BushCo is planning on "helping" GM by dismantling it softly and breaking the union

[kpete]

Killing GM in the Guise of Saving It
By: emptywheel Tuesday December 16, 2008 5:56 am

Several articles out this morning make it look like the Bush Administration is planning on "helping" GM by dismantling it softly and breaking the union, all with no apparent focus to making it viable again.

First, there's this story http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/autosblog/index.cfm?blogid=640 suggesting that Bush may ask for the same concessions as Corker demanded last week.

Over the weekend, analyst Brian Johnson of Barclays Capital issued a report suggesting that the White House may still demand some significant concessions from the United Auto Workers as a condition of any short-term financial aid.

"Based on comments on the CBS show Face the Nation this Sunday morning by Senators Corker (R-Tenn.) and Levin (D-Mich.), we believe it is highly likely that the White House bailout may impose many of the same conditions Senator Corker insisted upon on Thursday in his attempt to forge a compromise," Johnson said.

That amendment would have required General Motors, Chrysler, the UAW and bondholders to replace half of the companies VEBA contributions with stock, eliminate the jobs banks and buyouts and agree to competitive wages, benefits and work rules by March 31 or be forced into bankruptcy court. Johnson has advocated many of the same provisions in his roadmap for a GM turnaround.

Note, once again, the silence about concessions from dealers?
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/15/bob-corkers-chumps-in-the-senate/

more at:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/12/16/killing-gm-in-the-guise-of-saving-it/

[babylonsister]

1. His silence on the auto bailout has been deafening. Add this to his

legacy.

[Kalyke]

2. Tennesseans are getting very, very angry with that man...

SPRING HILL, TENN., Dec. 12 -- As the workers and residents of this small town that launched the Saturn automobile see it, there are several villains in the collapse of the automakers' rescue plan.

But what stuns many in this place defined by the General Motors auto plant and its 4,200 workers is that no person played a larger role in the demise of autoworker hopes than their own Sen. Bob Corker (R), who is now regarded by some here with the kind of disdain reserved for traitors.

SNIP

"We're deeply disappointed in Senator Corker -- that's the official statement," said Mike Herron, union chief at the GM plant here. "But actually my members want to choke him."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121204128.html?hpid=sec-business

Good. Maybe now my fellow Tennesseans will stop listening to Rush and actually vote this idiot out in 2010 in favor of someone who will benefit their pocketbook instead of their misguided soul.

[47of74]

7. I actually have a higher opinion now of Judas Iscariot than these Republican Senators.

[retread]

3. Why would anyone think, after the last 8 years, Chimpy would act to benefit

working people ?

[2Design]

4. union busting is the main goal - the evil resident will not help

he will stab them in the back as he always does

[dipsydoodle]

5. I wondering if the European companies will be sold off.

Vauxhall in the UK, Opel in Germany, Saab in Sweden etc.as one single European company.

BTW - all European production the the best of my knowledge uses union labour but cannot run closed shops - in the UK for sure . Same actually applies to the Japanese units believe it or not.

As has been mentioned elsewhere on DU the European manufacturers in general are horrified at the possibility of GM et al filing for Chapter 11.

[ogneopasno]

6. Gee, it would sure be nice if all the LABOR-ENDORSED Democrats would stand up and show a little

leadership around here. Jayzus H.