We must first find out what caused the problem before we can fix it. There is plenty of blame to go around. Many people are blaming the unions for the failure. I agree that part of the problem belongs to the unions. When our unions were first organized they worked hard to assure workers received fair wages for doing a decent job, better working conditions, shorter days, medical and retirement benefits, etc. Workers throughout America benefited from the unions’ efforts.
Please forgive me while I step on my soapbox for awhile to complain about what I think is the biggest problem with the unions today. Somewhere along the way unions quit fighting for the diligent workers and started fighting harder for the deadbeats that don’t actually earn what they receive. You know those that don’t carry their share of the work load – those with high absenteeism and tardiness, those that show up under the influence of drugs or alcohol, those that make excuses for why they can’t do a harder job, those constantly out on medical leave, etc. Yet, the union does their best to keep those deadbeats from getting fired. When asked “Why?” – Union representatives answered, “If we can protect their job; we’ll have no problem protecting yours.” Forcing employers to keep slackers on the payroll hurts everybody and possibly could be part of what’s risking everyone else’s jobs now.
I watched the news yesterday and heard that the CEOs flew into Washington DC on private jets. If taxpayers are forced to bailout those managing the big 3 – there had better be lots of rules. From what I’ve heard; management positions are not union members – if that is true; then the unions aren’t totally to blame.
Get back to the basics. These questions should be answered:
• Is the ratio of management costs to labor costs close to the same as they were when the big 3 first started being profitable? If not, which cost more now than it did then and what caused the change?
• How much of the problem is really linked to the unions abandoning the principles they were founded on?
• How much of the problem is high union wages?
• How much of the problem is linked to the corporate greed giving high salaries and fringe benefits to the white collar workers?
• How much of the problem is improper designing of vehicles that will sell?
• Were promised retirement programs properly funded?
• How much of the problem is linked to the rising cost of health care?
• How much of the problem is linked to the disadvantage of high corporate taxes that get passed on to consumers? (Those embedded taxes that hurt America’s competitiveness that Gov. Huckabee spoke about throughout his campaign – especially when promoting the FairTax)
• How much of the problem is linked to the current economic meltdown?
• Was there anything in the blueprint of the original Chrysler bailout that could help make things work now?
If the automakers fail; it will affect part suppliers and many others around the communities. Can we help avoid ending up with manufacturing “ghost towns” across the country? Please join the brainstorming with answers to my questions or asking more of your own.
