GM Workers on Strike

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Maybe some folks who are closer to the action will know, but why are the big 3 'required' to pay health benefits for life? Is this from a prior agreement, or a federal requirement? If this issue is breaking the company, then stop doing it - the steel industry did it, it hurts but it's better than bankruptcy!

[PeteLeathersac]

I expect the Health care issue is a BIG part of why GM's been putting more of their future into Canadian plants like Oshawa Ontario...basic health care here is covered by the Provincial Health Care plan..

~ Pete

[JRSully]

Staying on the union theme, but moving to a different industry. My Father, both brothers, all airline pilots. My old man flew in the heyday of $2000 first class seats and 350k a year Captains pay for flying 65 hours a month, a fabulous deal and somewhat sustainable with that kind of revenue flow (cheap gas, all the first class seats you could sell and a ton of flight capacity). Unions had power AT THAT TIME. My oldest brother was on the tail end of the glory days at the start of his career, now he is flying 85-90 hours a month, making HALF the pay that he did 10 YEARS AGO, his company went bankrupt (US Air) they took his pension (bleeded the entire account actaully) and replaced it with some POS that he wont be able to live on AND he is done flying at 60. How much power did the Union have during this debacle?, ZERO, bankruptcy neutered what was left of the union. Albeit tough times changed the entire landscape, but the bottom line is that there is just not enough revenue to justify " fat, old school" union contracts eventhough some of the Unions think they still are entitled to it. People don't care if they have to sit on a milk crate to China, if it is cheaper, they are buying it. My brother is lucky he still has a job, his opinion "I saw this coming a long time ago" I am niether pro or con union, but you have to adapt to what the landscape gives you and right now it ain't good for domestic auto makers