, but hopefully the writing is on the wall soon …

.

I think I’ll catch the Road Warrior tonight and dream of a better future.

It’s the last of the previous generation and actually it’s been a very good car thus far. The brakes suck… but I suppose that just because they put a 240kph speedo in the thing doesn’t mean they were expecting anyone driving a Sebring coming even remotely close to that velocity and therefore why would you give it the ability to stop once it was up there.

I hadn’t really noticed it before but the other day I was stopped next to a new Sebring and I swear I was sitting a good 6 inches lower than that guy. So they went from low, somewhat sleek and somewhat stylish to tall, stubby and awkward. The two cars were quite a bit different as well.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/guy.jpg

i found your halloween costume, smeg

Dont need it, LWA. My costume is right here …. http://www.inch.com/~william/humungus2.jpg

and now… Smegley, unmasked

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/9/9b/Gorn.jpg

More like this, Johnny …. http://sufferthegringo.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/spock.jpg

Mirror mirror on the wall,
who’s the most evil libertarian of all ..

YES!!! support the company that went bankrupt and is closing plants left and right, and hurt the company who turned themselves around BEFORE bankruptcy and basically force them to close plants and possibly drive them to bankruptcy. these guys are idiots and i cant believe it but ford should start building in mexico, canada, and europe.

fold already does build in canada, mexico and europe…

bah, typo, ford already does…

This has always been a touchy subject for people. I live in SE Michigan where the union has always been king. I think that this distorted perception has always been an issue. I have never understood unions in general. They are contradictory in their existence. They say they look out for the worker but what is good for the company is good for the worker. Sure, we may loose jobs, but that is what is going to keep Chrysler in business. If unions are going to cost Chrysler too much money to pay, then they won’t be able to continue business and then everyone will lose their jobs.

The union workers look out for themselves and this is a poor way to run a business. When I see stories like this where unions keep the company from doing business, it makes me laugh. They are looking at the immediate term and not the long term ramifications.

Outsourcing is NOT something that is going away. It isn’t a trend. If you fight it you will be much worse off than just embracing the change and finding a new job. It is unions fault their wages were so inflated and costing these companies money. If they got paid $30k per year for the last 100 years than $60k a year, we would not be having these issues. Sure $60k per year is great, but now they don’t have jobs at all because of it.

I suppose it is all in high and sight.