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Michigan Auto Union Reactions a Harbinger of Things to Come?
American Thinker ^ | 12/12/2012 | Neil Snyder

Posted on 12/12/2012 8:30:57 AM PST by SeekAndFind

In the early 1980s, Ford and Chrysler were struggling to make ends meet and Chrysler needed a government bailout to keep going. General Motors' predicament in the 1980s wasn't life threatening so it continued along its merry way without making significant changes.

I don't remember which automaker it was, but in the early 1980s one of the Big Three asked its union workers in Michigan to take a pay cut so that it could continue to operate. The unions were told that if they didn't accept a pay cut, the firm would move production to Texas.

The unions considered the request and unceremoniously rejected it. The company closed the plant and started manufacturing in Texas. That's a perfect example of union workers in Michigan cutting off their nose to spite their face.

GM still hasn't made the kinds of changes that it must make if it hopes remain solvent, and without government intervention GM would have gone down the tubes in 2009. Even with government support, the company's future doesn't look bright.

American taxpayers are the losers and so are auto buyers because GM cars and trucks are still overpriced. A quick look at Forbes' list of the most overpriced cars in 2010 makes my point. During the first seven months of 2012, GM had an 18% share of the U.S. market -- down 2% from 2011, and in the global arena, Toyota is taking GM to the cleaners.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: michigan; righttowork; rtw; thuggery; unions; unionthugs
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1 posted on 12/12/2012 8:31:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I for one will never, EVER buy another vehicle assembled in a non-right to work state.


2 posted on 12/12/2012 8:37:49 AM PST by tgusa (gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .......)
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To: SeekAndFind
"GM has a plant in Arlington that builds Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, and Chevy Suburban and Tahoe SUVs

Toyota has a plant in San Antonio that builds Tundra and Tacoma trucks."

Looks like GM put a truck plant in Texas - they used to have one in Louisiana too.

3 posted on 12/12/2012 8:42:08 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: tgusa

Same here. I have not bought a new union made vehicle since 1983.


4 posted on 12/12/2012 8:42:22 AM PST by Perseverando (Gun control? It's the OBOTS who are filling up prisons for violent crimes, not the Tea Party.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Look for the union label and then buy something else.

Desperation in Obamation.


5 posted on 12/12/2012 8:42:32 AM PST by School of Rational Thought (Fun for women ages 21 through 35)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Marxist revolutionary ideal embraces violence as a legitimate vehicle for social change. Expecting union thugs to behave in a civilized manner is like asking Genghis Khan to wipe his feet before he trashes your parlor.


6 posted on 12/12/2012 8:43:10 AM PST by IronJack (=)
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To: tgusa

Unions pretend they care about ‘workers’. They don’t. They care about union members. That’s why union goons don’t care if there are MORE jobs in Indiana - at higher pay - now that Indiana’s a right to work state.

Union goons don’t care if every company goes bankrupt and half the citizens don’t have jobs. They care if THEY have the right to skim the cream. Eff ‘em. I won’t buy ‘union’ crap either.


7 posted on 12/12/2012 8:44:09 AM PST by GOPJ (Liberal elites: - a 'blame whitey firster' group....(there's payoff in there for them...))
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To: Paladin2

Don’t forget GM opens its newest plant in Mexico in March 2013. I would guess that 90% of UAW workers don’t know a thing about it. Perhaps too much lunch...


8 posted on 12/12/2012 8:44:40 AM PST by JohnD9207 (Isn't freedom worth fighting for?)
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To: SeekAndFind

I smell sabotage.


9 posted on 12/12/2012 8:45:42 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: JohnD9207
"Perhaps too much lunch..."

wouldn't they be the most recently re-instated Chrysler workers?

10 posted on 12/12/2012 8:45:54 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: SeekAndFind
I worked for county government in MI for a number of years. Guess what union we were FORCED to join? The UAW.

The UAW saw declining numbers of auto workers years ago and moved into government; they figured there was a work force that certainly wouldn't decline -- and they were certainly right.

But now with MI becoming a right to work state, I know some of my former co-workers will be standing in line all night if they have to (in the cold if they have to) to get themselves OUT of the hated UAW.

"Cutting off their noses to spite their face" -- perfect picture.

11 posted on 12/12/2012 8:46:19 AM PST by Jerrybob (Truth -- the new hate speech.)
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To: Paladin2

Yes good loyal union workers who happen to enjoy lunch with their brothers...a power lunch.


12 posted on 12/12/2012 8:53:38 AM PST by JohnD9207 (Isn't freedom worth fighting for?)
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To: JohnD9207
Don’t forget GM opens its newest plant in Mexico in March 2013.

Good, hahaha.

"Cutting off their noses to spite their face"

Good, hahaha. Nice morning today, hahahaha.

13 posted on 12/12/2012 8:57:08 AM PST by Mr Apple ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2171062/posts)
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To: GOPJ
Unions also love to boast that their members make more than their non-union counterparts even after union dues are deducted.

Well, yeah, it is sort of like OPEC pointing out that their cartel extracts more dollars per barrel of oil than non-OPEC members. That works for awhile as long as the demand exceeds the supply.

But non-union workers don't need to make as much as union workers for a better standard of living because most right to work states are also low tax states and lower cost of living states. A huge part of the union-nanny state partnership infrastructure goes to support the looting class.

14 posted on 12/12/2012 8:59:02 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Jerrybob

RE: I worked for county government in MI for a number of years. Guess what union we were FORCED to join? The UAW.

How the heck does working for the county translate to being a United AUTO worker? Are you working with cars at all?


15 posted on 12/12/2012 9:02:58 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

We have UAW prison guards in Michigan.


16 posted on 12/12/2012 9:06:45 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Vigilanteman

I was in a union at several of my jobs. I know I could have made more if my pay was not capped to compensate for under achieving union members. I don’t buy this crap that union members make more than non union members. The last union I worked for I quit and started working for myself. I made 3 times what I did at the union.


17 posted on 12/12/2012 9:10:34 AM PST by jimpick
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To: SeekAndFind

UAW can organize any company or industry they want. Not just autos


18 posted on 12/12/2012 9:12:35 AM PST by NathanR
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To: NathanR

UAW then has to stand for United Any Industry Workers if this is the case.


19 posted on 12/12/2012 9:14:14 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

BTW the GM plant in Texas is UAW Local 276.


20 posted on 12/12/2012 9:14:31 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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