Auto Execs Fly Corporate Jets to D.C., Tin Cups in Hand

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

You didn't really address the issue though. Do you think they can be profitable again? What do you think it will take? Shouldn't the companies be able to show a plan for what they will do with the money?

I don't doubt the effects will be felt all over, but are the Big Three just a jobs program for the workers and the general economy? If so, wouldn't it be better to develop a plan to give money directly to the workers for retraining at companies with a track record of profitability?

I don't want to see them go under and I'm not indifferent to Michigan's immediate problem, but what's the long term plan?

Apparently, the author of the article doesn't think the companies should have to offer one.

I didn't address the issue because I chose not to. The companies should be able to show a plan. And yes I think they will be profitable again one day. And I don't understand your job program question. What jobs are you going to retrain these employees for? I'm not quite sure a lot of you understand what's going on in Michigan. THERE ARE NO JOBS. Perhaps they could use that money to relocate, but who wants to leave their family and everything they know?

Originally Posted by KSigkid

No one is disputing that they work really hard, but a lot of people work just as hard at jobs (construction, etc.) without getting anything close to those salaries. I understand you live in the area, but there are people all over the country working extremely hard during 90 and 100 hour weeks in manual labor jobs; the auto workers aren't unique in that regard. It's a terrible situation, especially when part of the problem has been poor business decisions at the top.

I think bankruptcy is going to be the best option, but it's a terribly difficult situation with no easy answer.

I definitely agree with you about other jobs where employees work just as hard. Construction workers do make great money if they are union. My dad owned a construction company for many years so I've seen the wages that they made. But sadly those jobs around here are diminishing. Either that or these companies just keep building with no one to move into the places, whether it's commercial or residential which doesn't make any sense to me.

I think it was disgusting when the one CEO said he'd work for a $1 for the rest of the year, the one guy said (if I'm remembering somewhat correctly) that he'd take a pay cut, and the other guy says "No I'm comfortable with my 9.5 million" (not word for word). Ridiculous. I think the white collar workers need to take major pay cuts to save the blue collar workers jobs. Two years ago all 3 were doing major layoffs and my friend's sister, a white collar at Ford or GM, got a 20% raise.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I didn't address the issue because I chose not to. The companies should be able to show a plan. And yes I think they will be profitable again one day. And I don't understand your job program question. What jobs are you going to retrain these employees for? I'm not quite sure a lot of you understand what's going on in Michigan. THERE ARE NO JOBS. Perhaps they could use that money to relocate, but who wants to leave their family and everything they know?

I had in mind anywhere in the country. If there are no other jobs where you are, and your present job and benefits make it hard from your company to be profitable, and your company makes decisions like the one you mentioned to lay off the people who actually produce the cars and give raises to white collar workers, I think you've got to start looking at a plan B.

The best plan B may not be a federal bailout of the companies as they exist currently.

ETA: And if we think that it is the government's job to guarantee manufacturing jobs remain in the US, which is a complicated issue, and Detroit is the best place to start, then it seems like the money has to come with some serious strings attached.

[UGAalum94]

AGDee,

Sorry for being so critical of something so close to you. I hope they do pull it out. And the amount of money they are asking for is relatively small compared to the banking bailout, for whatever that's worth to congress.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

AGDee,

Sorry for being so critical of something so close to you. I hope they do pull it out. And the amount of money they are asking for is relatively small compared to the banking bailout, for whatever that's worth to congress.

Yeah, i think that one lady said it perfectly (about how they should have thought more about how it would look, them all taking their own planes) but then every other person there said it over and over, and much less elegantly. This is all face time to help them get re-elected. I'm so much less opposed to bailing out the auto-industry, provided there is a plan for viable change, than I was to the banking one. The banks did that to themselves, and the credit crunch that has resulted is one of the key factors for the automotive situation.

[BetteDavisEyes]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

I think it was disgusting when the one CEO said he'd work for a $1 for the rest of the year, the one guy said (if I'm remembering somewhat correctly) that he'd take a pay cut, and the other guy says "No I'm comfortable with my 9.5 million" (not word for word). Ridiculous. I think the white collar workers need to take major pay cuts to save the blue collar workers jobs. Two years ago all 3 were doing major layoffs and my friend's sister, a white collar at Ford or GM, got a 20% raise.

I agree that it was freaking stupid for him to say what he did about his pay and to cut blue collar jobs while giving raises to white collar workers is beyond incredible.