Auto Crisis Threatens Entire Economy; Union Ready to Do Its Part—Again

At a news conference today following an emergency meeting with UAW local and regional leaders, Gettelfinger said the union is willing to “take the extra step” to aid the industry. Union leaders, he said, have agreed to delay automakers’ payments to a union-administered health care fund and to modify the union’s job banks program that provides laid-off workers with a portion of their wages and benefits.

But he reiterated that UAW members already have agreed to wage and benefit concessions that have lowered labor costs at the Big Three. Terms of the current contract will lower those costs even further.

We’re willing to take the extra step here….The important thing is to secure these jobs and we cannot do it as the UAW. It’s got to be something that’s done for this country.…We have to get this loan. Nobody’s kidding anybody. Main Street, side street and rural America are all impacted by what the Congress does.

Read More