Southern senators prefer Slavery?

[patrice]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gAXcxdrffHLtSt6Efcrg0gdefcdQD951FJH80

The Auto-Bailout struggle isn't about wages. It's about the advent of the Employee Free Choice Act:

Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama all house auto assembly plants from foreign automakers, and union officials contend the senators want to drive UAW wages down so there would be no reason for workers at the foreign plants to join the union.

Benefit costs, including significant Health Care costs, make the difference between Union and non-Union auto-workers:

Hourly wages for UAW workers at GM factories already are about equal to those paid by Toyota Motor Corp. at its older U.S. factories, according to the companies. GM says the average UAW laborer makes $29.78 per hour, while Toyota — generally viewed as the main competitor of the Detroit Three — says it pays about $30 per hour. But the unionized factories have far higher benefit costs.

Unions give to Democratic senators:

Union officials also accused the senators of retaliating for the UAW's overwhelming support of Democratic candidates in federal races. The union gave $1.9 million to Democrats but only $11,500 to Republicans in the 2008 election cycle.

While CEOs give to Republican senators.

UAW did some things to help the Auto-bailout:

In an effort to help the auto companies get federal aid, the UAW last week offered to delay company payments into a union-run trust fund that will take over retiree health care costs starting in 2010. It also agreed to end the controversial "jobs bank" program in which laid-off workers get most of their pay and benefits after unemployment pay runs out.

But apparently that wasn't enough for Southern Senators. Why is that?

[annabanana]

1. Wouldn't be the first time. . . n/t

[patrice]

3. My point exactly. Truth is Inevitable no matter how much Lipstick you put on it.

Interesting, the role that Hispanics are going to play in this particular struggle. For example, the hog-packers' plant that Unionized in NC recently, expelled all Illegals, before their Unionization vote.

[Orrex]

2. Okay, South. This is your last chance

All of you progressives have 24 hours to get your families and your valuables north of the Mason-Dixon Line. After that, I'm breaking out my jackhammer and cutting off all of the semi-former slave states.

Bugs Bunny had a great idea--his mistake was in only targeting Florida.

[patrice]

5. It's the senators we need to cut off.

I refuse to believe that the majority of Southerners are anti-Workers' Rights.

[Orrex]

10. Well, if you can confine them all in the southern tip of Florida, I'll apply my jackhammer there

Never let it be said that I can't see the light of reason.

[boomerbust]

4. Forgotten History Lessons

[bluestateguy]

6. Well, to be fair, there are far worse employers down South than the Japan auto companies

Like Wal-Mart and all of those construction firms that hire illegal immigrant labor for Third World wages.

[patrice]

7. Oh, I'm sure Toyota et al are better than MANY employers. They just HAPPEN to be

the locus of this particular struggle at this time due to SOME factors that they didn't have that much to do with.

[SharonAnn]

9. They might be better because of the threat of unionization.

If unions are destroyed, then there would be no incentive to pay any more than the rock-bottom that they can get away with. And in Tennessee, it's pretty rock-bottom.

[TahitiNut]

8. Don't forget the pulp mills and meat-packing plants.

:puke:

[malaise]

12. Orange and tomato farm owners

for example.

[malaise]

11. Finally someone gets it

That would be their ideal situation.