UAW: Union Willing to Go Extra Mile to Save Auto Industry

UAW: Union Willing to Go Extra Mile to Save Auto Industry

by James Parks, Dec 12, 2008

A small minority of Republican senators put the entire American economy in danger in an attempt to bust a union contract and drive down workers’ wages.

Last night, the Senate failed to cut off debate and vote on the House-passed $14 billion emergency bridge loan to the nation’s automakers. After the vote, the UAW made it clear it is still willing to go the extra mile to rescue the nations’ auto industry.

Republicans were demanding that workers take big cuts in pay. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a press conference this morning the Republican Senate caucus demands that workers slash wages meant

restructuring had to be done on the backs of workers and retirees. From the beginning, the UAW made it clear that all stakeholders had to be willing to make sacrifices. 

He called on the White House, which supported the failed bridge loan, to use funds from the $700 billion bailout of the financial industry to provide the loan. This morning, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it is poised and ready to use part of the money to prevent the auto industry from collapsing, a move Gettelfinger endorsed.