Image via WikipediaUnions and union issues will be huge this year. I am not just talking about the UAW (United Auto Workers) but also teacher’s unions and other public worker unions.
We, as a nation, are taking a hard look at our economy, looking at what is working and what is not. Practically all states have to cut their budgets deeply to make ends meet and unions are sticking out like sore thumbs of waste and greed; cuts will be made.
Let’s start with the UAW. Bob King, the new president has to play dual roles. On the one hand he has to tell us that yes, the unions helped bring the auto industry down but now they are different and want to actually help bring the auto industry back…imagine that. On the other hand, he has to tell the rank and file that he will unionize all those bloody foreign auto companies making cars in the U.S.
The problem with those bloody foreigners is that their workers are happy and love their jobs and don’t want no stinkin’ union coming in and spoiling things. There is a reason those foreign auto companies located in the South; Southerners don’t like unions, Southern states are Right-to-Work states and they don’t want to see what happened to Michigan, happen to them so STAY THE HELL OUT.
The UAW had a Democratic majority in the last Congress and desperately tried to pass a “Freedom of Choice” Act which was anything but about Free Choice. The act would have allowed union bullies to intimidate workers to do a “card check”; no voting, just check this box and the unions are in. Well, this bill stunk so much that even pro-union Democrats could not bring themselves to support it. Now that the Republicans are in charge…try passing that nonsense again.
The basic reality with the UAW is that it is not needed anymore; no reason for existence. But obviously they will not just turn over and die.
The auto companies have already started to hire workers at the new wage and benefit rates that make sense if the auto companies are to survive. The old geezers from the old fat days will basically just retire and disappear.
King will make some noise but I think even he can see the writing on the wall. The UAW will still cause trouble in 2011, especially for Ford but I think Ford is smart enough not to give into their demands because they have to, to stay competitive with the new GM and the new Chrysler.
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