The Brian Sullivan Blog
  • December 19, 2008 11:53 AM EST by Brian Sullivan

    Breaking: UAW Unhappy with Auto Loan Terms; Asking for Changes

    This just crossing ... the UAW is unhappy with some terms of the auto loan and will ask President-Elect Barack Obama to change some of the terms it views as 'unfair.'

    The union demanded the loan - got it  less than 2 hours ago - and now wants it changed.  You can't make this stuff up, folks.

    Below is the official UAW release.   It's clear they believe the incoming administration will help them change what they view as 'unfair' terms.

    INTERNATIONAL UNION, UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA – UAW
    RON GETTELFINGER, President ELIZABETH BUNN, Secretary-Treasurer
    VICE PRESIDENTS: GENERAL HOLIEFIELD • BOB KING • CAL RAPSON • JIMMY SETTLES • TERRY THURMAN
    IN REPLY REFER TO
    1757 N STREET, N.W.
    WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
    TELEPHONE: (202) 828-8500
    FAX (202) 293-3457

    For immediate release December 19, 2008 UAW applauds auto loans, but says workers must not be singled out for unfair conditions DETROIT – “We’re pleased that the Bush administration has acted today to provide urgently needed emergency bridge loans to America’s auto companies and to pursue a process for restructuring outside of bankruptcy,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “This will keep the doors of America’s factories open, keep Americans working and prevent the devastating economic consequences for millions of Americans and thousands of businesses that would have resulted from a liquidation of operations by one or more auto companies.” The UAW, Gettelfinger said, is reviewing the documents released today. "All stakeholders – management, directors, bondholders, suppliers, dealers, workers – will have to participate in shared sacrifices to help the industry move forward," he said, noting that UAW members have already made substantial sacrifices to help make the domestic auto companies more competitive. “While we appreciate that President Bush has taken the emergency action needed to help America’s auto companies weather the current financial crisis, we are disappointed that he has added unfair conditions singling out workers,” said Gettelfinger. “These conditions were not included in the bipartisan legislation endorsed by the White House, which passed the House of Representatives and which won support from a majority of senators.” “We will work with the Obama administration and the new Congress to ensure that these unfair conditions are removed," said Gettelfinger, "as we join in the coming months with all stakeholders to create a viable future for the U.S. auto industry."

BILL

Are the white collar people going to take a cut in pay and what is the ratio of white collar to blue collar workers? If you don't cut both sides you might as well pull the plug on this show,because the animosity would kill it anyway!

December 20, 2008 at 2:14 pm

gloomboom.com

This is unbelievable! These guys are doomed to failure. You would think that they would have some sense of thankfulness, but not these guys!

December 20, 2008 at 3:38 pm

cheryl

I can't seem to understand all of the sorry and negative comments! Did you guys forget about the aig's bailouts that took their ceo's to flordia for a big party off of YOUR monies! I guess that's ok, but in the long run when they (REPUBLICANS) start sending all jobs overseas including yours and you start working two jobs in which most people in the southern states do (ms,ala,etc) working at walmart, nissan for minimum wages no health care and can't buy medicine that they need and the employer taps you on your shoulder one day and say hey we don't need you anymore, then MAYBE you guys will understand what a union is all about!!! not just wages but health care and a retirement to look forward to. Now days if you're making min. wage you can't afford to save money or buy health care insurance. Those days are over !!! so get use to it and find you a job that has a union to look out for you!!!!!

December 21, 2008 at 12:01 pm

cheryl

I also forgot to say how in the world did this bailout all of a sudden become the union workers fault? we don't make millions of dollars nor do we drive our vehicles for free like the ceo's and managers do!!!!!!!

December 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Martyg

I think we should let the UAW write the bailout condition's. That will bring a quick end to the big three and save us, the tax payers, from a auto wellfare syastem.

December 22, 2008 at 10:44 am

Reggie in Florida

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BIG THREE ARE IN TROUBLE IN LARGE PART DUE TO ALL THE ''PATRIOTIC'' AMERICANS WHO BOUGHT ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF IMPORTS.

December 22, 2008 at 11:14 am

Bill in Georgia

I have a 15 year old Toyota with nearly 200,000 miles on it and no major problems. I had a Big 3 truck with less miles and the engine died even with great maintenance. When the UAW gives up their pension like other industries I will consider a Big 3 auto. I have friends who lost their entire retirement when their companies went into Chapter 11 because their 401K was funded with sotck that became worthless. Let the UAW take their licks like the rest of us. No bailout, no bull!

December 22, 2008 at 12:10 pm

native Virginia

The quality of the Big 3 in Detroit is not in question here folks. Its the UAW. Toyota and Nissan are doing so well due to the fact that they are non unionized companies. Get rid of the UAW and the unions and you will see costs cuts across the board, better quality, and lower prices for consumers. Why would consumers spend $40,000 on an American Truck when they can get the same equiped truck from a foriegn automaker for less? Do the math folks!

December 24, 2008 at 10:48 am

about this blog

  • Brian Sullivan joined FOX Business Network (FBN) in April 2008 as an anchor. He co-anchors the 10am-12pm ET hours of the FOX Business block. Prior to joining FBN, Sullivan served as an anchor for Bloomberg Television where he hosted the programs Morning Call and In Focus.

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