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Old 12-22-2008, 07:37 AM   #454
classicman
barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy.
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 23,401
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pico and ME View Post
The Republicans made it plain that their first objective in this bailout was major concessions from the unions.
I agree with that.
They have been attacking unions since Reagan, and this is a perfect storm for them to fire a direct shot against them. The Southern Senators want union wages to equal what the transplant companies are paying. Thing is, once that happens and once union wages stop being a benchmark for how other workers are paid, average wages will start to go down.[/quote]

I'm not as opposed to the wages as to the other benefits that the union workers have. 95% pay when laid off or ill, or the insane retirement benefits... for example. These make it obviously nonfunctional business plan. The companies seem to be virtually still employing every current worker AND the retired ones to a degree that is not manageable. There are other problems like the insane executive bonuses as well. I am not against the unions, but there are some issues that need to be addressed if these companies are to survive.
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