“‘Under normal economic conditions we would prefer that markets determine the ultimate fate of private firms,’ the White House statement said. ‘However, given the current weakened state of the U.S. economy, we will consider other options if necessary — including use of the TARP program — to prevent a collapse of troubled automakers.’” After Senate Republicans manage to kill the auto bailout bill — apparently, GOP conservatives wanted to see more arbitrary union-busting therein — the Dubya administration, to its credit, announces it may just move ahead anyway. “A precipitous collapse of this industry would have a severe impact on our economy, and it would be irresponsible to further weaken and destabilize our economy at this time.”
I can’t say I ever expected to pat this administration on the back for broadly interpreting its legislative mandate. But, we live in strange times, I guess.
Said Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm of the bailout bill’s demise in the Senate: “Their no vote is an astounding blow. They have chosen to ignore the livelihood of 3 million Americans, 3 million families, and in the process have chosen to drive the American manufacturing industry — and perhaps the American economy — into the ground.” Said Republican L. Brooks Patterson of his party’s behavior in Congress: “The arsenal of democracy is under attack by the arsenal of hypocrisy.” (The world markets didn’t like it much either.)
I don’t know, I still have a feeling that when unions “represent” workers in deals like this, it’s their own jobs they’re most interested in protecting. I mean, as long as there are any auto workers that are working, the UAW leadership can claim they have a mandate, right? This strikes me as a case where the UAW leadership is covering it’s ass rather than doing what is best for auto workers as a whole. I’m pretty sure that if any of the big three go bankrupt, that gives them the legal right to renegotiate any and all contracts, including union contracts. And without the ability to strike (which they know would kill the big three), that would be a much worse scenario for workers than now.
I won’t hide the fact that I’m not a fan of unions. I think that they are dinosaurs, and that their days are numbered. Honestly, workers could find a better way to collectively bargain in this age of communication.
Well, I was hoping one of the other regulars here would come out in support of the unions. But, since they didn’t…
Gotta say I disagree with you pretty strongly on this one, Eric. Sure, unions have their foibles — if you remember, I was and remain pretty agnostic about the UAW organizing grad students at Columbia back in the day. That being said, the UAW isn’t the problem here. And they know as well as anybody that if the Big 3 go belly up, it won’t be the rank-and-file workers who see anything resembling a bailout.
Imho, this has a lot less to do with the evils of unions, purported or real, and a lot more to do with southern senators operating at the behest of foreign automakers in their districts. Yes, these are the same jokers who get riled up about flag pins, or the lack thereof.